Rail employee group voices support for Amtrak Gulf Coast service

Logo of Railroad Workers United

WASHINGTON — Railroad Workers United, which describes itself as “an inter-union, cross-craft solidarity caucus of railroad workers and their supporters,” has expressed its support for Amtrak’s efforts to launch service on the Gulf Coast — while taking more than a few shots at CSX and other Class I railroads. In a statement filed with the […]

Read More…

Minnesota bill would provide $20 million for short line capital projects

Man with glasses wearing coat and tie

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Legislation introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives would provide $20 million for capital improvements on the state’s short lines, which face significant costs to upgrade their infrastructure, according to the bill’s sponsor. Rep. Paul Tokelson (R-Hanska, Minn.) says the state’s 821 miles of Class II, III, and private rail lines […]

Read More…

Amtrak recognizes Canadian Pacific as top host railroad

Two men on station platform with Amtrak locomotive in background

CHICAGO — In a brief ceremony in Chicago, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner has recognized Canadian Pacific for its sixth straight year with the industry-leading A grade on the passenger carrier’s annual Host Railroad Report Card. The report card measures the freight railroads’ performance in keeping Amtrak trains on time. Gardner presented a plaque commemorating the […]

Read More…

Mirrorless cameras in railfan photography

A train bridge illuminated by the headling of a train passing underneath at night, in a snowy scene.

Mirrorless cameras in railfan photography: The mirrorless camera revolution might be the biggest conversation in photography since the introduction of the digital camera more than 45 years ago, but will mirrorless camera technology evolve to become the new norm, or does it simply give photographers more options? Brief history of mirrorless cameras Mirrorless technology was […]

Read More…

Former Ringling Bros. railcars burn in North Carolina

Logo of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus.

SPRING HOPE, N.C. — Several former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus railcars now owned by the state of North Carolina have been badly damaged or destroyed in a fire. WRAL-TV reports the cars, stored on an isolated rail line just outside the city limits of the community of Spring Hope, caught fire this […]

Read More…

Amtrak worker charged with fraud over CARES Act funds

U.S. Department of Justice seal

NEW ORLEANS — An Amtrak employee has been charged with making false statements and theft of government funds relating to coronavirus relief, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans has announced. Stacey V. Santemore, 46, of Houston, but previously of New Orleans, has been charged with making false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration to fraudulently […]

Read More…

Trackside Photos: A reefer train rolls, two coal trains meet, a caboose is serviced, and more

A green-and-yellow diesel pulls a train of red Swift Meats reefers

Send us your photos Trackside Photos is a showcase for the work of Model Railroader readers. Send your photos (digital images 5 megapixels or larger) to: Model Railroader, Trackside Photos, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612; or upload them to fileupload.kalmbach.com/contribute. For our photo submission guidelines, contact senior associate editor Steven Otte at sotte@kalmbach.com.   […]

Read More…

Transport Canada inches forward with VIA’s ‘High Frequency’ plan: Analysis

Man speaking at podium in front of locomotive

MONTREAL — The Canadian government will seek “world-class knowledge and private sector expertise” for VIA Rail Canada’s proposal to build passenger-only trackage for parts of its Quebec City-Toronto corridor rather than directly financing the project, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Wednesday. Proposal dates to 2015 First unveiled by then-VIA CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano in 2015, the […]

Read More…

Wisconsin, Minnesota, receive $31.8 million to upgrade Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago rail route

Illustration showing locations of construction projects on Amtrak route between Twin Cities and La Crosse, Wis.

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Departments of Transportation in Wisconsin and Minnesota will receive a $31.8 million grant for infrastructure upgrades to allow a second Twin Cities-Chicago passenger train, as well as improved freight operation, on the route through La Crosse, Wis.,  and Milwaukee. Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and officials […]

Read More…