Short line association resumes in-person meetings with two regional events in June The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association will resume in-person meetings with two regional gatherings in June: The Central/Pacific Region meeting will be held June 7-9 at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City, and the Eastern/Southern Regional Meeting will be June 21-23 […]
Section: News & Reviews
Kato 20th Century Limited train set
We take a look at Kato’s new 20th Century Limited train set. Learn how to get inside the passenger cars, and take a look at some of the cool details engineered into these all-new models. […]
Digest: Metrorail Safety Commission sees ‘troubling’ DC Metro safety issues
Metrorail Commission says DC Metro moving the wrong way on safety issues The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, the independent agency created by Congress to oversee DC Metro safety issues, says the transit agency is moving the wrong way in terms of such basics as making sure trains stop for red signals and following worker safety […]
Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern respond to Justice Department merger concerns
WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific has rebutted Justice Department criticism of its proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern, telling the Surface Transportation Board that the $29 billion merger can’t happen without a voting trust. The Justice Department on Monday raised concerns about CP’s plan to place KCS into a voting trust while the STB reviews the […]
Digest: Caltrain board will consider merger with BART
Caltrain board will consider merger with BART; BART has not discussed idea Caltrain’s board of directors will consider a merger with Bay Area Rapid Transit as part of a restructuring of the commuter railroad’s governance, although a BART spokeswoman says its board has had no discussions of the concept. The San Jose Mercury News reports […]
Bankruptcy sale of San Luis & Rio Grande begins
DENVER, Colo. — With an initial offer of $7.5 million in hand, bids are now being accepted for the sale through federal bankruptcy court of the San Luis & Rio Grande railroad, the former Iowa Pacific Holdings property based in Alamosa, Colo., that operates 154 miles of former Denver & Rio Grande Western lines. In […]
CN-Watco deal for Wisconsin, Michigan branch lines runs into unexpected opposition
WASHINGTON — In a move that has stunned rail observers, a pair of local shipper groups is challenging Canadian National’s proposed sale of former Wisconsin Central branches to short line operator Watco. This month CN and Watco sought to have their deal considered exempt from review by the Surface Transportation Board, which is the typical […]
Colorado Railroad Museum to have three locomotives under steam May 15-16
GOLDEN, Colo. — For the first time in its 62-year history, the Colorado Railroad Museum will have three coal-fired narrow-gauge locomotives under steam and operating for two days in May. This first-ever-of-its-kind event will offer fans of Colorado history an exciting opportunity to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of a time when steam locomotives […]
Digest: Seattle monorail shut down for renovation
Seattle monorail shut down through April 30 Seattle’s monorail has shut down for the remainder of April as part of a renovation to prepare for the arrival of the city’s new National Hockey League team, the Kraken, which will debut this fall. KNKX Radio reports the work on the 1-mile line, connecting downtown’s Westlake Center […]
Digest: Fire causes estimated $3 million damage to BNSF building
Scottsbluff, Neb., BNSF building sustains $3 million damage in fire A fire in the terminal building at BNSF’s facility in Alliance, Neb., is reported to have caused about $3 million in damage. The Scottsbluff Star-Herald reports the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department responded to the building Sunday about 12:20 p.m., had the fire “somewhat controlled” around […]
European rail operators look to future, ordering large fleets of new equipment
Despite ridership numbers that have fallen dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic — by up to 90% in some countries — Europe’s rail operators are showing confidence that better times and passengers will return, ordering billions of dollars of new equipment in recent months. In contracts worth more than $2.3 billion, Spain national rail company RENFE […]
Digest: Biden to nominate Fernandez as head of FTA
Biden to nominate Fernandez as head of Federal Transit Administration President Joe Biden will nominate Nuria Fernandez as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, according to a White House press release. Fernandez was appointed as the FTA’s deputy administrator and senior official on Jan. 20, allowing her to begin work at the agency while awaiting […]