CHICAGO — On the day Amtrak placed its first Siemens ALC42 locomotives into revenue service — although not without some problems — the company announced it will acquire more of the locomotives. In a event at Chicago Union Station, Amtrak Vice President and Chief Mechanical Officer George Hull used the operating debut of the two […]
What was your first train set (or locomotive)? My first set was my Dad’s Hornby Dublo 3-rail set from the 1950s. He had loads of buildings and track that we put out every Christmas. Over time, I moved on to a 4-by-8-foot piece of plywood. The height of my modelling was using (bright orange!) builder’s […]
WASHINGTON — Canadian National is making a bold claim: It will take more trucks off the highway than what’s projected for the entire Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger if regulators force divestiture of the KCS line linking Springfield, Ill., and Kansas City. CN told the Surface Transportation Board last month that it intended to file […]
ORLANDO, Fla. — A Brightline train has arrived in Orlando for the first time. The new “Bright Blue 2” trainset was delivered to the passenger operator’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility, nearing completion. The facility is near Orlando International Airport, the northern terminus for the extension of service planned in 2023. “To see these trains begin to […]
We put the Atlas N scale Alco S-2 and its ESU Loksound decoder to work switching some cars on Model Railroader’s new N scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy project layout. […]
WASHINGTON — A House subcommittee is set to hold a hearing Wednesday on the problem-plagued DC Metro transit system. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s Subcommittee on Government Operations will hold the 9 a.m. EST hearing on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s “responsibility to provide safe and reliable transit service to the National […]
MADISON, Wis. — Scott Lothes has guided the Center for Railroad Photography & Art as its executive director for more than 10 years, leading the Center through a period in whch its budget and archives expanded fivefold and its staff grew dramatically. Trains News Wire interviewed him to learn more about the Center’s success, how […]
OTTAWA — The Canadian government has announced plans to require its own version of positive train control, which it is calling Enhanced Train Control. Transport Canada has published a Notice of Intent to implement the safety system, which is intended to ensure trains comply with trackside signaling and speed limits and avoid collisions. In the […]
DOUGLAS, Ga. — Both members of the train were reported to have been taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries after a CSX intermodal train struck a truck and derailed in Douglas, Ga., on Monday afternoon. WFXL-TV reports that the train of two locomotives and 39 cars struck an unoccupied semi truck that […]
WASHINGTON — There are now dueling petitions over Amtrak’s effort to launch Gulf Coast passenger service. CSX Transportation last week asked shippers to sign a petition or send letters to the Surface Transportation Board in support of its position opposing Gulf Coast service unless Amtrak pays for extensive infrastructure work [see “CSX seeks shipper support […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — CEOs of five Class I railroads are currently on the schedule for this year’s North American Rail Shippers meeting, to be held May 9-11 at the Kansas City Downtown Marriott. Scheduled or invited to appear are Canadian Pacific’s Keith Creel, BNSF’s Katie Farmer, CSX’s Jim Foote, Kansas City Southern’s Pat Ottensmeyer, […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will hold its first Track & Roadway Workplace Safety Symposium April 5-7 in St. Louis. There is no registration fee, and registrants receive a discounted lodging rate at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. The event was originally scheduled for 2020 in Louisville, Ky., but was postponed because of […]
