Canadian National set a grain volume record for February by moving 2.4 million metric tons out of Western Canada for the month, topping the record set last year by 200,000 metric tons. CN attributes February’s performance to increased collaboration between supply chain partners, which helped the railway bounce back from a period of extreme cold. […]
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DART CEO says Dallas changes to Silver Line project have cost her agency $80 million
DALLAS — Saying the city of Dallas has cost her agency more than $80 million through delays and changes to its planned Silver Line commuter rail project, Dallas Area Rapid Transit CEO Nadine Lee said Tuesday that DART may retain that amount out of some $111 million in excess sales tax revenue the transit organization […]
Family of man dragged to death by Red Line train sues MBTA
BOSTON — The family of a man dragged to his death by a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority train last year after his arm became caught in a closing door has sued the transit agency. The Boston Globe reports the family of Robinson Lalin, killed in the April 10, 2022, accident on the Red Line, alleges […]
InnoTrans reports 80% of display space already booked for 2024
BERLIN — About 80% of the display area for InnoTrans 2024 has already been booked — a record for this stage in the booking process, the director of the international rail trade show said Wednesday. The biennial event will be held Sept. 24-27 at the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds. “We are delighted with the consistently […]
U.S. rail traffic down again in February
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was down again for the month of February, showing a 5.2% decline compared to figures for the same month in 2022. The overall drop included a 1.6% decrease in carload traffic and an 8.4% decline for intermodal volume, according to the Association of American Railroads. It followed a 3.2% drop […]
Visiting the Monticello Railway Museum
If you are in the Midwest, visiting the Monticello Railway Museum is a great idea. The Midwest is often overlooked when it comes to railway preservation. The Monticello Railway Museum is located in central Illinois about 20 miles west of Champaign. Overlooked, it should not be. Here’s why. First off, at every turn are volunteers […]
Model steam locomotives and curve radius
If you’ve ever tried to run a big locomotive around a small radius curve of track, you probably realized that the minimum recommended track radius is still too small for a lot of rolling stock. Long-wheelbase steam locomotives, in particular, have trouble staying on the rails when the curve is too sharp. Model railroad manufacturers […]
How much space for a loop of track?
Q: I want to run six-axle power and trains of 15 cars or so around a return loop without any tight curves to it. What would be the recommended curve radius I should use, and how much space for a loop of track do I need? – Mike Bailey A: The flippant answer is, how […]
What about removing flanges from diesel wheels?
Q: Interesting article on removing the flanges from steam locomotive drivers. So, what about those long diesel engines like the General Electric C44-9W or EMD’s FP45s or SD40? Could removing flanges from diesel wheels help my HO scale Athearn Blue Box diesels go around 19” radius curves? If so, the question becomes what’s the easiest way […]
Ride the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Riding the Cumbres & Toltec Ride the Cumbres and Toltec in the San Juan Mountains. And when you do, above the 9,500-foot level, the cold thin air nips at the skin on the edge of a breeze flavored with coal soot. In this scene, we have gathered to witness the ritual of a narrow gauge […]
CP nominates former FRA administrator as KCS trustee
WASHINGTON – Canadian Pacific has asked federal regulators to approve the appointment of former Federal Railroad Administration administrator and longtime railroad executive Ron Batory as trustee of the CP-Kansas City Southern voting trust. The move comes after former KCS CEO Dave Starling, who had been serving as trustee, died last month. “Mr. Batory is eminently […]
A signature N scale truck for Tehachapi
A signature N scale truck for Tehachapi: This photo of a cattle truck at Caliente, Calif., existed in my mind for perhaps 10 years before it finally came to fruition, and it was spurred by buying a Road Apples N scale stock trailer kit. The kit had two things going for it. First, I thought […]