COSTONIA, Ohio — Fifteen cars of a Norfolk Southern train carrying trash derailed Sunday morning, Nov. 6, in Jefferson County, Ohio, WTOV-TV reports, sending some containers of refuse into the Ohio River. The derailment was reported to authorities about 7 a.m., Rob Herrington, deputy director of the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency, told WKBN-TV that […]
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Former Alaska Gov. Bill Sheffield, who was instrumental in the state’s purchase of the Alaska Railroad from the federal government and went on to serve as the railroad’s president, CEO, and board chairman, has died. Sheffield died on Nov. 4. He was 94. “There are just no words to encompass all that […]
SPRING, Texas — A Union Pacific worker was killed Saturday in an explosion during track work in Spring, Texas, KPRC-TV reports. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office told the station the accident occurred about 9 a.m. Two workers were welding when gas was ignited, causing an explosion. One worker was taken to an area hospital, […]
A Great Northern publicity photo shows the interior of one of the 1947 Empire Builder’s observation-lounge cars. GN photo […]
What was your first byline in Trains? I had a news photo of brand-new Southern Railway GE U30Cs in the April 1968 issue, but my first feature story, “Yes, I DID Want to Run a Railroad” appeared in the July 1978 issue. It was a completely unsolicited manuscript with no photos. I wanted to describe my […]
Steam locomotives generate electricity As soon as trains began running at night railroads realized a light was needed for crews to see the tracks ahead and for people at grade crossings to be warned of the oncoming train. The first attempt at a headlight appeared in 1832 and involved a large wood bonfire burning in […]
Bachmann Big Hauler birthday train […]
Model an enginehouse scene. Last year, I wrote about an old 40-foot insulated boxcar being used as a storage shed on the Sisseton Milbank RR (SMRR) in Milbank, S.D. I thought it would be fun to take another look at the 38-mile line, a subsidiary of the Twin Cities & Western RR, this time focusing […]
Over the years I’ve built a whole lot of wood structures – large and small, laser-cut kits and stick-built, beginner and craftsman. And I’ll admit I’ve made a few mistakes along the way. That’s how we learn. You may have an idea of what to do when building a wood kit, but it’s equally important […]
NEW YORK — U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, credited by unions with a key role in the tentative agreement that averted a railroad strike in September, says he expects Congress will act to block a possible strike later this month. Walsh made his comments on Friday to CNN, prior to the latest vote ratifying […]
WASHINGTON — Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, who rejected an earlier agreement with railroads, have narrowly approved a new deal, the union announced Saturday. The union’s District 19, which represents 4,900 rail workers, said 52% of those voting approved the revised agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee. That deal […]
TORONTO — The union representing 2,200 GO Transit workers says they have rejected the latest contract offer from parent transit agency Metrolinx and will strike on Monday. Global News reports Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587 said 81% of those voting rejected the contract offered last week. The union represents bus trivers, station attendance, maintenance workers, […]
