Digest: San Francisco cable cars return this fall, streetcars sooner

A San Francisco cable car in a street.

San Francisco streetcars to return in May, cable cars back in fall San Francisco will revive its historic streetcar F Line in May and its cable cars this fall — with the latter representing a turnaround from prior suggestions that return of the city’s signature transit system was in doubt because of cost and declining […]

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Digest: Brightline, Florida DOT resume negotiations on Orlando-Tampa route

Brightline logo

Still more Tuesday morning rail news:

 Brightline, FDOT resume negotiations on Orlando-Tampa route Brightline has resumed negotiations with the Florida Department of Transportation on a route for Tampa-Orlando service, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reports in a paywalled article, which says negotiations had halted in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The railroad has proposed building […]

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Digest: Fire damages BNSF Mississippi River bridge

Fire and smoke billowing in the distance

Additional Tuesday morning rail news: Fire damages BNSF bridge in Bemidji, Minn. A BNSF Railway bridge across the Mississippi River in Bemidji, Minn., suffered “moderate damage” in a Monday afternoon fire, the Bemidji Pioneer reports. The fire was reported about 4 p.m., with Bemidji firefighters working about two hours to extinguish the blaze. The cause […]

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What were the rules for occupying open platforms on observation cars?

Classic Trains logo

Question: In the days when passenger trains carried open-platform observation cars, which passengers were allowed to occupy the platform? Was this subject to permission of the conductor, payment of an extra charge, or was it simply on a first-come, first-served basis? — John W. Eiszner, Indianapolis Answer: Open-platform cars and their successors, the round and […]

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Digest: Bankruptcy trustee begins sale of equipment from Iowa Pacific affiliate

Train pulling up to the station

More Tuesday morning rail news: Bankruptcy trustee places former Iowa Pacific equipment on sale More than 100 pieces of historic rolling stock, both passenger cars and locomotives, are up for sale as part of bankruptcy proceedings resulting from the receivership of Iowa Pacific Holdings. The equipment belongs to Heritage Rail Leasing; it and the San […]

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Digest: New Mexico Rail Runner to resume limited operation March 8

Rail Runner logo

Tuesday morning rail news: Rail Runner Express to resume limited operation, almost a year after suspension New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express commuter train will resume service March 8, the Rio Metro Regional Transit District has announced, almost a year after service was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The train will operate on a limited […]

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In apparent last run, ‘Cascades’ Talgo equipment arrives in California

Train riding alongside a body of water

LOS ANGELES — The new owner of Washington state’s two Talgo Series VI trainsets says the equipment is available — but not for long. “It’s a sensitive matter for everyone involved, and it wasn’t supposed to turn into a spectacle,” Noah McCann of NSM Transportation Co. tells Trains News Wire. He adds, “If anyone is interested, they […]

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The Odyssey of UP 2488 on the Jericho & Mt. Zion Railway

The Odyssey of UP 2488 on the Jericho & Mt Zion Railway

Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA Scale: G scale Theme: Tourist railroad with freight operations in the modern era. Description: The Odyssey of UP 2488 on the Jericho & Mt Zion Railway. AristoCraft 2-8-2 live-steam Mikado makes the run with a local freight.   […]

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Remembering the Seaboard Air Line Railroad

Stainless-steel streamliner crossing bridge.

History of the Seaboard Air Line The Seaboard’s beginnings date to 1832, when the Portsmouth & Roanoke was chartered to build from Portsmouth, Va., to Weldon, N.C. Opened in 1834 the companies’ backers saw great potential to link the North with the South’s agricultural and forest products and with its developing potential for industry. P&R […]

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Class I operating ratios reach another new low despite pandemic

Train passing under a bridge in the winter

Canadian Pacific won the Class I railroad operating ratio crown for 2020, the first year that three of the big seven systems reported operating ratios below 60%. CP’s operating ratio, the closely watched measure of railroad efficiency, improved 2.8 points compared to 2019. Following closely behind CP were Union Pacific, at 58.5%, and CSX Transportation, […]

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Cut door and window openings

HO scale liquefied petroleum gas dealer at Hales Corners on Milwaukee, Racine & Troy.

I enjoy scratchbuilding structures from styrene because it’s easy to cut, it takes glue well, and it’s readily available, 1. Though cutting wall sections is easy, making door and window openings can be tedious. However, with the Nibbler cutting tool, you can cut openings quickly and accurately. The Nibbler is a hand-operated punch-and-die tool that […]

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