POPLAR, Mont. — Approximately a dozen cars of a BNSF freight train derailed today (Feb. 16, 2025) near the town of Poplar, KRTV-TV reports. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred about 7 a.m. near U.S. Route 2; video on the KRTV website showed several grain hoppers that have spilled their load. According to the […]
CHICAGO — Departures of the Empire Builder have been cancelled in both directions today (Sunday, Feb. 16), for a second straight day, according to Amtrak’s website. No information on either cancellation was provided on the website or the Amtrak Alerts social media feed. However, the westbound Builder that was due in Portland at 11:17 a.m. […]
A deadly storm that that has brought significant flooding and other damage to at least five southeastern states has hit Norfolk Southern operations. CSX has also been impacted, although details are not currently available. An NS advisory of midday today informed intermodal customers that the route between Portsmouth, Ohio, and Bluefield, W.Va., is currently impassable, […]
Don’t have a lot of money to build a new layout? Perhaps you have a lot of odds and ends in your scrap box and want to put them to use. These “cast-off” items, along with common hardware materials, can provide you with enjoyable, innovative projects that could create a small layout. This layout could […]
The latest in the occasional series of articles recommended by Trains News Wire opens with a recent story from the Baltimore Banner looking at the B&P Tunnel, Amtrak’s efforts to maintain the 152-year-old bore, the plans to replace it, and the threats to the tunnel project. Also recommended: A Governing magazine opinion piece looks at […]
Hobbyists are drawn to specific railroads for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it was the line that served their hometown. Or maybe a relative worked on the railroad. Another reason — with less sentimental attachment — is that they like the paint scheme. The colors applied to diesel locomotives and freight cars are far from […]
KIRBY, Texas — Approximately 15 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed today (Feb. 15, 2025) in Kirby. No injuries or hazardous materials spills were reported. The derailment occurred about 1 p.m., a Union Pacific representative told KSAT-TV. The city said in a Facebook post that Gibbs Sprawl Road on the city’s northeast side will […]
MTH Electric Trains, 7393 Washington Blvd., Ste. 101, Elkridge, MD has announced a new ES44 locomotive. The 1:32 scale engines feature two remote-controlled ProtoCouplers, a detachable snow plow, onboard DCC/DSC decoder, and much more (70-2186 shown). Eight paint schemes will be available. Expected delivery in September 2025. To order, contact your local MTH retailer or […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — VIA Rail Canada has trimmed trains from its Ottawa-Toronto schedule until at least March because of equipment availability issues, the transportation advocacy group Transport Action Canada reports. In a post on its website, the group lists these trains as currently suspended: — Daily trains No. 42 (a 12:17 p.m. departure from Toronto) […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak has cancelled Empire Builder departures in both directions scheduled for today (Feb. 15, 2025), as well as the eastbound Borealis and one westbound Wolverine. Two Northeast Corridor trains have also been cancelled. The reasons for the cancellations differ. According to posts on the Amtrak Alerts feed on X.com, the Empire Builder slated […]
CALGARY, Alberta — The union representing CPKC engineering service workers in Canada has ratified a new four-year contract, the railroad has announced. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Maintenance of Way Employees Division (TRCR-MWED) represents about 2,300 workers. CPKC CEO Keith Creel said the ratification, announced Friday, Feb. 14, provides improved wages and benefits, but details […]
Obsolete railcars are getting a reprieve from the scrapper’s torch to serve as vital road links in an area of North Carolina ravaged by Hurricane Helene. The North Carolina Department of Transportation and Innovative Bridge Co. are installing retired flatcars as a quick fix to temporarily replace road bridges damaged or destroyed by the storm […]
