MIAMI — Tri-Rail commuter service to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station is now projected to begin this fall, according to David Dech, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The website Miami Today reports Dech made that projection last week during a presentation to the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust board. Tri-Rail, which currently has its […]
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Train stations most likely spot for angry social media posts, study says
KYOTO, Japan — That guy tapping away on his cellphone at the train station? If he’s on Twitter, he’s probably not happy. Angry social media posts are most likely to originate at train stations, according to newly published research. Sky News reports that researchers at the Kyoto Institute of Technology analyzed more than two million […]
Getting small: the Bobber Caboose comes to Lionel
The Bobber Caboose comes to Lionel with the 2022 Volume I catalog. Although new to the Orange & Blue, these models aren’t an entirely rare site on O gauge layouts since they were previously produced by MTH Electric Trains. Lionel purchased the tooling for these cars from MTH during the latter’s sell-off a few years […]
Trip by Shay No. 5 marks first steam test run for restored Cass-Durbin rail line
CASS, W.Va. — Cass Scenic Railroad Shay No. 5 made the first trial steam run over the restored former C&O Greenbrier Division track between Cass and Durbin, W.Va., on Wednesday, operator Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad has announced. The 30-mile round trip was the first for a steam locomotive since the Greenbrier River destroyed much […]
Five Burlington Northern kitbashes
Kitbashing is a facet of the hobby many model railroaders enjoy. Full-size railroads modify equipment, too. As I was combing through my photo collection and images in our David P. Morgan Memorial Library, I found five Burlington Northern kitbashes. Hopefully one or more of these cars will inspire your next modeling project. Want more Burlington […]
East Broad Top No. 16 set to operate at Winter Spectacular (updated)
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Steam-powered excursions will highlight the East Broad Top Railroad’s upcoming Winter Spectacular, the railroad said in a press release today (Thursday, Feb. 2), with the return of 2-8-2 No. 16 to operating condition. The railroad, which posted a video of the 1916 Baldwin-built locomotive on its Facebook page on Wednesday, confirmed […]
Maine DOT proposes $3 million for pilot of Brunswick-Rockland RDC service
PORTLAND, Maine — The prospect of regular passenger service on a state-owned route between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine, received a big boost last week when Maine’s Department of Transportation budgeted $3 million to advance a two-year pilot project utilizing 1950s-era Budd Rail Diesel Cars. The Camden, Maine, Courier Herald originally reported the development. Northern New […]
California agency awards more than $2.5 billion for transit projects
SACRAMENTO — A $600 million award to L.A. Metro for its East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Corridor project heads the more than $2.5 billion in funding announced this week by the California State Transportation Agency for transit projects, most of them rail-related. The awards are to 16 projects, including funding announced earlier this […]
Property owners sue NJ Transit, county over 2021 flooding
BOUND BROOK, N.J. — A group of 17 property owners have filed suit against NJ Transit and New Jersey’s Somerset County over damage from September 2021 flooding, saying their losses resulted from a stalled commuter train that prevented a flood gate from properly closing. NJ.com reports photos and videos from the Sept. 1, 2021, incident […]
Minnesota governor’s budget calls for funding second Chicago-Twin Cities train
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has included more than $5 million in funding for a second Chicago-Twin Cities passenger train in his recommendations for the state’s 2024-24 budgets. The La Crosse Tribune reports the recommendations include increases in the state funding in capital projects to reflect inflation, as well as funds to […]
Significant intermodal drop keeps January rail traffic below 2022 figure
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic began 2023 in sluggish fashion, with overall volume for January down 3.2% from the first month of 2022, according to the Association of American Railroads. Weekly traffic for the week ending Jan. 28 was also down compared to the corresponding week a year earlier. The January figures included a 2.2% […]
Equipment issues, derailment lead to Wolverine cancellations (updated)
CHICAGO — Citing “ongoing equipment issues,” Amtrak has cancelled one round trip of Wolverine service between Chicago and Detroit on Thursday, following similar cancellations today (Wednesday, Feb. 1), as well as other disruptions because of a Canadian National derailment Tuesday night in Detroit. Equipment problems are also being cited for a series of delays on […]