SEATTLE — Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver, British Columbia, is now set to resume in September, according to transportation officials in Washington state and Oregon. A post on the Amtrak Cascades Facebook page says “Amtrak was able to advance the schedule” from its most recent estimate of December 2022, and that the transportation departments in […]
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego area will receive $300 million from the new California state budget for a plan to relocate the Surf Line inland from the Del Mar bluffs, a contribution a regional official called “a critical down payment” on a project estimated to cost $2.5 billion or more. The San Diego Union-Tribune […]
CHEHALIS, Wash. — The Chehalis-Central Railroad and Museum remains unable to operate trains because of insurance issues, but it is finding ways to again hold events. The Centralia Chronicle reports the railroad is holding an “Escape Room Dinner Train” event on five dates beginning July 16, with two sessions each day. Reflecting the railroad’s lack […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has directed Union Pacific to continue providing priority service and reports on that service for a California feed and poultry company under an emergency order issued in June. In a ruling Friday, the board ordered that while subsequent UP service has mitigated the “dire emergency” faced by Foster Farms […]
NEW YORK — Completion of an order of new electric multiple unit railcars for the Long Island Rail Road, already 18 months behind schedule, has been pushed back another 17 months, WSHU radio reports. Completion is now projected by September 2023. The order of 202 M9 railcars from Kawasaki reflects “workmanship issues,” as well as […]
RICHMOND, Va., and ATLANTA — The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and Norfolk Southern have completed financing on the agreement which will expand passenger service to Roanoke, Va., and extend service southwest into the New River Valley. The Western Rail Initiative Agreement sets the stage for the launch of a second daily Amtrak round trip between […]
WASHINGTON — The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has recognized a record number of railroads with its annual Jake Safety Awards, announced last week. A total of 364 railroads received awards for performing at or above the industry average for Federal Railroad Administration-reportable injuries, including 332 honored “with distinction” for having no reportable […]
Amtrak California passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car with NCE decoder with lighting functions, $149.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $199.99. Four-pack with NCE decoder with lighting functions, $579.99; dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $649.99 Era: mid-2000s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Amtrak California passenger car features: All-wheel electrical pickup Cab coaches […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is offering more than $573 million in grant funding this fiscal year to address grade-crossing issues as part of its Railroad Crossing Elimination Program, created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed and signed in November 2021. The competitive discretionary grant program, administered by the Federal Railroad […]
BENNET, Neb. — A BNSF Railway spur line is expected to be out of service for three weeks after a bridge collapsed as a result of a coal-train derailment Thursday evening. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said 18 cars were involved in the derailment, which occurred about 5 p.m. BNSF spokesman Ben Wilemon told the […]
Amtrak California II (Surfliner) passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: With dual-mode NCE decoder with lighting functions, $149.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $199.99 Era: mid-2000s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Amtrak California II (Surfliner) passenger car features: All-wheel electrical pickup Business class cars feature upper and lower service areas Cafe cars have […]
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The planned Pacific Northwest tour of Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 is off for 2022, the railroad announced in a Thursday afternoon email to members of its Steam Club. But the locomotive will make an outing to Denver later this month to pull an excursion benefitting the Union Pacific Museum. The […]
