Wabtec’s FLXdrive locomotives win international energy award

Red and gray locomotive

NEW YORK — Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive project has been named “Commercial Technology of the Year” at the annual Platts Global Energy Award ceremony, held last week. In a Commodity Insights Magazine report, judges indicated they liked the fact that Wabtec “has engaged a lot of customers” and is “already generating revenue” from the project. […]

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MBTA opens Green Line extension

Green and white light rail vehicle at station

MEDFORD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority opened its Green Line light rail extension to Medford this morning (Monday, Dec. 12), completing a $2.3 billion project adding five stations. The Boston Globe reports more than 200 people were gathered at the Medford/Tufts station by 4:37 a.m., with a packed first train departing at 4:52 […]

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LIRR assumes ‘operational control’ of Grand Central Madison

People walk on station platform next to stopped train

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority remains mum on its date to open Grand Central Madison, the new Long Island Rail Road station beneath Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. But that date has moved one step closer with the announcement that operational control of the facility has shifted from MTA Construction and Development, the […]

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News photos: CNJ 0-6-0 makes holiday appearance

Steam locomotive and passenger train across bridge

MINERSVILLE, Pa. — A largely overlooked steam locomotive in Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal region is Central Railroad of New Jersey 0-6-0 switcher No. 113 (American Locomotive Co., 1923), owned and operated by the nonprofit Railway Restoration Project 113 of Minersville, Pa.  The engine runs only a few times a year, mostly for Santa Claus trains, pulling […]

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Passenger advocate Ed Von Nordeck dies

Man at train station

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Few people were more knowledgeable — or more enthusiastic —about passenger rail operations in the United States and Mexico over the last 70 years than Ed Von Nordeck, who died Dec. 6 in California. He was 89. Von Nordeck began learning the basics as a Southern Pacific ticket agent in 1952 at […]

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Gulf Coast service to begin sometime in 2023, Amtrak says

Amtrak logo.

MOBILE, Ala. — Amtrak expects to begin operating passenger service between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., sometime in 2023, but virtually all other details of the operation remain undisclosed after a meeting of the Southern Rail Commission, the Al.com news site reports. The commission held its quarterly meeting Friday in Mobile. The news site notes […]

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Groundbreaking marks start of work on Penn Station Access

Woman speaking at podium with video screen to her left

BRONX, N.Y.— New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and other officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for the Penn Station Access project, which will allow trains from Metro-North’s New Haven Line to directly serve Penn Station while adding four new stations in the Bronx. Hochul said in a press release that the project “will not only […]

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What is causing contact issues on my Lionel O gauge layout?

Ask Trains.com: I have two problems with Lionel O gauge. First is the 153 block signal with a 153c contactor that you adjust the nut to go green to red. Second is a 140 Banjo signal with a 145c track contactor. When the train goes over it does nothing. The red light will come on. Of course the track is bolted down to the board so they can not pull apart. Can you tell me what is wrong? Lionel contact issues

Cody is joined by Classic Toy Trains editor Hal Miller to identify possible contact issues with a reader’s Lionel O gauge layout. Are you looking to learn more about your model railroad, or do you have questions about full-size trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of […]

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Winchester & Western to serve new West Virginia steel mill

Black diesel locomotives on freight train in farm fields

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Winchester & Western Railroad has signed an agreement to serve a new Commercial Metals Co. steel mill in West Virginia, OmniTRAX, the railroad’s parent company, has announced. OmniTRAX says CMC, the largest manufacture rof steel reinforcing bar in North America and central Europe, selected the Falling Waters, W.Va., site after a […]

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