CREATE partners outline bid for Mega Grant to advance 75th Street project

Map of complex group of rail lines in South Chicago

CHICAGO — It’s a measure of how large CREATE’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project is that, even having been divided into more manageable parts, it’s still too big, from a financial standpoint, for one of those parts to be fully funded through the federal government’s Mega Grant program. So, when CREATE — the Chicago Region […]

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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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Union Pacific earnings fall amid volume slump, but operations and service improve

Freight train with yellow locomotives in mountains

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reported lower third quarter revenue and profits today (Oct. 19) as volume fell and cost pressure increased. “No doubt about it: It was a tough quarter,” new CEO Jim Vena told investors and analysts on the railroad’s earnings call this morning. But he said he was pleased with the railroad’s […]

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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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EPA orders more work to address creeks near site of East Palestine derailment

Burned out tank cars and standing water around derailment site. East Palestine street along NS main line to reopen Monday.

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Norfolk Southern to perform additional cleanup work on creeks in the area of the Feb. 3 East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, saying disturbance of sediment on those streams can lead to an “oily sheen” in the water. The order issued Wednesday covers a 5-mile area […]

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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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Charlotte commuter rail proposal revived by Norfolk Southern willingness to discuss deal

Portion of map showing proposed Charlotte-area commuter rail line

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Norfolk Southern has revived hopes for a long-stalled commuter rail line between Charlotte and communities in the Lake Norman area by indicating its willingness to “consider … a possible transaction” over the NS line that would be a necessary part of the route north of the city — a change from the […]

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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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B&O Railroad Museum schedules move of American Freedom Train locomotive

Front view of steam locomotive with "American Freedom Train" nameplate on front

BALTIMORE — The B&O Railroad Museum has announced plans to begin cosmetic restoration of Reading Co. 4-8-4 No. 2101 — maintained in the museum’s collection as American Freedom Train No. 1 for the role the locomotive played during the Freedom Train’s 1975-76 tour — and will begin that process by moving the locomotive from its […]

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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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