BOSTON — The new general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority received a sampling of the safety issues that have plagued the transit agency on Thursday, taking part in a meeting that revealed four incidents in the last month in which track workers were nearly struck by subway trains. CommonWealth Magazine reports General Manager […]
Zone & Region: Northeast
PATH to begin use of new railcars
HOBOKEN, N.J. — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will begin operating the first of its 72 new PATH rail cars next week, the agency announced Thursday, and showed off some of the new cars. The Kawasaki-built cars, completed at a facility in Yonkers, N.Y., are being added to an existing 350-car […]
Slide suspends Seattle-Portland ‘Cascades’ service through Friday
SEATTLE — Amtrak Cascades between Seattle and Portland, Ore., remain suspended through Friday, April 14, while BNSF Railway crews clear a mudslide that has kept passenger trains from operating since Tuesday. Portland-Eugene, Ore., and Seattle-Vancouver, B.C., trains have continued to operate, while the Coast Starlight to and from Los Angeles has been turning at Portland. […]
The MTH Erie 0-8-8-0 Angus
The MTH Erie 0-8-8-0 Angus models a steam engine in the railroad’s L1 class. Three were built in 1907 and numbered 2600-2602. These were the only articulated camelback locomotives ever made. In that year, this was the largest locomotive in existence. Weighing in at 410,000 lbs., these behemoths could develop 94,000 lbs. tractive effort. This […]
MBTA completes purchase of land for new commuter yard
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has completed purchase of 24 acres of land near South Station where it plans to build a new commuter rail layover facility. State House News Service reports MBTA officials announced today they have finalized the $255 million purchase of the land at Widett Circle, a mile from South […]
Metrorail rail operator who used automated system is out, safety agency says
WASHINGTON — The DC Metrorail train operator who ran a train using Metro’s Automatic Train Operation system, which has been out of service since 2009, “will not be returning to duty,” according to the head of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission. The Washington Post reports commission CEO David L. Meyer told the commission’s board on […]
CNJ No. 113 debuts for 100th birthday year
MINERSVILLE, Pa. — Central Railroad of New Jersey No. 113 made its 2023 debut on April 8th with the Easter Bunny Trains. These round-trip excursions operated out of Minersville, the locomotive’s home base, in partnership with the Reading & Northern Railroad. Passengers onboard celebrating the holiday weekend were treated to the sights and sounds of […]
Colebrookdale Trust will acquire locomotive from Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will transfer ownership of former Canadian National 4-6-2 No. 5288 to the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust in Boyertown, Pa., the two organizations announced Friday, with Colebrookdale planning to eventually restore the locomotive to operation. The engine will move to Pennsylvania as soon as possible. Built by Montreal […]
Two Norfolk Southern crew members injured in Alabama derailment
JASPER, Ala. — Two crew members were injured Saturday night when a locomotive and 11 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Saturday night, AL.com reports. Also on Saturday, an NS train was involved in a minor derailment in Pittsburgh. In the Alabama incident, the railroad said the locomotive rolled onto its side, spilling some […]
Alstom receives new contract for MARC operations, maintenance
BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration has awarded Alstom a five-year contract for operation and maintenance of the MARC commuter rail Camden and Brunswick lines, with options for two extensions. The initial contract is worth $401 million, with a total of value of $1.4 billion including the potential extensions in 2028 and 2033. Alstom, which […]
Virginia seeks additional funding for Long Bridge project
RICHMOND, Va. — The cost of a second rail bridge over the Potomac River — a key part of Virginia’s plan for major expansion of Amtrak and commuter-rail service on the I-95 corridor south from Washington, D.C.— has risen substantially, leading to a $389 million shortfall, the Washington Post reports.= The new two-track Long Bridge […]
Erie Limited along the Delaware River
Erie Railroad class K-5a Pacific 2960 heels to a curve near Hale’s Eddy, N.Y., on its way east with the Chicago–New York Erie Limited on Aug. 24, 1941. Charles G. Krumm photo […]