SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Caltrain has energized the second traction power substation for the electrification of its San Francisco-San Jose main line, another step toward the planned launch of electrified operation in fall 2024. The agency announced the substation, built by Balfour Beatty and its partners had been powered up by Pacific Gas & […]
In its rich 150-year history, the Georgia Railroad was touched and torched by the rich and famous. During the process, the company morphed from a railroading pioneer and leader in the Peach State to an interesting combination of Class I and short-line operation. Started as The Georgia Railroad in 1833, the ambitious company hired […]
If you have LEGO trains, you probably have LEGO train track. Different kinds of LEGO train track have appeared in train sets from the very beginning and have evolved to the gray track that we have today. What parts can you buy in the store today? Come along on this journey as I share all […]
A Frisco caboose ride provided a much needed railfan break during my military assignment near Kansas City. My spirits fell when I received orders for my first U.S. Air Force permanent-duty assignment, at the Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base just south of Kansas City, Mo. I had hardly been west of the Appalachian Mountains, and […]
ERIE, Pa. — Members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) voted today to accept Wabtec’s latest offer, ending a 10-week strike at the company’s locomotive manufacturing plant in Erie. Workers, who had walked out on June 22, ratified a four-year agreement including raises of 3.65%, 3%, 3.25%, and 3%, as […]
Ask Trains.com August 2023 compilation part two: In part two of the August AskTrains.com compilation, Cody Grivno answers viewer questions about well car gladhand connections, is joined by Roger Carp of Classic Toy Trains to answer why the most valuable Lionel steam locomotives aren’t always the most powerful pullers, and more! Are you looking to […]
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Amtrak is temporarily increasing the number of its trains that will cross-honor tickets for Connecticut’s Shore Line East commuter service because of Shore Line East schedule changes to accommodate an Amtrak maintenance-of-way project. Shore Line East service will be reduced during that project. The schedule changes and cross-honoring are effective Sept. […]
North Dakota’s corn trains When you watch a freight train pass, it will most likely be comprised of cars that have a single use, hauling a commodity to one location before returning empty to a yard or another assignment. And most freight only touches the rails once during its path from source to final customer, […]
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit plans to extend its Hudson-Bergen light rail line by 9 miles into Bergen County face a potential two-year delay after the Federal Transit Administration rescinded plans to act on the project’s Environmental Impact Study, saying additional information is needed. The FTA’s decision to rescind its “Notice of Intent” for what […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed its largest single-week drop in several weeks for the week ending Aug. 26, with volume down 5.9% compared to the same week in 2022. The total volume of 472,525 carloads and intermodal units included 226,679 carloads, down 3.9% from the corresponding week a year ago, and 245,846 containers and […]
LOMBARD, Ill. — Union Pacific trains, as well as those on Metra’s UP West Line, were halted from passing Villa Park, Ill., this evening (Aug. 30) after suspects from a robbery a few miles away in Benseville crashed a vehicle and fled the scene near UP’s tracks on the east side of the town of […]
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. — A D&I Railroad train derailed on BNSF Railway trackage in North Sioux City today (Aug. 30), damaging a bridge and leaving derailed cars suspended over a roadway. KCAU-TV reports the derailment occurred about 4 p.m., and that BNSF confirmed the train involved belonged to D&I, the subsidiary of concrete, paving, […]
