Amtrak has updated its list of weather-related train cancellations for service to western New York, as well as the long-distance Empire Builder. As of 3:35 p.m. CST, these are the planned cancellations and other service change for Thursday, Dec. 29: — In New York, the Maple Leaf is canceled in both directions between Rochester and […]
Zone & Region: Midwest
Hot Spot: Neenah, Wis.
Neenah Neenah, Wis., is one of those towns you have probably never heard of. There is, however, a good chance that something from Neenah impacts your life every day. Take a good look at the next manhole cover you cross. If it’s cast with the words “Neenah Foundry Co., Neenah, WI,” you now know the […]
Union Pacific, CSX tell shippers delays continue in wake of storm
Union Pacific and CSX Transportation have notified customers to expect shipment delays as a result of the recent storms that swept across much of the country, with CSX indicating those delays could last through the New Year’s weekend. In a Tuesday, Dec. 27, customer advisory on its website, Union Pacific says parts of northern Iowa […]
Top 10 stories of 2022: No. 7, Railroading Heritage of Midwest America makes its mark in Silvis
At the beginning of 2022, no one would have considered Silvis, Ill. a center of the railroad preservation community. The massive former Rock Island shop facility had just been downgraded by owner National Railway Equipment. It was closed in March 2021 as part of a plan to consolidate NRE rail operations to its shops in […]
Amtrak cancellations, long departure delays continue
CHICAGO — While sub-zero cold and blizzard conditions had begun to moderate somewhat across much of the Midwest toward the end of the holiday weekend, Amtrak has continued to cancel trains on less than 24 hours’ notice for “mechanical” and “manpower” issues, as well as the weather. A running list of trains not operating continues […]
Rail union seeks Iowa bill to limit train length
DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa representative of the SMART-TD union says the union will try again next year to advance a bill that would limit freight train lengths in the state. House File 2339, introduced last February, was sponsored by outgoing Rep. David Maxwell (R-District 76). It would not allow any train “that exceeds […]
News photo: Atypical power for Texas Eagle
ATLANTA, Ill. — Severe weather and equipment shortages sometimes lead to atypical events on the nation’s rail passenger operator. A case in point was Monday’s northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle, train No. 22, shown in Atlanta, Ill., about 20 miles southwest of Bloomington, with P32-7BWH No. 518 leading heritage-painted P42DC No. 161. The 518 was part […]
Metra battery locomotives included in funding bill
CHICAGO — Metra would receive $1.5 million for its planned test of battery-electric locomotives on the Rock Island District under the Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. Senate, the state’s two senators said in a press release. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for action. The Metra funding are part of […]
Lionel American Flyer GP7 returns in new road names
The Lionel American Flyer GP7 is one of those classic locomotives to build your S gauge railroad around. This release of FlyerChief GP7s is from the Lionel 2021 Volume 2 catalog and has engines for the Burlington Northern, Chesapeake & Ohio, Lehigh Valley, and Wabash railroads plus two sets. One is a Texas & Pacific […]
South Shore halts service because of mechanical, wire issues, extreme cold
CHICAGO — South Shore Line commuter service is being suspended for the remainder of today (Friday, Dec. 23) because of mechanical and wire issues, as well as extreme cold, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District announced this afternoon on its Twitter feed. At the time of the announcement, the last westbound train of the day, […]
U.S. DOT announces loan for South Shore’s Double Track project
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday announced a $27.5 million loan to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District for the South Shore Line’s Double Track Project, adding a second main line to the commuter route between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. “We are pleased to help finance the Double Track Project, which […]
Year in review: Preservation stories from coast to coast
Trains News Wire continues our review of the top stories of 2022. We’ll count down the Top 10 stories of the year, as voted on by Trains editors, columnists, and correspondents, beginning Dec. 26. As a prelude, we’ll be looking at major stories that didn’t make that list. Today: Preservation. While some preservation stories did […]