Siemens Venture-series passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: To be announced Era: 2020s+ Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Features: Detailed, illuminated interiors Road-specific exterior configurations E-Z Mate Mark II couplers Blackened machined metal RP-25 contour wheels Dual-mode horn, bell, brake sounds, headlights, ditch lights, and marker lights (cab […]
Zone & Region: Canada
CN, energy firm Keyera to look at new terminal in Alberta
CALGARY — Canadian National and oil and gas service and transportation firm Keyera will evaluate development of a new terminal to ship conventional and clean energy in Alberta’s “industrial heartland,” the companies announced Wednesday. The facility would be on adjoining land belonging to CN and Keyera and would provide a single terminal to transport energy […]
CN 4-8-4 at Hamilton Junction
Canadian National 4-8-4 6232 swings through Hamilton Junction, Ont., with a passenger extra for Hamilton in 1958, when steam was mostly gone from U.S. main lines but still going strong in parts of Canada. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Canadian Pacific, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference reach two-year agreement
CALGARY — Canadian Pacific has reached a new two-year agreement with Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Train and Engine employees through binding arbitration, the railroad announced. The union represents about 3,000 engineers, conductors, train and yard workers in Canada. The agreement, which runs through 2023, includes 3.5% wage increases in 2022 and 2023, as well as increased […]
HO scale bi-level commuter cars from Rapido
Bi-level commuter cars Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Coach, $99.95; cab car, $119.95; coach three-pack, $299.95; three-car set (two coaches and cab car), $319.95. Era: Mid-1970s to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features: Body shell designs with or without […]
Rapido General Motors Diesel Division F40PH-2D diesel locomotive
General Motors Diesel Division F40PH-2D diesel locomotive Scale: N (1:160) Price: Direct-current model, $169.95; with dual-mode sound decoder, $279.95 Era: 1986 to 2014 (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com General Motors Diesel Division F40PH-2D diesel locomotive features: Prototype-specific details Working headlights, ditch lights, and number boxes […]
News Photo: CP executive special running against the grain
PARRY SOUND, Ontario — A Canadian Pacific special using the railroad’s Royal Canadian Pacific trainset makes a rare southbound move across the railroad’s bridge over the Seguin River at about noon on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, during a trip from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to Toronto. CP executives including CEO Keith Creel were reportedly on board. […]
News photo: More testing for VIA Siemens equipment
KITCHENER, Ontario — VIA Rail Canada’s first set of new Siemens-built equipment for corridor service was back in action testing on Thursday, Aug. 11., operating as train 688 on CN’s Guelph Subdivision from London via Stratford and Kitchener toward Toronto. This trainset was delivered last September; a second trainset arrived from Siemens’ Sacramento, Calif., factory, […]
Montreal commuter operator prepares to retire single-level coaches
MONTREAL — Exo, the Montreal-area commuter rail operator officially known as Réseau de transport metropolitan, will retire its remaining single-level passenger cars, 24 Bombardier-built 700-series cars similar to NJ Transit’s Comet II cars. The cars are currently used only on the 15.9-mile, nine-station Candiac line, but Exo’s social media advisor informed railfans this week that […]
GO Transit union votes for strike
TORONTO — A union representing GO Transit station attendants, maintenance workers, and bus drivers has voted to strike if it fails to reach agreement on a new contract. The vote comes as the train and bus operator has said it will have to cancel some trains this week because of a worker shortage. The CBC […]
O-Train western extension could be a year behind schedule
OTTAWA — An extension to the problem-plagued O-Train light rail Confederation Line could be up to a year behind schedule, according to a memo sent to the Ottawa city council last week. Meanwhile, the existing portion of the Confederation Line is preparing for two extended maintenance shutdowns this month. The CBC reports the western extension […]
Deadline for Lac-Mégantic land negotiations pushed back again
LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — The negotiation period to purchase land for the planned Lac-Mégantic rail bypass has been extended a second time, allowing public consultation on hydrology of the route. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said the negotiation period between landowners and Public Services and Procurement Canada will run through Nov. 4, following the consultation on hydrology […]