BNSF Railway recently restored former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy lounge-buffet-dome-observation car Silver Veranda as the Canyon View for its business car fleet. Canyon View was once the observation car for the Denver Zephyr. Dennis Stern TOPEKA, Kan. — BNSF Railway’s business fleet now features a newly restored dome observation car. BNSF No. 35, Canyon View […]
Union Pacific SD70AH No. 8948 leads EMDX SD70ACe-T4 Nos. 1502 and 1503 along with three other UP units on a test train from Denver to Tabernash, Colo., up the two-percent grade in Coal Creek Canyon on March 7. John Crisanti DENVER — New Electro-Motive Tier 4 SD70ACe-T4s are roaming the rails of Union Pacific’s Moffat […]
A cast Boxpok driver for a yet-to-be-built Pennsylvania T1 replica: No. 5550. The Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Steam Locomotive Trust says this is the first boxpok driving wheel cast in decades. Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Steam Locomotive Trust HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Steam Locomotive Trust is passing a new milestone. The non-profit organization cast its […]
The approximate location of the J&L Tunnel in Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River. Google Maps PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A westbound CSX Transportation merchandise freight train en route to Chicago from Cumberland, Md., caught fire early Monday near J&L Tunnel in downtown Pittsburgh. The incident occurred around 7:50 a.m. on the railroad’s Pittsburgh Subdivision near Milepost […]
WASHINGTON — After eight years, Amtrak is pulling the plug on one of its more successful promotions: National Train Day. In an e-mail to Trains Correspondent Bob Johnston, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says, “Since its inception, Amtrak Train Days/National Train Day has been a popular program, allowing us to celebrate the value that Amtrak brings […]
Bachmann E-Z App HO scale Alco RS-3 The Bachmann E-Z App RS-3 doesn’t have a Digital Command Control decoder or onboard sound system. The printed-circuit board with the Bluetooth receiver is mounted atop the motor and mechanism. The HO scale Alco RS-3 models a workhorse road-switcher and introduces Bachmann Trains’ new E-Z App touch-screen train […]
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Canadian National (North America scheme with Grand Trunk Western reporting marks), Illinois Central (black), Milwaukee Road (Hiawatha scheme), Missouri Pacific (Jenks Blue with screaming eagle), Soo Line (red and white), and Union Pacific (modern scheme). Four road numbers per scheme. Road-number-specific details, wire grab irons, and see-through […]
Guide to North American Steam Locomotives, Revised Edition By George H. Drury Kalmbach Books; 336 pages, 420 photos; softcover, 8.25 x 10.75 inches; $24.99 www.kalmbachhobbystore.com Six decades after the decline of steam in North America, Kalmbach has just issued a revised edition of the Guide to North American Steam Locomotives. A reference book on steam […]
Coal empties for Danville, W.Va., roll by the W.E. MacCorkle Siding on CSX Transportation’s Coal River Subdivision in April 2013. Chase Gunnoe CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal country’s railroaders keep a watchful eye on their train crew assignments these days. They’re waiting for further cutbacks to terminals throughout West Virginia and trying not to believe too […]
MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn. — You want to shout at the truck driver and yell, “stop!” wave your arms, do something. But you know it’s already too late because in the video you’re watching, the driver is seconds away from plowing into the lead locomotive of a Canadian National freight train. The Minnesota State Patrol this […]
A Washington state man home-built a coal-or wood-fired standard-gauge steam speeder and placed it for sale on eBay. The asking price is $14,000. Ross Bendixen SAMMAMISH, Wash. — The railroad speeder can be the basis for a lot of projects. Some people like to restore motorcars to their original appearances. Others like to create their […]
A screen capture image of the Association of American Railroads’ latest updated Freight Rail Works website. Association of American Railroads’ website WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today debuted the newest installment of its Freight Rail Works campaign, which explores how freight rail’s ongoing private investments in building, growing and maintaining the nation’s rail […]
