WASHINGTON — A Chicago Transit Authority train was in an emergency brake application when it struck a snow removal machine last month, according to the preliminary report released today (Tuesday, Dec. 12) by the National Transportation Safety Board. While preliminary reports set basic facts of an accident and do not determine cause of an incident, […]
WASHINGTON — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has released a budget for the fiscal year beginning in July 2024 that calls for drastic cuts to rail and bus service unless money can be found to address an operating deficit of $750 million — roughly 25% of the current budget. The proposed budget will include […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The EBT Foundation, Inc. announced Monday, Dec. 11, that due to scheduling and maintenance demands for its lone operating steam locomotive, the East Broad Top Railroad will not hold its highly popular annual Winter Spectacular railfan event for 2024. “The locomotive’s annual inspection falls during the period we have historically held […]
CHICAGO — Metra announced earlier this year that it would use trains decorated for special holiday excursions — which have been running to downtown Chicago on various routes on Saturdays since Dec. 2 — in regular commuter service, as well [see “Metra, CTA set plans …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 19, 2023]. This is a […]
SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Four trains per hour during peak periods, trip times for locals cut from 100 minutes to 75 minutes, and increased weekend service highlight Caltrain’s plan for service when electrification begins in fall 2024. The plan announced last week refines the initial proposal introduced in October [see “Caltrain offers details on initial […]
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne’s mayor has launched a new group to aid in efforts to bring passenger rail service back to Wyoming’s largest city. Mayor Patrick Collins announced creation of the 10-member Cheyenne Passenger Rail Commission on Monday, saying the group’s first meeting is set for this Friday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. It will […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad announced today it has moved one million tons of coal this year, reaching that long-sought goal for the first time in its 33-year history. The milestone reinforces the “Road of Anthracite” slogan adopted by owner and CEO Andy Muller since launching the railroad with an initial […]
At the turn of the 20th century, stunning, cathedral-like structures were commonly served by passenger-rail carriers. These stations were hubs of activity in major cities, from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles and in between. The hustle and bustle within the walls reflected the height of passenger-rail service in the United States at the […]
Santa Fe Super Fleet Virtually anyone these days with an interest in the industry knows what the term Super Fleet means. It’s the iconic red-and-silver warbonnet paint scheme worn by new Santa Fe locomotives during the twilight of the company’s existence. First applied to a Santa Fe locomotive in the late 1930s, the design graced […]
Greg Scholl, who turned his lifelong interest in trains into a major video production business, died Dec. 9, 2023, after a long illness. He was 72. His company, Greg Scholl Video Productions, is one of the last independent video producers, having produced more than 250 titles as he traveled North America in search of steam […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian government has announced new rules regarding rail air brake inspection and maintenance, to take effect Dec. 1, 2025. The new changes to the federal Railway Freight and Passenger Train Brake Inspection and Safety Rules, announced on Friday, Dec. 8, require railroads to: — Perform more robust brake inspections for heavy […]
CHICAGO — In a rarity on a number of fronts, Metra operated a special train today (Sunday, Dec. 10) for members of Congress between Chicago Union Station and the O’Hare Airport station on the North Central Service line. The train, using one of Metra’s decorated holiday train sets generally led by F40PH-3 No. 104, the […]
