Dates set for hearings on Ottawa light rail problems

Photo labeled with details of light rail derailment site

OTTAWA — Public hearings into Ottawa’s troubled light rail system will be held June 13 to July 8, a commission established to examine the system has announced. The Ottawa Light Rail Transit Public Inquiry will hold the hearings in a courtroom at the University of Ottawa’s law school, the Ottawa Citizen reports, and will be […]

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DC Metro names interim general manager

WMATA (DC Metro) logo

WASHINGTON — The new general manager named earlier this week by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will not start the job until late summer, the agency announced, leading to the appointment of an interim general manager. WJLA-TV reports Andy Off, an executive vice president at WMATA, will serve as the interim GM of the […]

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New York legislators introduce state bill to require two-person crews

ALBANY, N.Y. — Legislators in New York state have introduced bills requiring two-person crews for most freight operations in the state. Senate bill S3953, introduced by Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy (D-Buffalo), would require two-person crews for Class I and Class II railroads, except for those engaged in switching, and specifies penalties beginning at $250 to […]

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Louisville & Indiana Railroad acquires Southern Indiana Railway

Maroon locomotives in switching yard

  JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — The Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC), a 106-mile-long regional carrier connecting Indianapolis with Louisville, Ky., has acquired a Louisville-area short line, the defunct 5.5-mile-long Southern Indiana Railway (SIND). One of several railroads owned by the Chicago-based Anacostia Rail Holdings Co., LIRC operates from a yard and maintenance shop here. It will […]

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LD101 dual-mode command station from ANE Model

adaptors and wires

LD101 dual-mode command station Price: $120 Manufacturer: ANE Model Co. Ltd., 10F, No. 50, Fuxin Rd., Zhongli Dist., Taoyuan City 32041, Taiwan (R.O.C.), 886 3 4270573, anemodel.com Features: Includes main control box, handheld controller, handheld control cable, transformer, and user manual 28 and 128 speed steps 28 functions 9,999 locomotive addresses Analog and digital control […]

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Pullman-Standard 85-foot bi-level commuter cars from Walthers

green and yellow commuter car

Pullman-Standard 85-foot bi-level commuter cars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Standard, $89.98; lighted, $99.98 Era: mid-1950s to mid-1980s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com Features: 33” turned metal RP-25 contour wheels Factory-installed grab irons Gallery car interior configuration Light-emitting diode interior lighting (lighted cars only) Proto-Max metal couplers […]

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Congress critical of rail service failures, asks STB to move faster to solve problems

Chicago Railfanning at Lisle: Orange locomotives moving train in heavy snow.

WASHINGTON — Members of a key congressional committee on Wednesday expressed frustration with widespread railroad service problems and the Surface Transportation Board’s response. “The facts are undeniable. Freight service in the United States of America … is abysmal,” said Rep. Peter DeFazio, the Oregon Democrat who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. DeFazio said […]

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Starter set basics for toy trains

Lionel no. 82982 LionChief Christmas Express train set

Let’s talk about toy train starter set basics. Whether you’ve been away from the hobby for several decades or are buying a beginner outfit as a gift, you’re in for some fun! These packages have gone high-tech in the past few years but – fear not! – they still offer an easy, straightforward path to […]

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Glue for outdoor wood kits on garden railroads

Three bottles of glue on a workbench

Q: I am getting ready to start building a boat kit that is made with wood. I seem to remember reading years ago that I should use “yellow” wood glue, rather than white glue, as the white glue might eventually warp the wood. Does it make any difference whether I use yellow or white glue? […]

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MBTA passenger sues after being left behind on train

MBTA purple and silver commuter locomotive. Governor reacts following more close calls on MBTA

BEVERLY, Mass. – A passenger who fell asleep and missed his station has sued commuter-train operator Keolis, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He injured an arm while trying to leave the train in a storage yard, according to the suit. Filing the action in Salem Superior Court last week was […]

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