Jackson, Mich., station to receive historical markers

Brick two-story passenger station

JACKSON, Mich. — Jackson’s Amtrak station, said to be the oldest continuously operating rail passenger station in the United States, is about to receive additional historical recognition. The news site Mlive.com reports ceremonies this Saturday, May 13, will place two sets Michigan historical markers at the building to note its role in the Underground Railroad, […]

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Paul Barnes becomes CEO of Canton Development, two rail operations

A map of the Canton Railroad in Baltimore

BALTIMORE — The board of directors for the Canton Development Co., which provides switching and logistics services in Baltimore and Cecil County, Md., has named Paul A. Barnes as president and CEO. The appointment, effective May 1, follows the decision by John C. Magness to retire as of June 30 after 27 years at the […]

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Baltimore & Ohio heritage locomotive debuts on CSX Transportation

Logo of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad — circular emblem with Capitol dome

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation has painted an ES44AH in a Baltimore & Ohio heritage livery. The locomotive, previously CSX No. 3059, now is CSX No. 1827 in honor of the year B&O was founded. The locomotive made its debut yesterday on the point of Waycross, Ga.-Birmingham, Ala., manifest train M646-10. Repainting of the unit […]

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Help stop my Walthers troop sleeper car derailing

A military-green HO scale troop sleeper car on a white background

Q: A fellow club member and I just started running the Walthers troop cars on the club layout. We are having problems with the troop sleeper cars derailing on the 36″ curves. Can you suggest a solution to this problem? – Alan Cox A: If those are the only cars having derailing problems on those […]

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Keep N scale track clean

Keep N scale track really clean

Keep N scale track clean: Last summer I finished an extensive scenery project on my N scale layout, cleaned up, went carefully over the track with a Bright Boy rail-cleaning block, did a few more small layout chores, and at last was ready to run a train. For me there’s nothing in this hobby as […]

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CPKC launches first Midwest Mexico Express intermodal hotshots

CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC today launched the Mexico Midwest Express premium intermodal service linking Chicago, Kansas City, and Laredo, Texas, with Monterrey and San Luis Potosi in Mexico. A nighttime photo on CPKC’s home page showed train MMX-181 about to break through a CPKC de Mexico banner on its inaugural northbound run. The newly merged […]

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Whistle signals

Whistles

Before radio communication came into wide use in the 1960s, a locomotive’s whistle was an important tool in conveying information to other employees, both on and off the train, and many signals were on the books. The General Code Of Operating Rules, used by many railroads, contains the following list of whistle signals and their […]

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Amtrak reaches settlement with freight customers on Harrisburg Line

Amtrak640

WASHINGTON – Amtrak has reached a settlement in principle with two freight customers in Pennsylvania who had asked federal regulators to prevent the loss of rail service during a six-week track project. Amtrak told federal regulators on May 10 that it had reached a confidential settlement with Esbenshade and the Wenger Group, which operate feed […]

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Largest 2-6-2 Prairie fleet: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy

Member of Largest 2-6-2 Prairie fleet parked in grass covered rail yard

Unsurprisingly, the largest 2-6-2 Prairie fleet operated on the U.S. prairies with the railroad that originated the type.     As the railroad industry approached the late 19th century, it became obvious that what had been considered the preferred locomotive — the 4-4-0 American — could no longer provide the horsepower nor the speed necessary […]

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Rio Grande Pacific to take over from Watco on Louisiana short line

Rio Grande Pacific logo

WASHINGTON – Shortline holding company Rio Grande Pacific will add a fifth railroad to its stable: Bogalusa & Northern Railway in Louisiana. Bogalusa & Northern will acquire trackage rights over a mile of Canadian National’s Bogalusa Subdivision in Bogalusa and Leescreek, La., according to a regulatory filing. Watco’s Bogalusa Bayou Railroad currently holds the trackage […]

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