This view inside a hump control tower at Conway Yard, the giant former Pennsylvania Railroad facility on the north bank of the Ohio River west of Pittsburgh, dates from the early months of Conrail. Conrail photo […]
Early Conrail at Conway Yard
Zone & Region: Appalachia
Analysis: Infrastructure gets scaled back in coal country
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Seldom-used rail sidings and excess segments of double track are under review in coal country as CSX Transportation assesses its needs to handle coal traffic. In the past few months, the railroad’s engineering forces have taken a close look at infrastructure in the central Appalachian coalfields served by its former Chesapeake & […]
Federal regulators ask Norfolk Southern to respond to shipper complaints
WASHINGTON – Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman today asked Norfolk Southern CEO Jim Squires to explain the railroad’s deteriorating performance metrics and rising number of shipper complaints. “I am requesting that you provide the Board with a review of the current state of NSR’s network, and your assessment of what factors are affecting NSR’s […]
Trains Magazine, Western Maryland Scenic announce 1309 event
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Trains Magazine and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad are pleased to announce the first enthusiast event to celebrate return of newly restored 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, to be held Feb. 25-27, 2022. The three-day event will be limited to 100 participants and will include a night run on the legendary Western Maryland Railway main […]
The Trains Interview: Western Maryland Scenic’s Wesley Heinz, Part II
Second of two parts CUMBERLAND, Md. — The conclusion of a Trains News Wire interview with with Wesley Heinz, executive director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Part I is available here. Q: Second to 1309, track infrastructure has been a recurring topic of discussion. How is the railroad addressing track needs to avoid another […]
The Trains Interview: Western Maryland Scenic’s Wesley Heinz, Part I
First of two parts CUMBERLAND, Md. – It’s been about five months since New England rail preservationist Wesley Heinz took the top spot as interim chief and then permanent executive director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland. Prior to migrating to Cumberland, Heinz was the executive director of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad […]
Pennsylvania Railroad HO scale transition era layout images
Pennsylvania Railroad HO scale transition era layouts Pennsylvania Railroad HO scale transition era layouts are among the grandest and most visually stunning in model railroading. Bridges, viaducts, and tunnels stitch together verdant vistas. Brunswick green, Tuscan red, or plain black steam and diesel locomotives thread drag freights and limiteds alike through lush canyons, beside quarries, […]
Pan-American
Pan-American In March 1971, Louisville & Nashville train 8, the northbound Pan-American, arrives at Nashville Union Station. Phil Gosney photo […]
Reading Company: A railroad history
Reading Company, as a railroad, disappeared into Conrail more than 40 years ago. But it is still possible to “take a ride on the Reading.” This can be done when playing the board game Monopoly, or (more literally) by boarding a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority commuter train in the Philadelphia area. Today, the Reading (pronounced […]
West Virginia autumn excursion postponed
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The 2021 Autumn Colors Express railroad passenger excursions in the New River Gorge have been postponed. “An overwhelming number of customers have expressed concern about this year’s event. The current surge in COVID-19 cases in West Virginia has local hospitals operating at emergency levels, making postponement our best and only option this […]
Analysis: Thermal coal demand trends upward as natural gas prices rise
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — High natural gas prices have electric utilities once again relying on railroading’s oldest friend – coal. Natural-gas futures have notched upward to $5.10 per million British thermal units in recent days, reflecting a 95% increase from six months ago when natural gas was $2.61 per million BTUs. This upward trend, which has […]
Bristol brothers
Bristol brothers Southern and Norfolk & Western shared the N&W roundhouse, located on the Virginia side of Bristol. SOU F3 4151 and N&W J 602 wait to take trains west and east, respectively, on March 2, 1957. Steve Patterson photo […]
