The John Emery Rail Heritage Trust has announced the award of 19 grants totaling $250,000 for rail preservation projects as part of its annual award program, after considering some 29 applications seeking a total of almost $875,000 in funding. The Emery Rail Heritage Trust was founded by longtime Chicago resident John Emery, an avid rail […]
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Historical Hot Spot: Santa Paula station still open for business
Santa Paula station In the 1880s, Santa Paula was a bustling little farming community in Southern California’s Santa Clara River Valley. A hub of local agricultural products, it was an ideal area to grow fruit and vegetables, with its mild temperatures and cool breezes flowing in from the nearby Pacific Ocean. It still is today. […]
NTSB focusing on performance of wheelsets in NS derailment in Springfield, Ohio
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the March 4 derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in Springfield, Ohio, is focusing on the performance of wheelsets, the board said in a preliminary report. Four days after the derailment NS began removing from service 517 steel coil cars made by National Steel Car […]
Seven injured in Minnepolis light-rail accident
MINNEAPOLIS — Seven people were injured — two in a vehicle, and five on the trains — in a collision between a car and two Metro Transit light-rail trains Monday night, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. The collision occurred shortly after 9 p.m. at the corner of South 5th Street and Portland Avenue South. Preliminary information […]
‘Adirondack’ tickets now on sale for service beginning April 3
NEW YORK — Following intense pressure from New York politicians, Amtrak has started selling tickets for travel on the New York-Montreal Adirondack, which will resume operation April 3 northbound and April 4 southbound. Ticket sales began Monday, March 20. It is the last route to be reinstated following widespread suspensions that took place in March […]
Positioning of dead-in-tow locomotives in Alabama derailment was against NS rules, NTSB says in preliminary report
WASHINGTON — Two locomotives being transported dead-in-tow were coupled together, contrary to Norfolk Southern operating rules, in the consist of the NS train that derailed March 9 near Anniston, Ala., according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report released Monday. With Norfolk Southern under close scrutiny in the wake of February’s derailment in East […]
Supreme Court asks federal government for opinion on blocked-crossing laws
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has asked the federal government to offer its view on an effort by states to regulate how long railroads can block grade crossings. The Kansas City Star reports that the invitation means the court might address Ohio’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that blocked the state’s blocked-crossing law. The […]
Canadian National, Unifor reach tentative contract agreements
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway and two Unifor unions, Local 100 and Council 4000, have reached tentative agreements, the railroad and Unifor announced Monday, averting a possible strike. The agreements cover approximately 3,000 CN employees in mechanical, intermodal, facility management, and clerical positions across Canada, the railroad said. Local 100 represents the mechanical workers and […]
MBTA lifts last global speed restriction
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority lifted the last of the global speed restrictions on its rapid transit lines on Sunday night, ending the blanket 25-mph restriction on the Green Line. The agency said in a press release that the overall slow order had been replaced by targeted block speed restrictions, which cover about […]
The man behind The Fabelmans and its Lionel trains
The Fabelmans’ Lionel trains have been the subject of some speculation lately. You may have recently seen the semi-biopic about Steven Spielberg’s life and wondered about the company that provided them. The movie was recently nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. The man responsible for the toy train magic is Gary Rushton, owner of […]
News & Products for the week of March 20th 2023
News & Products for the week of March 20th 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 20th 2023. […]
Malcolm Furlow photo tribute
Malcolm Furlow photo tribute. Noted model railroader and artist Malcolm Furlow passed away in March 2023. You can read his obituary here. In this photo gallery, we’ll look at the variety of contributions he made to Model Railroader magazine and Kalmbach Publishing (now Kalmbach Media) during the 1980s. The staff at Model Railroader extends its […]