NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has asked President Joe Biden to form a Presidential Emergency Board to address a potential strike or lockout involving members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, NJ.com reports, delaying any potential job action. A union official and NJ Transit spokesman both confirmed the request to NJ Advance Media. […]
Zone & Region: Northeast
Locomotive derails, destroys garage — for the second time
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Apparently, trains vs. garages is the latest trend in derailments. A CSX locomotive overran the end of a wye at the railroad’s Niagara Falls Yard, derailed, and leveled a brick garage on Monday, July 22, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reports, spilling up to 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel. It was […]
Reading & Northern promotes Busher to vice-president, real estate
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern has promoted Jolene Busher, who began with the company as a part-time passenger car attendant in 2007, to vice-president, real estate. Busher’s path to her current position promotions through the passenger department to become manager of the private car fleet for the Muller family, owners of the […]
Witness list set for House subcommittee hearing on rail safety
WASHINGTON — The Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure has released the list of witnesses scheduled to appear in its Tuesday hearing on railroad safety — and no one representing a railroad or rail-industry group is among the seven people on the agenda. The hearing, “Examining the […]
Amtrak restores service after latest NEC interruption (updated)
NEW YORK —Amtrak service between New York and New Haven has been restored as of 2 p.m. after unscheduled track repairs, the passenger operator said in a 2 p.m. ET post on its website. Newsday, in a paywalled article, reports the problem was a broken rail in the Bronx. This would fit with the supposition […]
Amtrak National Limited service through the years
Amtrak National Limited service began operation on May 1, 1971, linking New York City and Washington, D.C., with Kansas City. It carried Nos. 30-31. The route roughly paralleled that of Interstate 70, which links Baltimore and Kansas City. The name was a nod to a Baltimore & Ohio train serving Washington and St. Louis, but […]
Reading & Northern Fall Foliage tickets on sale Monday (updated)
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Tickets for Reading & Northern’s 40th season of Fall Foliage passenger excursions will go on sale at 9 a.m. ET on Monday, July 22. Five weekends of excursions — featuring diesel and steam power — will run to Jim Thorpe, Pa., originating from Reading, Pittston, and Pottsville, from Saturday, Oct. 5, […]
A look at Amtrak’s Northeast day-trip services
More than any other region in the United States, the Northeast arguably provides the best experiences and opportunities for intercity travel by rail. Travelers can avoid heavy traffic congestion as well as the hassle of air travel, plus Amtrak offers multiple daily frequencies between key cities in the New England and Mid-Atlantic states. Whether you’re […]
Rare images of Reading 2102 on the P&LE
Of all the mainline steam locomotives running these days — and there is an uncanny amount of them — I can’t think of one with as many distinct transitions as Reading 4-8-4 No. 2102. By my count, she’s a cat with at least five lives, with four more to go, if you believe that sort […]
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum to mark 40th anniversary
LENOX, Mass. — The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a celebration on July 27 and and a concert on July 28, the museum has announced. It also is launching a new capital campaign to support its continued operation. “We’re holding these events to celeb rate the work we’ve done and […]
Extended shutdowns of parts of Green, Red lines on tap for MBTA in August
BOSTON — A 10-day shutdown of a portion of the Green Line and a seven-day suspension of service on part of the Red Line lead the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s August plans for maintenance work as it continues work to address a backlog of infrastructure repairs. Also on tap in August are weekend work projects […]
Conway Scenic Railroad plans events to mark 50th anniversary
NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — The Conway Scenic Railroad will celebrate precisely 50 years of operation with a series of trips on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4. It was on Saturday, Aug. 3, 1974 that former Canadian National 0-6-0 No. 7470 made its first official test run between North Conway and Conway, and Sunday, Aug. 4, […]