BNSF train derails near Oklahoma City

BNSF Railway logo

MOORE, Okla. — Twenty-two cars of a BNSF Railway train derailed today (Friday, Aug. 18)  in suburban Oklahoma City, blocking a grade crossing that could remain closed for several days. The derailment kept Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer from reaching its Oklahoma City terminus. The Oklahoman newspaper reports the derailment involving carloads of plastic pellets occurred about […]

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Federal court strikes down approval of Uinta Basin Railway project

Logo of Uinta Basin Railway

WASHINGTON — A federal court has struck down the Surface Transportation Board’s approval of the Uinta Basin Railway project, calling the decision allowing its construction “arbitrary and caprious.” The court also vacated the Environmental Impact Statement and a related document underlying that decision and sent the matter back to the STB. In granting the exemption […]

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Young Guns in Preservation: Andrew Nawn

Young volunteer working on a trolley car.

The importance of a quality guest experience when visiting public rail preservation sites – such as a railroad museum – can sometimes be overlooked by those in the industry, but certainly not for Andrew Nawn, who serves as the founder and leader of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum’s Beautification Committee. With a dedicated team of fellow […]

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Tourist railroads in the Southwestern United States

Two steam locomotives pulling passenger trains

Southwest tourist railroads you must visit include a museum dedicated to the history of Harvey Houses, an excursion that takes you to one of the worldwide scenic wonders, and everything in between. From Trains Magazine’s Tourist Trains Guidebook, here’s our list of tourist railroads, museums, and displays to experience in the region. Southwest Tourist Railroads […]

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Caltrain orders battery-electric trainset for trial operation

Red and white electric multiple-unit trainset under dramatic sunset

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Caltrain will purchase a battery-electric version of the Stadler electric multiple-unit passenger equipment it has purchased for its upcoming electrification, allowing operation beyond the limits of system electrification. The California Transportation Commission has approved the funding for the purchase of a single battery-electric trainset and related maintenance and charging facilities, Caltrain […]

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Kitbash a saddle tank engine

maroon and black model steam engine

Kitbash a saddle tank engine: I uncovered an old Lionel large scale 0-6-0 with outside drive gears that I had kitbashed several years ago. It had a neat cab and unusual stack, which was a little bent due to a smoke unit overheating. The drive system was so poor that I had to undo one of the driver […]

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LA receives new subway cars

Stainless steel subway car with black and yellow nose

LOS ANGELES — LA Metro has received the first cars in an order of new subway equipment built by China’s CRRC, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. The 75-foot-long stainless steel HR4000 cars will be placed in service in six to eight months, a Metro spokesman told the Daily News in an email. They have […]

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Restraining-rail issue disrupts Ottawa light rail service

Red and white light rail trainset in station

OTTAWA, Ontario — Service on Ottawa’s light rail Confederation Line was reduced on Thursday, just four days after it resumed following a four-week shutdown, because of issues with a restraining rail on a curve between the Hurdman and uOttawa stations. All trains were routed onto the eastbound track between those two stations when it was […]

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Investigation continues into Scarborough derailment

Blue rail rapid transit train

TORONTO — An investigation continues into the July 24 derailment on the Toronto Transit Commission’s Scarborough RT line, with the TTC saying on Thursday that “another couple of weeks” would be required for the ongoing assessment of equipment and infrastructure. Test trains ran in the area of the Lawrence and Ellesmere stations “as part of […]

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