Odd-looking signal

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This odd-looking signal serves to warn motorists. Sherman Cahal Q What can you tell me about this signal? – Carl Lehman, San Antonio A The photo was taken along the Baltimore & Ohio’s line in Greenfield, Ohio, and faces Baltimore Avenue, which runs parallel to the tracks through the city. The single top light will […]

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Diesels victorious

  The West Chester Railroad’s May 2018 photo charter featured Alco RS18 No. 1803 with three freight cars, a baggage car, and a passenger car. The former Pennsylvania Railroad line still features catenary supports, a reminder of its days as a Philadelphia commuter line. Photo by Bill Monaghan […]

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No trespassing

  A Napoleon, Defiance & Western train passes the former Wabash Railroad freight house in Napoleon, Ohio, on Oct. 19, 2014. At far right is reminder of another previous owner of the line. Photo by Brian Schmidt   […]

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Escarpment

You don’t need to go west to find the mountains. Canadian Pacific ES440AC No. 8800 is down to hardly a crawl going up and over the Niagara Escarpment on the Galt Sub between Milton and Guelph Junction, Ontario. Photo by Brandon Muir […]

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Tortoise and the hare

  A southbound Amtrak Acela Express overtakes an outbound empty Norfolk Southern oil train on the Northeast Corridor lead by the Central of New Jersey-painted heritage unit near Elkton, Md., on Jan. 4, 2015. Photo by Michael S. Murray […]

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Tread lightly

  Recent heavy rains have caused standing water in many parts of central Ohio. Here, Norfolk Southern No. 5228 shoves local L55 over the former Pennsylvania Railroad “Panhandle” main line to pick up some cars at Circleville Ag, just east of downtown Circleville, Ohio. Photo by Carlos Ferran […]

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10,000th

  On Feb. 18, 2018, the 10,000th delivery of a Boeing 737 fuselage manufactured in Wichita, Kan., arrived in Seattle on car MTTX 971483. Note the “10,000 Deliveries” marking spray-painted ahead of the wing base. Photo by David Honan  […]

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Operating in push vs. pull

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An eastbound express Metra train, operating in push mode, pauses at Western Springs, Ill., on Sept. 10, 2009. You can see the engineer in the window of the cabcar. Paul Hoffmann Q What’s the difference in touch or feel for an engineer running in push mode versus pull mode? Is there a limit to the […]

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Taking Care of Business: Copper Basin Railway, Part 2

View from inside a locomotive cab at gray with red-stripe diesel locomotives in a yard.

Our insider look at Arizona’s Copper Basin Railway continues, with Charlie Conway focusing his cameras on the real pride of the CBR — its employees! In part 2 of 2, you’ll follow inspectors, mechanics, dispatchers, conductors, engineers, and others who are busy Taking Care of Business. Enjoy this video, and then learn more about the […]

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Water tanks in winter

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Duluth & Northeastern No. 14 fills up at Cloquet, Minn., in 1958. William D. Middleton Q How did railroads in northern states keep water in tanks from freezing in the winter? Were the tanks heated and insulated, or filled just before use? – James Alain, Chassell, Mich. A Many water towers in colder climates had […]

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