HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and other Pennsylvania transit agencies are asking state legislators to create new funding streams to address money from the state turnpike system that is coming to an end, and to take other measures to address transit needs. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports lobbyists and transit advocates are seeking […]
Section: News & Reviews
R&LHS names 2021 scholarship award winners (corrected)
Benjamin Kletzer, Stanton Schmitz, and Matthew Parkes are the winners of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society’s 2021 scholarship awards. Klezter, pursuing a Ph.D. in history at UC San Diego, has received the George W. Hilton Scholarship. He is writing a dissertation on the development of the Chinese National Railway. Schmitz, pursuing a Bachelor of […]
Union Pacific’s I-5 corridor route to be closed until at least Sept. 1
WEED, Calif. — Union Pacific’s main line linking the Pacific Northwest and California — its Interstate 5 corridor — is likely to remain closed until at least Sept. 1 as a result of the wildfire that destroyed the massive Dry Canyon Bridge in Northern California along with 9 miles of right-of-way. The railroad informed customers […]
Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, electronic, and club offering announcements for July 15, 2021
Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of July 15, 2021. HO scale locomotives 2-6-0 Mogul steam locomotive. Atchison, Topeka […]
Trains Magazine, U.S. Sugar set photo charter with ex-FEC No. 148
CLEWISTON, Fla. — U.S. Sugar’s restored 4-6-2 No. 148 will star in its first outing for railroad photographers in an exclusive event sponsored by Trains Magazine on Jan. 29-30, 2022. The 1920 Alco-built Pacific-type locomotive will pull passenger and replica freight consists in locations chosen by Trains Editor Jim Wrinn and Videographer Kevin Gilliam for […]
Amtrak, shipper groups voice support for Biden executive order
WASHINGTON — Amtrak and shipper groups have welcomed the executive order from President Joe Biden which seeks to increase competition among railroads. Biden signed the order on Friday, drawing criticism from the Association of American Railroads and some individual Class 1 roads [see “Biden executive order prods STB …,” Trains News Wire, July 9, 2021]. […]
VIA’s Ocean to resume once-weekly round trips in August
MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada says it is relaunching its last suspended route on Wednesday, Aug. 11, when the formerly triweekly Ocean departs Halifax, Nova Scotia, for Montreal for the first time since March 2020. The overnighter’s first eastbound return is set for Sunday, August 15. Service is finally resuming as a result of “progressive […]
Safety board to examine if train caused Lytton fire; Canadian government announces new safety measures
LYTTON, B.C. — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, citing information from two other agencies, says it is investigating the possibility a freight train caused the fire which destroyed most of the town of Lytton, killing two people. Meanwhile, Transport Canada on Sunday announced new measures to address wildfire risks. The Canadian Press reports the […]
Broken coupler led to CP yard derailment, TSB report finds
CALGARY, Alberta — A coupler failure led to a string of cars rolling uncontrolled in a Canadian Pacific yard in Calgary and hitting a group of stationary cars, causing a 22-car derailment, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined in its investigation of the January 2019 incident. According to the TSB’s summary of the incident, […]
Sound Transit to receive $252 million in federal grants for light rail projects
WASHINGTON — Sound Transit will receive more than $250 million in federal grants for a pair of projects extending light rail lines, Washington state’s two U.S. senators announced Friday. The awards come as the agency prepares to announce plans to delay some planned construction projects as a result of a $12 billion funding shortfall — […]
Canadian government to provide $1.3 billion for SkyTrain extension
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canada’s federal government will provide $C1.3 billion in funding toward extension of the SkyTrain Expo Line from Surrey to Langley, B.C., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during a Friday visit to Surrey. The Vancouver Sun reports the federal funding represents 40% of the 9.9-mile extension, which will include eight new stations […]
Norfolk Southern furloughs 86 at Altoona locomotive shops
ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern furloughed 86 workers at its Juaniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona on Friday, while eliminating another 14 jobs through attrition, the Altoona Mirror reports. The moves leave the shop with approximately 400 workers. Workers learned of the layoffs Friday morning when they arrived for their shift and were prohibited from entering […]