DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is suing La Plata County, Colo., over an effort to stop the railroad’s increased use of its Rockwood Station location. The Durango Herald reports that, in response to a warning from the county that the railroad faced fines or other penalties unless it addressed land-use […]
Section: News & Reviews
Railcar provides stark reminder as Holocaust exhibit comes to Kansas City’s Union Station
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — By railfan standards this two-axle, metal-framed, wooden rail freight wagon is an interesting, vintage piece of rolling stock, but otherwise unremarkable. For the world at large, it has a larger, darker place in history, which is why it is on display at Kansas City’s Union Station. The car was one of […]
Six indicted in alleged railroad disability fraud
CHICAGO — Six former railroad employees face charges carrying prison sentences up to 20 years, as well as cash penalties ranging from $10,000 to more than $270,000, after being indicted for alleged disability-benefits fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has announced. The six are accused of working other jobs while […]
Federal regulators reject CSX-Pan Am merger application as incomplete (updated)
WASHINGTON — It’s back to the drawing board for CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. The Surface Transportation Board today rejected as incomplete CSX’s application to acquire control of Pan Am. “The Board finds that the application fails to include all of the information needed to satisfy the Market Analysis […]
Shooter kills at least eight workers at San Jose, Calif., light rail maintenance facility (updated)
SAN JOSE, Calif. — At least eight workers at the Valley Transportation Authority light rail facility in San Jose were shot and killed by a co-worker who also killed himself, according to authorities. Several other people were wounded, with at least one in critical condition, CNN reports. The network reports the gunman has been identified […]
CN and KCS take first step toward merger
WASHINGTON — Canadian National and Kansas City Southern today asked federal regulators to approve a voting trust that is the initial step in their plans to merge into the first railroad linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. To address competition concerns in the one area where the railroads’ systems overlap, CN said it will sell the […]
Transit Digest: MBTA, board struggle with fare-evasion policy
MBTA, board can’t agree on new fines for fare evasion Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority staff and the agency’s Fiscal and Management Control Board continue to disagree about fines for fare evasion. CommonWealth Magazine reports the staff and board remained at an impasse for the second consecutive board meeting. The MBTA staff initially recommended fines of […]
Digest: Pacific Surfliner to require reservations on peak summer weekends
Pacific Surfliners to require reservations on four weekends; more could be added Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will require reservations for travel on peak weekends this suffer, a move to manage capacity when more travelers are anticipated. Four weekends have been designated for the reservation requirement — Memorial Day weekend (May 28-June 1), Fourth of July weekend […]
British government plans major shake-up of rail industry
LONDON — The British Government has announced plans to create a single national ,government-owned rail company to run the railway network and, via mostly private contractors, operate most passenger trains in the UK. That such a move is planned, reversing decades of complex privatization is remarkable, but even moreso is that the government is from […]
Digest: Industrial development firm launches rail affiliate, announces first operation
Agracel Rail Holdings launches with agreement at Ohio industrial park A company providing industrial development services to rural communities is launching a rail affiliate. Agracel Rail Holdings, a subsidiary of Agracel, Inc., will begin operations by redeveloping and operating rail infrastructure at The Point Industrial Park in South Point, Ohio. “Our goal in becoming a […]
Digest: News report says official leaves California high speed rail agency after investigation
No. 2 official departs from California high speed agency The No. 2 official at the California High-Speed Rail Authority has left the agency as the result of an investigation, the Los Angeles Times reports. Chief Operating Officer Joe Hedges left the agency as of Tuesday following an investigation that began last year with an anonymous […]
Rapido HO scale 40-foot double-sheathed United States Railroad Administration boxcar
With about 25,000 built, the United States Railroad Administration 40-foot double-sheathed boxcar is one that deserves a place on any transition-era or earlier model railroad. Rapido’s model will help you fill your roster with highly detailed examples fitted with the correct style of brake for the paint schemes offered. War babies The double-sheathed boxcar was […]