TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey legislators on Monday held a hearing on a bill that would require two-person crews, limit train lengths, and mandate wayside defect detectors for “high-hazard trains,” those transporting flammable or hazardous materials. The hearing on S4049, introduced in June and sponsored by state Sens. Patrick Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex) and Gordon Johnson […]
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U.S. solicitor general says federal law preempts state regulation of grade crossings
WASHINGTON — Federal regulation of railroads preempts state laws regarding regulation of grade crossings, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar has told the U.S. Supreme Court in a filing on behalf of the federal government. The filing, reported by WXIX-TV, came as the court considers whether to hear Ohio’s appeal of case regarding the ability of […]
Financial deal between Toronto, Ontario includes new subway equipment
TORONTO — Toronto will receive 70 new subway trains and up to $1.2 billion in operating support for subway, light-rail, and other transit projects, as part of a major deal between the city and the Province of Ontario announced on Monday. The largest financial aspect of the agreement will see oversight and costs of maintaining […]
Indiana Rail Road’s 33rd Santa Train set for this weekend
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Rail Road’s Santa Train returns for its 33rd year beginning this Friday, Dec. 1, making stops in a dozen cities on a three-day journey across the Indiana Rail Road system. At the locations listed on the schedule below, visitors will board the train’s decorated cars to visit with Santa and Mrs. […]
MBTA begins maintenance shutdowns on Green Line
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority on Monday began the first work in its massive program to eliminate slow orders on its rail transit network, initiating maintenance shutdowns on the Green Line that will run through Dec. 10. Full closures are set through Dec. 5 downtown between North Station and Kenmore; on the Green […]
Genesee & Wyoming switching subsidiary announces new contracts
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Genesee & Wyoming’s switching subsidiary, Rail Link, Inc., announced it has signed five new contracts since September with customers across the U.S. The agreements include handling of biofuels and liquid petroleum gases for a facility in Southern California; wood chips, chemicals, and containerboard for paper manufacturers in Savannah, Ga., and South Carolina; […]
Tangent O scale brass tank car
Tangent Scale Models, known for its line of highly detailed N and HO scale injection-molded plastic freight cars, is now offering a General American Transportation Corp. (GATC) 1928-design 6,000-gallon, three-compartment tank car in brass. The tank cars, available in two-rail O scale (5’-0” gauge wheels) and Proto:48 (4’-8” gauge wheels), were produced by Sam Model […]
News & Products for the week of November 27th 2023
News & Products for the week of November 27th 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of November 27th […]
CSX unveils Atlantic Coast Line heritage locomotive
A tribute to Atlantic Coast Line is the latest heritage locomotive to emerge from CSX’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga. CEO Joe Hinrichs posted photos of the locomotive on his LinkedIn account this afternoon. “Here’s the new CSX Atlantic Coast Line Heritage Locomotive fresh out of the paint shop in Waycross, Georgia,” Hinrichs wrote. “We […]
Threadleaf heavenly bamboo
Common name: Threadleaf heavenly bamboo Latin name: Nandina domestica ‘Filamentosa’ Plant size: 1-2′ Plant type: Shrubs and small trees USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-11 Cultural needs: Sun or part shade, moist or dry soil The shrubby nandina belongs to the barberry family, not actually bamboo, but it mimics the willowy, grassy feel of bamboo. While the […]
Saving the San Francisco Belt Railroad
San Francisco Belt Railroad For those of us lucky enough to chase trains on the San Francisco peninsula when it was served by many railroads, life was good. Besides being able to see Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, and Western Pacific, there was the San Francisco Belt Railroad, a local switching operation that vigorously served the […]
CTA’s Yellow Line remains shut down after collision
CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority’s Yellow Line remains shut down today (Monday, Nov. 27) as the Thanksgiving holiday period ends, some 11 days after the Nov. 16 collision between a Yellow Line train and a snowplow that injured 38 people. WLS-TV reports that the CTA has not offered any estimate when the line will […]