Union Pacific bridge sustains moderate damage, but remains in service after fire A Union Pacific Railroad bridge in Springfield, Ore., suffered moderate damage in a fire early Monday morning, although the railroad is able to continue operations over the bridge at reduced speed. The Eugene Register-Guard reports firefighters from the Eugene Springfield Fire Department responded […]
Zone & Region: Northeast
Digest: British rail disruptions continue, could last for weeks
British intercity rail disruptions could last for weeks after high speed trains are sidelined Disruptions to British intercity rail service are continuing for a third day and could last for week after Hitachi high speed trainsets were removed from service over cracks were found in the suspension of some trains. The Guardian reports Great Western […]
Analysis: Long road ahead for improving Northeast Corridor speeds
WASHINGTON — When President Joseph Biden touted the possibility of 1½ -hour trips between Washington, D.C., and New York in his April 30th address in Philadelphia for Amtrak’s 50th anniversary, he said elimination of three curves could potentially make that possible. That prompted Trains News Wire to follow up with Amtrak on the current engineering […]
Digest: Reading & Northern owner plans to spend $4-5 million to upgrade newly purchased line
Reading & Northern plans to upgrade new line for 40-mph operation, will look to begin passenger excursions Reading & Northern owner Andy Muller plans to spend $4 million to $5 million to upgrade the 19.5-mile line he is purchasing from Carbon County, Pa., with the goal of raising track speed from the current 25-mph limit […]
Hippo
Hippo Pennsylvania 2-10-0 4414 races north along Route 14 north of Williamsport, Pa., at 40 mph. The locomotives’ lumbering appearance gave rise to the nickname “Hippo.” Jim Shaughnessy photo […]
Digest: Santa Cruz transportation commission puts off reconsideration of rail transit plan
Santa Cruz commission declines to revisit vote on rail proposal The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission has elected to delay further action on the California coastal county’s proposed 32-mile rail-and-trail project, a reflection of the strong divisions that have developed over the possibility of building a rail transit system on the former Southern Pacific […]
N&W No. 611 to return to Strasburg Rail Road
ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 No. 611 will again return to Pennsylvania’s Strasburg Rail Road for excursions and other special events, the Virginia Museum of Transportation and Strasburg have announced. The Strasburg visit will begin later this month and continue through October 2021. Events will include opportunities to ride behind the […]
Digest: East Broad Top receives $100,000 grant for Colgate Grove rehabilitation
Allegheny Foundation grant will aid East Broad Top rehab of picnic area Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to the East Broad Top Foundation to support rehabilitation of the Colgate Picnic Grove, the turnaround point for EBT steam excursions since 1961. The wye at Colgate Grove originated as a spur serving a clay […]
Digest: Conrail names Gorton as president, COO
Brian Gorton named as Conrail president, chief operating officer Conrail has named Brian E. Gorton as its president and chief operating officer, succeeding the retired Timothy Tierney. The move, announced Thursday, was effective April 19. Gorton, who began his railroad career as a conductor for Conrail in 1987, was most recently the general manager of […]
Big Boy restoration at Steamtown complete, locomotive returns to public display
SCRANTON, Pa. – Following a nearly two-year renovation, Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive No. 4012 has been returned to public display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. During a several-hour procedure on Wednesday, the locomotive and tender were moved from a location outside the park’s paint shop, spun separately on the turntable, reunited, […]
Digest: LA Metro releases $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022
LA Metro budget will restore service to pre-pandemic levels LA Metro has released an $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022 including restoration of rail and bus service to pre-pandemic levels and the start of testing for two projects: the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX light rail line, also known as the K line, and the 1.9-mile Regional Connector, […]
Flexi-Van innovation
Flexi-Van innovation With highway-wheel bogies in place, New York Central’s Flexi-Van pioneering containers looked like standard truck trailers. Flexi-Van containers had lights, unlike standard shipping containers. New York Central photo […]