News Photos: Historic Ohio tower demolished

Heavy equipment next to rubble from demolished building

FOSTORIA, Ohio — Fostoria’s historic Jackson Street Tower, which housed the nation’s first Centralized Traffic Control equipment, has been demolished. The former New York Central structure was torn down as part of an ongoing effort by CSX Transportation to remove old, unused structures along its routes. It was the operator in the Jackson Street Tower […]

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U.S. weekly rail traffic continues to lag compared to 2020

Weekly table showing U.S. rail traffic by commodity, plus intermodal units

WASHINGTON — The months-long trend in U.S. rail traffic — with increased carload volume more than offset by lagging intermodal movements — continues in the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. For the week ending Dec. 4, 2021, railroads originated 255,044 carloads, a 3.9% increase over the same week in 2020, but the […]

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Canadian Pacific commits to New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger train if KCS merger is approved (updated)

Amtrak train on track next to strip of grass

NEW ORLEANS — A senior Canadian Pacific official told New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., civic leaders on Wednesday that the railroad will permit a single passenger round trip between the two cities, without any infrastructure improvements, if CP’s merger with Kansas City Southern is approved by the Surface Transportation Board. James Clements, Canadian Pacific’s […]

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2021 Holiday toy train photo gallery

Christmas tree with trains and décor around it

A 2021 holiday toy train photo gallery is just the thing to get you in the Christmas spirit. Please enjoy this selection of holiday-themed photos of toy trains from Lionel and American Flyer in O gauge, S gauge, and Standard gauge. If you have a photo you’d like considered for a future gallery, contact editor@classictoytrains.com […]

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CP shareholders back Kansas City Southern merger

Red, yellow, and black locomotive at grade crossing

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific shareholders today overwhelmingly approved the railway’s proposed merger with Kansas City Southern. KCS shareholders will vote on the $31 billion deal on Friday. Some 99.9% of CP’s investors voted in favor of the issuance of 277 million CP common shares to Kansas City Southern’s common stockholders. CP shareholders also approved […]

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MBTA staffing shortages lead to trolley, bus service cuts

Yellow and white streetcar at station

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will cut service on its Mattapan trolley line, as well more than 30 bus routes, because of an operator shortage. Boston.com reports the agency announced Tuesday that the cuts will be effective Dec. 19. Employee attrition has outstripped the ability to find new employees, officials say, leading to […]

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Analysis: Infrastructure gets scaled back in coal country

Rail line at curve with only ties remaining from a removed siding.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Seldom-used rail sidings and excess segments of double track are under review in coal country as CSX Transportation assesses its needs to handle coal traffic. In the past few months, the railroad’s engineering forces have taken a close look at infrastructure in the central Appalachian coalfields served by its former Chesapeake & […]

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