Punkin’ Vine

Silver and blue train rolling on track surrounded by grass under a cloudy sky.

Two Wabash F7s passes State Line Tower in Hammond, Ind., bound for the railroad’s so-called “Punkin’ Vine” route across northern Indiana to Montpelier, Ohio, in 1953. The railroad had 118 F7A and 9 F7B units. Robert R. Malinoski photo […]

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Driver killed at Norfolk Southern Chicago intermodal facility

Firefighters attending to truck cab smashed by railroad car

CHICAGO — One person was killed when a train struck a truck in a Norfolk Southern intermodal facility in Chicago’s Fuller Park neighborhood today (Monday, Nov. 20), the Chicago Tribune reports. The Chicago Fire Department reported the truck was stopped on tracks within the NS facility at 350 West Garfield Boulevard when it was struck […]

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Three injured as light rail train derails in Minneapolis

Logo of Twin Cities Metro Transit

MINNEAPOLIS — Three people suffered minor injuries Saturday night when a Metro Transit light rail train derailed in downtown Minneapolis, WCCO-TV reports. A concrete object on the tracks caused the derailment between the Nicollet Mall and Warehouse District/Hennepin stations about 8:30 p.m., according to Metro Transit. None of those injured required hospitalization. Replacement buses substituted […]

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Metra, CTA set plans for holiday trains

Commuter locomotive with holiday lights

CHICAGO — Metra has launched use of specially decorated trains for the holidays in regular commuter service, while the Chicago Transit Authority’s Holiday Train is set to begin operation on Nov. 24. The debut of the Metra trains — decorated for already sold-out holiday rides with Santa Claus in December — came on Friday, Nov. […]

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Some Amtrak Michigan cancellations to continue Saturday

Amtrak logo.

CHICAGO — Most Amtrak Wolverine and Blue Water trains will again be cancelled on Saturday, Nov. 18, but plans are to restore all service on the two routes as of Sunday, Nov. 19, Amtrak has announced. All six Wolverine trains and both directions of the Blue Water were cancelled today (Friday, Nov. 17) after a […]

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The Soo Line Central layout in HO scale

An image of a model railroad trackplan

Facts & features Name: Soo Line Central Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 8 x 20 feet Prototype: Soo Line, Wisconsin Central, and Canadian National Locale: Chicago Era: 1980 to present Style: island Mainline run: 98 feet (double tracked) Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: Atlas No. 8 Maximum grade: flat Benchwork: open grid Height: 38″ Roadbed: cork […]

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CTA Yellow Line service still suspended after collision

People in safety gear at site of crash between rapid-transit train and maintenance equipment

CHICAGO — Service on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Yellow Line remains suspended today (Friday, Nov. 17) after the Thursday collision between a two-car Yellow Line train and a piece of maintenance equipment that injured 38 people, 23 of whom were sent to hospitals for treatment. The train reportedly rear-ended a snow plow, according to a […]

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