NEW YORK — New York City Transit concluded its farewell to the Budd-built “Brightliner” R-32 subway cars Sunday, operating the equipment for the final time on the same line (today’s Q Line, the former BMT Brighton Line) where the cars made their debut 58 years ago [see “New York MTA sets farewell …,” Trains News […]
Zone & Region: Northeast
East Broad Top Railroad announces 2022 season
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – The historic East Broad Top narrow gauge railroad will hold its Winter Spectacular on Feb. 19, and has released dates of other special events and a schedule of regular operation for the 2022 season. EBT Foundation, Inc., the nonprofit organization that bought the railroad in 2020, has laid out its calendar […]
Lieber nominated for top MTA positions by New York governor
NEW YORK — Janno Lieber, the acting board chairman and CEO of Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has been nominated for the position on a permanent basis by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul also nominated Elizabeth Velez for a position on the MTA board. Lieber has been the acting chairman and CEO since July 2021. He was originally […]
Reading museum receives $100,000 state grant
HAMBURG, Pa. — The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum has received a $100,000 state grant to be used for outdoor upgrades at the facility, the Reading Eagle reports. The funds will be used to buy ties for the construction of tracks into the museum’s recently completed railcar protection building; materials for construction of a small replica […]
Steam photographer Mike Eagleson dies
GLEN RIDGE, N.J. – Famed steam photographer Michael A. Eagleson, who traveled the world in search of steam power as it retreated from service, died of complications of COVID-19 Jan. 6. He was in his late 70s. Eagleson was famous in the railway and steam locomotive enthusiast community, having traveled worldwide to witness and photograph […]
Vermont depot set to move Jan. 12
NEW HAVEN, Vt. – The former Rutland Railroad depot in New Haven will begin the first leg of its journey to a new home in the city Jan. 12, the Addison County Independent reported. “Everything is looking good to go,” selectboard member Steve Dupoise told the Independent, noting that the town had obtained all the […]
New York governor proposes expansion of transit service
NEW YORK – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Wednesday announced plans to move forward with the Interborough Express as part of her 2022 State of the State address. The Interborough Express project would use the existing right-of-way of the Bay Ridge Branch, a freight rail line that runs through Brooklyn and Queens, connecting the neighborhoods […]
MBTA says Rockport commuter rail service restoration expected in May
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced that service over the single-track Gloucester drawbridge is expected to be restored by May 2022, allowing commuter rail service to resume to the Gloucester and Rockport stations. While construction of a replacement bridge continues, the disruption in service allowed MBTA opportunity to accelerate other projects planned […]
Amtrak, Massachusetts seek conditions on CSX-Pan Am merger
WASHINGTON – Amtrak and Massachusetts transportation officials have asked federal regulators to impose conditions that would protect current and future passenger and commuter service in the Bay State as part of CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways. Their comments were among those filed yesterday, the Surface Transportation Board’s deadline for receiving briefs regarding […]
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway launches 2022 season
JIM THORPE, Pa. — The Reading & Northern has launched its 2022 season of Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway excursions from the borough of Jim Thorpe. Trains will operate from Jim Thorpe on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. for 70-minute route trips into the Lehigh Gorge State Park. The trains […]
MBTA trolley refurbishment falls further behind schedule
BOSTON — A project to refurbish 1940s-vintage PCC trolley cars used on one Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority line is more than two years behind schedule, with the first of the cars now expected to be in service by the end of the winter, the Boston Globe reports. Eight cars are being updated in a $7.9 […]
Vermont drops opposition to CSX-Pan Am merger
WASHINGTON – CSX Transportation has ironed out a wrinkle in its proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways by reaching an agreement with Vermont Rail System and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. In exchange for a combination of new trackage rights, haulage rights, and interchange agreements, Vermont Rail System and Vermont transportation officials […]