HAMMOND, Ind. — The South Shore Line is opening its new Hammond Gateway station as of today (Friday, Oct. 18) and closing the existing Hammond station. The relocation will accommodate the West Lake Corridor line between Hammond and Dyer, Ind., currently under construction. “We sincerely appreciate our passengers’ patience and cooperation through this stage of […]
Zone & Region: Midwest
Great Lakes Central introduces a new look
CADILLAC, Mich. — Great Lakes Central Railroad painter Dave Leonard is a perfectionist. He and car shop worker Steve Smith have just spent 30 minutes measuring, remeasuring, and placing masking tape on Great Lakes Central Railroad’s new logo, on the repainted nose of former Montana Rail Link SD35 No. 384. It’s one of three such […]
STB extends mediation for Union Pacific, Metra
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board on Tuesday, Oct. 15, granted Union Pacific a 30-day extension to the mediation period in its effort to reach an agreement with Chicago’s Metra regarding some financial aspects of an agreement to continue commuter rail service on three Metra routes on UP lines. The mediation period was to have […]
Michigan Northern
Michigan Northern RS2 No. 1501 works in the rain on Oct. 7, 1978. Its main line consisted of the former Pennsylvania Railroad route from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw City and it operated from 1976 to 1986. Fred Hamilton photo […]
Spaces to Places VI | Fixing a wayward waterway, part 4
Watch as the river space quickly becomes a place, as Host Gerry Leone turns his attention to adding scenery along the newly created river scene of his HO scale Bona Vista HO scale double-deck model railroad. As always, you be sure to glean helpful tips and tricks you can easily mirror on your own layout! […]
Nickel Plate SD9 shines on Indiana Rail Experience cigar train
PLEASANT LAKE, Ind. — The Indiana Rail Experience operated its second cigar train using Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society passenger cars on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, on host railroad Indiana Northeastern. The “Rocky Patel Rolling Smoke Cigar Train” train operated behind Nickel Plate Road SD9 No. 358 in pull-pull fashion from Pleasant Lake to Hillsdale, […]
Two charged in looting of UP freight train
CHICAGO — Two people have now been charged in connection with the looting of a Union Pacific intermodal train Friday on the city’s West Side, WLS-TV reports. Derrick Weathers, 53, and Lemar Hollingsworth, 21, are facing misdemeanor charges for theft. Weathers is also facing a felony charge for drug possession. At least six individuals were […]
CPKC opens new US operations center
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — CPKC on Friday, Oct. 11, marked the opening of its new U.S. Operations Center at Knoche Yard in Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Quinton Lucas and CEO Keith Creel participated in the ribbon-cutting for the four-story, 46,000-square-foot tower completed in just 15 months. The structure is home to the U.S. Network Operations […]
Six arrested after looting of UP train in Chicago
Chicago Austin: CPD dispatched that several freight trains were being burglarized between Cicero and Lockwood. Lots of merchandise taken off trains and loaded into vehicles NBCSky5 has witnessed this. @metra and CPD in the area. Also @Metra delays. Live #NBCSky5 @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/8zJQhQonqc — Mike Lorber (@NBCSky5) October 11, 2024 CHICAGO — At least six people […]
Metra unveils proposed 2025 budget, capital plan
CHICAGO — Commuter rail operator Metra has unveiled a proposed 2025 operating budget of $1.135 billion and a $366.5 million capital plan, saying it will avoid fare increases by relying on sales tax revenues and a decreasing allotment of federal COVID relief aid to cover projected increases in expenses. The Thursday, Oct. 10, release of […]
Golden Spike Centennial
The Golden Spike Centennial Limited leaves Kansas City (Mo.) Union Station on May 14, 1969, St. Louis-bound via Norfolk & Western. Don Wood photo […]
Foraging for model railroad scenery materials
It’s no secret that model railroading can be expensive. Big-ticket individual items, such as locomotives, can carry price tags which climb north of $500. For good reason, too; it’s all too easy to forget how far model locomotive technology has come in recent years, with detail better than ever thanks to simultaneous advances in scanning, […]