Grand Canyon Railway sets 2023 steam dates

Black steam locomotive pulling passenger train around curve

  WILLIAMS, Ariz. – The Grand Canyon Railway has announced dates it will operate 2-8-2 No. 4960 in 2023. The railroad typically uses the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad locomotive to pull trains between Williams and Grand Canyon one Saturday a month, plus some additional dates. The 2023 steam dates are: February 18 for […]

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Exclusive Layout Visits Trailer

black and red model train model

You’ve seen amazing model railroads of all scales highlighted in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. Now Trains.com Unlimited members can see them in action! Join layout builders, owners, and operators on exclusive, up-close, guided walking tours of the sights and sounds that promise to thrill and inspire. […]

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Weather cancellations impact Amtrak and its western network

Train approaching in snowstorm

CHICAGO — The well-publicized snows that buried Buffalo, N.Y., and resulted in a lengthy cancellation of the New York/Boston-Chicago Lake Shore Limited haven’t been this winter’s only disruptor of Amtrak’s national network. Extreme weather since late December has also been responsible for two significant Amtrak long-distance train cancellations in the west. Flooding truncates Starlight The […]

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Work begins on Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985

Diesel and two steam locomotives in large shop building

  SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America crews have taken the first steps toward returning Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 to operation this week by stripping parts off the 4-6-6-4. Today crews lifted the cab off the locomotive. “RRHMA crews have been making good progress all week striping down [No.] 3985,” says Steve […]

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Bakken Energy announces alliance with BNSF Railway

BNSF Railway logo

BISMARCK, N.D. – Bakken Energy, a developer of affordable clean hydrogen, announced a memorandum of understanding with BNSF Railway to collaborate on the design of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub. In collaboration with the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Montana, Bakken Energy is working on the design of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub, a regional […]

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Metro-North Commuter Railroad marks 40th anniversary

MetroNorth_Bridgeport_Lassen

  NEW YORK — New Year’s Day 2023 marked the 40th anniversary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad, which began operation on Jan. 1, 1983, taking over commuter operations from Conrail. Since then, Metro-North has upgraded Grand Central Terminal, acquired more than 800 new cars, and added seven new stations. Ridership had more than […]

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George Walker, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum general manager, dies

Man in safety vest in door of steam locomotive cab

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — George Walker, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum general manager, passenger operations, died Jan. 4, 2023, following an accident at the organization’s shop facility in the early afternoon hours, according to Penelope Soule Gault, museum marketing and public relations director, and a statement posted on their website. The museum’s statement reads: “The Tennessee Valley […]

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Caltrain marks milestones in electrification project

Caltrain logo

SAN FRANCISCO — In 2022 California’s Caltrain achieved a number of milestones for its $2.44 billion electrification project from San Francisco to its Tamien Station in San Jose, Calif. It’s the largest electrification project in the U.S. since Amtrak completed electrification of its Northeast Corridor from New Haven to Boston in 2000. Construction on the […]

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Sisseton Milbank Railroad seeking federal grants to rebuild line

Web of 75-pound rail

  SISSETON, S.D. — The Sisseton Milbank Railroad, owned by Twin Cities & Western Railroad, is seeking $24.7 million in grant funds to rebuild the railroad, the Watertown (S.D.) Public Opinion reported. The former Milwaukee Road branch line was built in 1893 and still has 75-pound rail. The railroad can’t handle 286,000 pound cars and […]

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State, local rail projects part of Omnibus funding bill

passenger train conductor scanning tickets

WASHINGTON — In December, Congress passed the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which will continue funding for the federal government. Appropriators included significant funding for passenger rail and transit grant programs, which came in addition to capital funding included in the five-year Bipartisan Infrastructure bill. The measure includes $2.45 billion for Amtrak — below […]

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