Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960 steams up for Earth Day

Black steam locomotive pulling passenger train around curve

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel provided an Earth Day celebration with some steam added to the mix in the form of their 2-8-2 No. 4960. The former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad steam locomotive, with assistance from F40 diesel No. 4128, pulled the railway’s round-trip excursion train from Williams to the […]

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High iron baseball — exploring independent leagues

Aerial view of baseball stadium with train line outside left field

Trains are just as American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. What’s even better is combining these. Imagine sitting back in the stands, munching a hot dog, watching a ballgame, and a train rumbles past outside the right-field fence. Could summertime be any better? This is high iron baseball — exploring independent leagues More […]

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High iron baseball — AAA minor league stadiums

amtrak passenger train at station next to baseball park

We continue our look at the best ballparks to catch a game and a train with a few stops on the AAA minor league circuit. High iron baseball — AAA minor league stadiums More than half of the nation’s 240 professional baseball stadiums have a railroad connection — built next to a railroad, located on […]

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Remote railroading in Alaska

yellow and red switcher with idler flat

Alaska is a state like no other. It is the largest in the Union but has fewer than 800,000 residents. There is only one currently operating “mainline” railroad. Local trains still stop in the middle of nowhere for off-the-gridders needing transportation to and from traditional towns. Outside its cities, villages, and oil exploration sites, it […]

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Trails and Rails offerings on Amtrak routes set for 2023

Man speaking into microphone on train

WASHINGTON — Eleven Amtrak routes in 2023 will again feature commentary about the regions the trains are passing through. The program, staffed regionally with volunteers sponsored by National Park Service historical sites, monuments, and national parks, began in 2000 and has enriched journeys aboard many long-distance trains. There were cutbacks in 2018 when Amtrak stopped […]

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CN reaches agreement with Teamsters Canada Rail Conference

Teamsters_Canada_logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have reached a tentative labor agreement, the parties announced Sunday. The agreement covers approximately 6,000 locomotive engineers, conductors, and yard workers in Canada, who now must ratify the deal. A ratification vote will be held via electronic secret ballot May 5-26. The union said […]

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Patriot Rail puts a new face on Keokuk Junction operations

Side view of blue locomotive leading train with part of red and gray locomotive also visible

KEOKUK, Iowa — Patriot Rail, which acquired the Keokuk Junction Railway last year, has begun upgrading the railroad’s locomotive roster. The new owner has moved in a former CSX Transportation GP38-3, now LTEX No. 3048, and GP40-2 No. 6437, both in the Patriot Rail corporate paint scheme honoring veterans and troops. The cab sides include […]

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Miami exploring effort to expand commuter rail service

Map of rail lines in Miami area

MIAMI — Miami-Dade County officials are attempting to revive a long-dormant proposal for commuter rail service west and south of downtown using existing CSX Transportation tracks, the Miami Herald reports. The western line would run from Miami International Airport — the current terminus of Tri-Rail service north to West Palm Beach — to the Doral […]

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Montreal light rail plans summer opening, promises no more delays

Two light rail trains running on track in center divider of highway

  MONTREAL — The first segment of the much-delayed Réseau express métropolitain light rail system will open this summer, says the head of operations for the company building the 42-mile, 26-station system. The Montreal Gazette reports Denis Andlauer, vice-president of operations for CDPQ Infra, promised there will not be another delay in opening during a […]

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Two escape injury when light plane crashes on CPKC main line in Iowa

Single-engine aircraft crashed on railroad track

BUFFALO, Iowa — Two people suffered minor injuries early Saturday morning when their single-engine airplane crashed onto CPKC railroad tracks in Buffalo, WQAD-TV reports. Responding to a report of a vehicle accident about 1:40 a.m. on State Route 22, officers from the Buffalo Police Department found a single-engine aircraft had crashed. The pilot was attempting […]

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