MANCHESTER, N.H. — Alan G. “Dusty” Dustin, the last president of the Boston & Maine as an independent entity prior to its purchase by Guilford Industries in 1983, has died. Dustin, who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, died at age 93 on Feb. 27. A career railroader who began his career as a baggage clerk at […]
Section: News & Reviews
Riverbank issues lead Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to cancel some trips (updated)
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BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has cancelled all National Park Scenic rides through May 1 because of erosion of a section of the bank of the Cuyahoga River, WOIO-TV reports. The railroad will offer a National Park Flyer trip from its Rockside station in Independence, Ohio. More information is available at the […]
Proposed audit of Minnesota light-rail project advances to state Senate
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ST. PAUL, Minn. — A proposed audit of the most expensive public works project in Minnesota history — a light-rail extension that could end up $750 million over budget and four years late — is in the hands of the state Senate after being approved by the state House of Representatives last week. The Minneapolis […]
Amtrak to resume normal operations in Northeast on Monday
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WASHINGTON — Amtrak will resume normal operations on the Northeast Corridor as of Monday morning, March 7, the passenger railroad said in a Sunday evening announcement. Also, Maryland commuter rail agency MARC said it expected to operate a normal schedule on its route north of Baltimore to Perryville, Md. Amtrak operations between Washington, D.C., and […]
Amtrak disruptions continue from coal-train derailment
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WASHINGTON — Amtrak service remains disrupted today (Sunday, March 6) on the Northeast Corridor as cleanup continues from the Saturday morning derailment of a Norfolk Southern coal train at Perryman, Md. As was the case Saturday, the passenger railroad is offering limited Acela service between New York and Washington, D.C., and limited Northeast Regional service […]
Railways help rescue millions, become targets after Russia attacks Ukraine
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KYIV, Ukraine — The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has led to millions of civilians, most women and children (men aged 18-60 can’t leave) fleeing bombarded cities — some to the west of the country, with well over a million crossing into neighboring European nations since the war began Feb. 24. The railway system in […]
Waterloo Central GMD1 locomotive debuts in new paint scheme
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ELMIRA, Ontario — A rare GMD1 locomotive donated by Canadian National to the Waterloo Central Railway in April 2021 has emerged in new paint. The former CN No. 1437 made its first appearance on the heritage railway on March 5, 2022, as WCR No. 1012. “It’s all because of the volunteers; they did an amazing […]
Norfolk Southern derailment disrupts Amtrak service on Northeast Corridor
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ABERDEEN, Md. — Twenty cars of a Norfolk Southern coal train have derailed near Aberdeen, disrupting Amtrak service on the Northeast Corridor. As of 8 a.m. EST, Amtrak said in an advisory that service had been temporarily suspended between Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, and it would be operating a modified schedule between New York and […]
Continuing Amtrak service cuts reflect lack of national network investment: Analysis
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WASHINGTON — Amtrak management is blaming “staffing and hiring shortages for skilled technical employees caused by the pandemic” for the continuation of five-day-a-week service on seven long-distance routes after March 27, when it originally said full schedules would be restored. The cutbacks began in mid-January. Only the Chicago-Washington Capitol Limited; Chicago-San Antonio, Tex., Texas Eagle; […]
Amtrak engineer Bostian acquitted of charges from fatal derailment (updated)
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PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian has been found not guilty of all charges stemming from the fatal May 12, 2015, derailment of Northeast Regional train 188. CBS News reports the jury returned its verdict after a little more than an hour of deliberations. The 38-year-old Bostian was tried on charges of causing a catastrophe, […]
Rapido Trains HO scale Evans X72 boxcar
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Eric White and Cody Grivno review three of the Rapido Trains HO scale Evans X72 boxcars. Each has a nice detailed underbody with its different style of consolidated stencils appropriate for each car. […]
NJ Transit study of ‘Princeton Dinky’ future narrows to two options
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PRINCETON, N.J. — The nation’s shortest scheduled commuter rail line now has a 50-50 chance of remaining as it is. The Daily Princetonian reports that a study of possible options to replace “Princeton Dinky,” the 2.7-mile electrified NJ Transit line connecting the Princeton University campus to the Northeast Corridor, has reduced four potential options to […]