LEBANON, Ohio — The city of Lebanon is preparing to approve a new eight-year agreement with the nonprofit Lebanon, Mason & Monroe Railroad, which operates a tourist railroad on city-owned tracks in the community. The Hamilton Journal-News reports the current agreement expires next year. The new contract will address replacement of two of the five […]
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s legislature is considering a bill which would move oversight of major transit projects from the local Utah Transit Authority to the state Department of Transportation. The Salt Lake Tribune reports the bill, sponsored by Rep. Kay Christofferson (R-Lehi), would also give the state the ability to invest more into UTA […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Some $138 million in funding is now available for transit agencies in Washington state, the first money coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray announced, saying the state will receive $1.79 billion over the next five years. “These funds are critical to helping meet the ridership […]
Introducing The Empress Canadian Pacific 2816 The Empress: Canadian Pacific President and CEO Rob Ritchie set the steam preservation world on its ear when in 1998 he revealed the railway’s plan to repatriate CP H1b Hudson No. 2816 from its long-time home at the National Park Service’s Steamtown museum and rebuild the 1930-vintage locomotive for […]
9 oddball diesel locomotives: Just when we think we understand the rationale behind particular railroad locomotive fleets, they like to throw us a ringer or two. Standardization is the key to a streamlined and efficient operating department, and while an endless parade of one particular model may become a little monotonous for fans, railroad accountants […]
DETROIT — Google is joining Ford Motor Co.’s effort to transform the landmark Michigan Central Station into a hub of technology and innovation. The news site mlive.com reports Google will be a “founding member” of the Michigan Central Innovation District, a 30-acre campus being developed by Ford at the long-neglected station. “This is not going […]
LEWISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania rail authority which owns five short lines served by contract operators has acquired the operating rights to 9 miles of Norfolk Southern trackage in Snyder County, Pa. In its December meeting, the Susquehanna Economic Development Agency-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Joint Rail Authority agreed to purchase rail assets and a freight […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation aims to round up shipper support before a Surface Transportation Board hearing this month regarding Amtrak’s controversial quest to launch passenger service on the Gulf Coast. In an email to the railroad’s customers, CEO Jim Foote asked shippers to sign a petition or to write to the STB directly regarding […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The EBT Foundation has released the list of activities for its East Broad Top Railroad Winter Spectacular, to be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19. This is the second Spectacular to be held since the Foundation acquired the historic narrow gauge railroad, a National Historic Landmark, in 2020. Last year’s event […]
CANTON, Ohio — The transit agency serving Canton has hired a consultant to study building a light-rail line between downtown Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Massillon Independent reports the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority has approved a contract with consultant WSP USA and envisions a six-month time frame for the study, […]
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission took no action Thursday on a proposal to seek abandonment of a branch line that a tourist train operator said could doom its operation, instead instructing Executive Director Guy Preston to engage in further talks with Roaring Camp Railroads. Meanwhile, in a separate action Thursday, […]
ALBANY, N.Y. — The state of New York has awarded $76.4 million in grants to fund 38 freight rail infrastructure projects, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. The awards range from $100,000 for the Ontario Midland Railroad to resurface a grade crossing to $5 million to Norfolk Southern for projects in the capital region including 15 […]
