SMART to add five round trips to weekday schedule

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit logo

PETALUMA, Calif. — Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit will add five weekday round trips beginning June 13 as part of a new schedule restoring service discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new schedule includes three added morning trips in each direction — from Sonoma County Airport at 4:39, 6:38, and 7:42 a.m., and from Larkspur at […]

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Unusual rolling stock: What IS that?

A bottle-shaped freight car used to carry molten steel.

Unusual rolling stock: There is no doubt that today’s trains are just not as colorful as those of a few decades ago. But just when you’re cradled into thinking variety is a thing of the past, a piece of rolling stock pops up to make you take a second look. Here’s a few samples of […]

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Diesels with trolley poles

EMD diesel locomotive with trolley pole.

Diesels with trolley poles: Interurban railways usually had some form of freight traffic supplementing their passenger business, but almost none could come close to the Pacific Electric Railway, Southern California’s premier streetcar system. A subsidiary of Southern Pacific, even after the company gave up hauling passengers, freight service continued at a brisk pace up to […]

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New England fall color featured in new ‘Trains’ tour

People standing trackside near diesel locomotive

The combination of classic railroading and spectacular regional autumn color will be featured in “New England Fall Colors by Rail,” an eight-day, seven-night tour sponsored by Trains magazine and scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 6, 2022. Hosted by former Trains Editor Kevin P. Keefe and conducted by Special Interest Tours, the tour will be based out […]

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May 2022

No. 1309 steam locomotive

In every issue News p. 4 CSX draws scrutiny about restoration of Gulf Coast Amtrak service Preservation p. 46 Q&A with Nashville Steam’s 4-8-4 No. 576 keepers Train-Watching p. 48 Hot spot: Kenova, W.Va., home to the classic CSX-NS over-under placement, origin of railfan photography, and more […]

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Indiana Northeastern Railroad to host excursions by NKP No. 765

Steam engine operating in farmland

ANGOLA, Ind. — The Ft. Wayne Railroad Historical Society has announced plans for “The Indiana Rail Experience,” a series of trips featuring Nickel Plate Road Berkshire No. 765 on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad. A complete schedule and tickets for the excursions will be available later this month at the Ft. Wayne Railroad Historical Society website. […]

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ATCO to build hydrogen facilities for Canadian Pacific

Green and gray cowl locomotive with blue trim

CALGARY — ATCO Group will build two hydrogen production and refueling facilities for Canadian Pacific’s program developing hydrogen fuel-cell locomotives, ATCO announced. The facilities in Calgary and Edmonton will each include a 1 megawatt electrolyzer, compression, storage, and fuel dispensing. The Calgary facility will be powered in part by a solar power facility at CP’s […]

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Derailment blocks highway in New Brunswick

Logo of New Brunswick Southern Railway

HARVEY STATION, New Brunswick — Ten cars of a New Brunswick Southern Railway train derailed early Thursday in the village of Harvey Station, blocking provincial Route 3, the CBC reports. Harvey Fire Department Chief Jerrard Swan said firefighters were informed of the accident about 5 a.m., and that 10 cars were involved. Only one was […]

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UP deal with RRHMA took over a year to complete

Aerial view of large railroad shop

SILVIS, Ill. — Negotiations between Union Pacific and Railroading Heritage Of Midwest America took over a year to complete before the deal was inked that transferred two UP steam locomotives, including Challenger 3985, and other equipment to the preservation group. The deal, which will see No. 3985 and 2-10-2 No. 5511 returned to steam, was […]

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