CASS, W.Va. — Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad 2-8-0 No. 4, the last steam locomotive in revenue service on the fabled West Virginia short line, will steam again, thanks to a plan to obtain a new boiler for the Consolidation. John Smith, CEO of Cass Scenic Railroad and West Virginia Central Railroad operator Durbin & […]
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WASHINGTON — Federal lawmakers were critical of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority leadership at a Wednesday hearing, with one saying simply that “Metro needs to do better.” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said that Metro’s next general manager will need to work with the independent Washington Metrorail Safety Commission to restore public faith in the agency, […]
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OWOSSO, Mich. — The Steam Railroading Institute has retained FWM Solutions to perform the most extensive running-gear work on Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225 since prior to the steam locomotive’s retirement in 1951. In work underwritten by grants and donations, the locomotive will be lifted so 30 tons of drivers, axles, and wheel assemblies can […]
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DENVER — A BNSF Railway employee has died following an accident at the railroad’s Globeville yard in downtown Denver on Wednesday. According to the Denver Post, Denver police reported they were responding to an accident involving a train and a pedestrian shortly before noon, and announced the man had died about 3:40 p.m. The victim’s […]
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California State Railroad Museum Foundation has named Tim Schroepfer as its president and CEO, effective immediately. Schroepfer joined the foundation as director of events and marketing in 2019, then became interim chief operation officer last year before his latest promotion. He succeeds Cheryl Marcell, who left the foundation in 2021. “Tim […]
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WASHINGTON — U.S. railroads’ traffic slump to begin 2022 extended to a fifth week, as railroads moved 458,152 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Feb. 5, a 7.6% drop from the same week in 2021. Through five weeks of the new year, overall rail traffic is running 9.1% below 2021 levels, with intermodal traffic […]
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WAUKESHA, Wis. — Trains, the world’s largest railroad media brand, is pleased to announce the addition of Associate Editor Bob Lettenberger to the crew producing the magazine, website, documentary videos, and experiences. Lettenberger comes to Trains from the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wis., where he was education director. He brings to the magazine […]
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SACRAMENTO — The latest version of the business plan for California’s high speed rail system has dropped a plan to build a single track for its initial 171-mile segment, instead returning to the original two-track plan. The Los Angeles Times reports the draft version of the 2022 business plan released Tuesday by the California High […]
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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Santa Cruz City Council has voted unanimously to express opposition to a proposal that would lead to abandonment of the line connecting the city to the Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific tourist railroad. Lookout Santa Cruz reports the vote has no legal bearing on the proposal floated by the […]
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WASHINGTON — Amtrak has not fully developed a framework to manage its responsibilities in the $30 billion Gateway program of Northeast Corridor improvements, even though it has already begun hiring staff and setting a schedule, the Amtrak Office of the Inspector General says in a new report. The report on the Gateway program — which […]
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MERCED, Calif. — The Merced County Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement with Patriot Rail to develop a “rail district” at the Castle Commerce Center, a 1,912-acre freight transportation hub including an airport with 11,800 feet of runway, as well as rail and road access. The location in California’s Central Valley is approximately 125 […]
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LOS ANGELES — LA Metro has become the latest transit agency to announce service cuts related to staffing shortages, with trims to rail and bus service set to begin Feb. 20. Metro’s board approved the cuts Jan. 27, with a goal of resuming full service no later than June. “The recent COVID-19 spike, combined with […]
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