The Train Masters of Babylon sounds exotic, but the reality is it’s just a great O gauge club layout in New York. Highly detailed and encompassing more than 2,400 square feet, this 41 x 60 display showcases the railroads of the region. Read more in the July-August 2023 issue. […]
Zone & Region: Northeast
New York’s Grand Central: navigating between ‘Terminal’ and ‘Madison’
NEW YORK — “Putting it Together” (Trains Magazine, July 2023) — a look at major commuter rail projects in the New York area — explains how Long Island Rail Road trains now serve a massive underground station next to venerable Grand Central Terminal, home to Metro North’s Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven routes. Commuters connecting […]
News photos: Northern Central’s celebration
NEW FREEDOM, Pa. — Northern Central Railway of York hauled more than 500 passengers on six trips during the weekend-long 10th anniversary celebration for the non-profit operation [see “Pennsylvania’s Northern Central Railway to mark 10th anniversary,” Trains News Wire, June 14, 2023]. Trips were powered by the railway’s Kloke 4-4-0 No. 17; Northern Central GP9 […]
NJ Transit okays $19 million for PTC upgrades
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit will spend $19 million on upgrades to positive train control, keeping its system current with federal regulations and changes made by railroads used by the commuter operators’ trains. NJ.com reports the NJ Transit board approved the spending on June 14. It comes in the form of an amendment to an […]
NJ Transit, BLET reach settlement over 2022 sick-out
NEWARK, N.J. — The National Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen will pay $50,000 to NJ Transit to settle a claim over an illegal job action on last year’s Juneteenth holiday, the transit agency announced Thursday. Engineers did not report for their assignments on June 17, 2022, leading to the cancellation of nearly 300 trains. […]
SEPTA picks up more riders on second day after bridge collapse
PHILADELPHIA — Four SEPTA Regional Rail lines saw a ridership increase of 14% on Tuesday, the second day of commuting following the collapse of a bridge on Interstate 95, according to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. The Metro Philadelphia news site reports the Trenton, West Trenton, Fox Chase, and Warminster lines had an increase of […]
Man pleads guilty in Boston commuter rail fraud scheme
BOSTON — One of two men charged in connection with a fraud scheme aimed at the operator of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter trains pleaded guilty on Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release. John Rafferty, 69, of Hale’s Location, N.H., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud […]
New York tourist railway’s new flatcar has lengthy history
CORINTH, N.Y. — The Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway has introduced its newest piece of equipment, a flatcar that proved to have an extensive and significant history. SC&H car No. 16151 was unveiled on June 3 for the Alco Historical & Technical Society’s annual “Alco Adventure” day. During restoration for use as an open-air excursion […]
New Haven “Jet”
New Haven 376, one of 10 EP-5 electrics nicknamed “Jets” for their howling blower motors, cruises down the road’s four-track main line at Noroton Heights, Conn., in 1956, the year after it was built. Thomas J. McNamara photo […]
SEPTA sees 12% ridership increase on three rail lines after I-95 bridge collapse
PHILADELPHIA — The three SEPTA Regional Rail Lines most closely paralleling Interstate 95 saw a 12% increase in ridership on Monday, the first day the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority offered increased service and capacity following Sunday’s collapse of a bridge on I-95. WHYY Radio reports ridership on the Trenton, West Trenton, and Fox Chase lines […]
No one hurt as MBTA Green Line train derails
BOSTON — No injuries were reported after a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line train derailed today (Monday, June 12), the Boston Globe reports. About 30 people were on board the trolley on the Green Lin’s B Branch when the center wheelset of the articulated light-rail trainset derailed at low speed near Packard’s Corner. The […]
‘Night on the Naug’ event approaches at Railroad Museum of New England
THOMASTON, Conn. — The Railroad Museum of New England will host the “Night on the Naug” photo event on June 24, a fundraiser to repair damage to the museum’s Maine Central snowplow sustained during a recent vandalism incident. All proceeds will go to the museum. The event is scheduled to begin with an evening briefing […]