Atlas O Fall 2023 Premier Catalog

Catalog cover image

The Atlas O Fall 2023 Premier Catalog was recently posted on the manufacturer’s website. The 32-page catalog features a mix of locomotives, commuter cars, and rolling stock from the Premier, Master, and Trainman product ranges. The last four pages of the catalog include previously announced track, structures, and accessories. Two models that will be making […]

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Must-See Big Steam for the 2023 Holiday Season

The family watches a steam-powered train go by during the winter.

There’s something magical about watching big steam engines run while the snow flies. Although most of these large locomotives are going through their off-season maintenance in the winter, there are a few big steam locomotives that plan to bring season’s greetings. For a rundown of all holiday trains, check out our list of 2023 Polar […]

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Maxon Railway is an office on rails

A two-story office structure made of glass and unpainted steel sheets sits on a wide-gauge track

As the Maxon Railway car pulls away from the platform everything seems business as usual. Steel rails. Steel wheels. A slight clickety-clack. The whizzing soundtrack of an electrified locomotive. Check. Check. Check. Check.  Except this is no ordinary rail car and this railway is definitely nowhere near ordinary. Located in the Pacific Northwest with the […]

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CSX announces sick-time agreement with Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE — The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen has ratified a paid sick leave agreement with CSX Corp. covering former Seaboard Coast Line properties, CSX announced today (Oct. 19, 2023). The agreement covers close to 400 employees. “We value the hard work and dedication of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen and all our employees who keep […]

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Three nominees for Amtrak board advance to full Senate

Man at table in congressional hearing room

WASHINGTON — The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Wednesday approved three nominations for the Amtrak Board of Directors, advancing those nominations to the full Senate for approval and ending a deadlock that has seen board members with long-expired terms continuing to serve, pending the approval of new nominees. The news site Roll […]

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News photo: Metra SD70MACH makes test run

Blue locomotive with orange stripe on commuter train

RIVER GROVE, Ill. — Metra has recently accelerated testing of its SD70MACH locomotives, with the first test run with one of the remanufactured units leading a train taking place earlier this week. Unit No. 509, accompanied by F59PH No. 99, is shown at River Grove on Tuesday, Oct. 17, on a test run that took […]

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Hydrogen fuel conversion planned for Irish EMD-built locomotive

Orange and black double-cab locomotive coupled to similar locomotive with gray paint

Irish national rail company Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) has announced plans to convert one of its EMD-built locomotives to burn hydrogen instead of diesel fuel. IÉ is working in partnership with Latvian rail engineering firm DIGAS to test the use of a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine in an existing Class 071 diesel freight locomotive. Since earlier […]

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South Dakota board backs six infrastructure projects for federal grants

Track hanging unsupported over creek

PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Railroad Board will support six of the eight projects which have applied for Federal Railroad Administration infrastructure grants, KELO-TV reports. Some $58.9 million is available for projects in the state under the Special Transportation Circumstances program, for states that lack intercity passenger service or are not connected to the […]

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