Evacuation continues as sulphur burns at site of Kentucky derailment

School gymnasium with cots lined up on floor

LIVINGSTON, Ky. — Spilled sulphur continued to burn this morning at the site of a derailed CSX Transportation train in eastern Kentucky, extending the evacuation for the town of about 200 people some 60 miles south of Louisville. CSX said in a statement at 7:30 a.m. EST that the derailment involves 16 cars; in addition […]

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CSX Santa Train photo gallery

close up view of blue santa train car

CSX Santa Train The CSX Santa Train, enjoying new life after a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, again delighted children and adults along its 110-mile former Clinchfield Railroad route between Shelby, Ky., and Kingsport, Tenn. This year’s train featured a new “Santa Car” rebuilt from a former Pan Am Railways office car, as well […]

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Evacuations reported after CSX derailment in eastern Kentucky (updated)

CSX logo

LIVINGSTON, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency in Rockcastle County, in the remote eastern part of the state, following the derailment of a CSX Transportation train earlier today. About a dozen homes in a remote area of  eastern Kentucky were evacuated following the derailment, WLEX-TV reports. CSX said that […]

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The significance of railroad watches in North America

Black and white image.

Railroad watches In the era of timetable and train order operation, railroaders had to have a standard railroad watch. In those days Hamilton, Elgin, and Waltham were among several popular brands. Railroad pocket watch standards But there were dozens of watch companies making “railroad approved” watches that had mandatory features by the 1930s: a minimum […]

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Three injured as commuter train, CN train collide in Montreal

Logo of Montreal commuter rail operator Exo

MONTREAL  — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has said it will investigate after an Exo commuter train and Canadian National freight train collided on Tuesday evening, sending three men to the hospital with minor injuries. The CBC reports the incident occurred about 6:30 p.m. at the Saint-Léonard-Montréal-Nord station on Exo’s Mascouche line. Four other […]

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MBTA completes five days of Red Line work, eliminates nine slow orders

Worker welding in subway tunnel

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced Tuesday (Nov. 21) that it had completed “critical track work” on the transit Red Line, removing four 10-mph speed restrictions and five 25-mph restrictions between the JFK/UMass and Park Street stations. Rail service was replaced with shuttle buses on the evenings of Nov. 14-16 and all day […]

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Toronto places first trainset in service from new streetcar order

Front view of light rail vehicle

TORONTO — The first of an order of 60 new Alstom streetcars for the Toronto Transit Commission entered service last week, joining an existing fleet of 204 Alstom light rail vehicles in the TTC fleet. The C$568 million order, with funding from the federal, provincial, and Toronto governments, will be completed with deliveries through 2025. […]

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Port Authority commissioners approve $230 million for PATH projects

Silver subway trainset with blue front arrives at station

NEW YORK — Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have approved a $230 million, multi-year program to address track and rolling stock issues for the Port Authority Trans Hudson, or PATH, rail system, NJ.com reports. Commissioners voted 12-0 to approve the state-of-good-repair projects at their Tuesday, Nov. 21, meeting. The […]

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STB extends reply comment period on reciprocal switching proposal

Crew member on ground next to locomotive

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation board announced today it will extend the reply comment period for its proposed rule on reciprocal switching by 14 days to Dec. 20. The board’s decision is in response to a request by a coalition of shipper groups — the American Chemistry Council, the Fertilizer Institute, and the National Industrial […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Touring Sievers Benchwork

Come along with Trains.com host Gerry Leone, as he explores the production facilities of Sievers Benchwork, located on Washington Island, Wisconsin. With master carpenters Barb Cornell and Butch Young guiding us through the manufacturing process, learn how model railroad framework fabricated with pre-drilled holes and modular designs, revolutionized benchwork construction! Discover additional insights about its history, […]

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FRA issues safety advisory urging railroads to be prepared for nasty weather

View of damaged track and derailed train

WASHINGTON — Railroading is an outdoor sport, and the Federal Railroad Administration is encouraging railroads to step up their play in bad weather. In a safety advisory issued Monday, Nov. 20, the FRA urged railroads to take steps to ensure that they take proper precautions while operating through extreme weather events, including tornadoes, high winds, […]

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Pere Marquette No. 1225 debuts in 2023 for the North Pole Express (with video)

Steam locomotive rounding curve on a sunny day.

OWOSSO, Mich. — Pere Marquette steam locomotive No. 1225 made its public debut over the weekend by operating the North Pole Express excursions – organized by the 2-8-4’s owners, the Steam Railroading Institute (SRI) of Owosso. The Berkshire-type locomotive is fresh from an extensive rebuild of the driving wheels and running gear with test runs […]

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