NEW WESTMINSTER, British Columbia — The first set of next-generation railcars for the Vancouver-area SkyTrain system have begun testing in Ontario, transit agency TransLink has announced. The 205 Mark V cars — to comprise 41 five-car trainsets are being manufactured by Alstom and are undergoing testing in Kingston, Ont. The fully articulated trainsets, being built […]
Locomotive paint schemes Nobody plans to create a less-than-stellar locomotive paint scheme, but at times, anyone’s best efforts can produce something other than classic. It’s also a matter of taste. I happen to like the red, black, and white design of the McGinnis-era New Haven, but a friend of mine thinks it’s just garish. The […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reopened its Mojave Subdivision in Southern California today and continues to clean up the mess that tropical storm Hilary left on Sunday. The Mojave Sub, part of UP’s I-5 Corridor, suffered storm damage near Mojave as well as 10 miles north of Fontana. All tracks have been restored to service. […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Shortline holding company Patriot Rail has acquired two New Hampshire tourist railroads, the Hobo Railroad and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. The railroads operate a combined total of 54 miles of state-owned former Boston & Maine trackage. The Hobo Railroad is based in the White Mountains tourist town of Lincoln, while the Winnipesaukee […]
NEW IBERIA, La. — Two locomotives and 20 cars of a BNSF train derailed on Monday evening after the train struck a truck at a grade crossing near New Iberia. While KLFY-TV reported one crew member had been taken to a hospital after the 5 p.m. incident, BNSF said in a Tuesday statement that no […]
How to get the shot It has happened to all of us sooner or later. We plan a train day and head out, camera in hand, to enjoy our hobby … and get skunked. Here’s how to get the shot — even when you missed it. Maybe there was a maintenance window somewhere on the […]
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on a preservation group’s appeal of permits allowing BNSF to build a new bridge across the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., and demolish its existing bridge — as well as the group’s separate request for the court to determine whether the state, […]
CHICAGO — Metra’s “Rails, Trails and Ales” excursions on the Heritage Corridor line will return on six fall Saturdays beginning Sept. 9, marking the third straight year for the program offering Saturday rail outings on the normally weekday-only commuter line to Joliet. Three round trips will operate on each Saturday through Oct. 14, departing from […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Grand Canyon Railway’s No. 4960 completed three consecutive Saturdays of round-trip excursions from Williams to the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Aug. 5, 12, and 19. The 100-year-old 2-8-2 commemorated its centennial year with an official celebration as part of the Aug. 12 run. The locomotive “ran like a […]
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has added dome-lounge Silver Palace, a well-traveled car built by the Budd Co. in 1948 for Western Pacific for use on the California Zephyr. Following completion of maintenance, inspections, and upgrades, the car will enter excursion service, replacing dome-lounge Stampede Pass, which the heritage railroad had previously […]
SOUTH MILFORD, Ind. — The summer schedule of the Indiana Rail Experience’s 2023 season concluded on Aug. 19-20 with two excursions operating out of South Milford and Pleasant Lake, Ind. The Experience is a multi-year partnership between the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and the Indiana Northeastern Railroad Co. The society’s Nickel Plate Road steam […]
WASHINGTON — A technician who was repositioning a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority trolley at a maintenance facility was unaware its brakes had been disabled to allow for repairs when the vehicle ran away, derailed, and struck an SUV and a historic building in Philadelphia on July 27, according to the preliminary National Transportation Safety Board […]
