Locomotive derails, destroys garage — for the second time

View through yard of derailed locomotive and damaged garage

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 […]

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Witness list set for House subcommittee hearing on rail safety

Trains Washington Watch logo

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 […]

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Amtrak National Limited service through the years

Streamlined diesel locomotives on Amtrak National Limited service with city skyline

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 […]

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A look at Amtrak’s Northeast day-trip services

Gray and blue high-speed train at station.

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 […]

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Rare images of Reading 2102 on the P&LE

Smoking steam locomotive on curve along river

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 […]

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Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum to mark 40th anniversary

Aerial view of RDC in front of station

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 […]

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