Fires disrupt service on Northeast Corridor, Hartford Line Amtrak service on the Northeast Corridor between New York and Boston has been disrupted this morning by fire department activity earlier this morning in Providence, R.I., that has affected overhead power lines. WJAR-TV reports a locomotive fire on an MBTA train in one of the underground approaches […]
Digest: New MBTA subway cars have derailed six times near site of recent incident
Car weight may be a factor in derailments by new MBTA subway cars The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s new Orange Line subway cars have derailed six times near Wellington Station in Medford, Mass., since the first new cars entered service, and their weight may be a factor. New England Cable News reports five of those […]
Landmark former PRR tower facing demolition
MG Tower, a landmark on the former Pennsylvania Railroad Pittsburgh Line through the Allegheny Mountains, is reportedly facing demolition by current owner Norfolk Southern 27 years after its closure. The tower was built to help the Pennsylvania deal with the increased demand to transport war materials, troops, civilian passenger trains, and regular freight shipments. In […]
Digest: Minnesota tank car explosion spews molasses for more than a mile
Tank car of molasses explodes in Minnesota, damaging building An explosion of a tank car full of molasses on Tuesday morning in Cannon Falls, Minn., spewed the sticky substance as far as a mile and a half from the site of the incident. RiverTowns.net reports the Cannon Falls Fire Department received a call about an […]
Obituaries: Marvin Cohen, Pete Reimer
Steam Directory editor, heritage rail pioneer Marvin Cohen Marvin Cohen, editor of the Steam Directory from 1966 to 1989, passed away at home in Middletown, N.Y. on Dec. 10, 2020, at age 93. Mark Smith, Cohen’s successor, credited Cohen with an “incalculable contribution” to the heritage rail industry by creating the “bible of the industry.” […]
Maine’s WW&F Museum to build new roundhouse
ALNA, Maine — The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum’s board of directors endorsed a plan for a new roundhouse during its monthly meeting on March 13, thanks to a generous donation by a long-time member. Jason Lamontage, museum superintendent and chief mechanical officer, said, “The roundhouse will be much more than a replica of […]
Digest: No. 1309 fully operational, Western Maryland Scenic says
Western Maryland Scenic says No. 1309 is being prepared for FRA inspection Western Maryland Scenic Railroad officials say C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is “100% operational” and believe the locomotive will be operating this summer, although it awaits a few parts and must address “a few leaks” before receiving its Federal Railroad Administration inspection. The Cumberland […]
Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern seek regulatory approval of merger within 10 months
WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern plan to file their merger application with U.S. regulators on or around June 28 and have proposed a 10-month review of the deal that would create the first railroad to link the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The railroads told the Surface Transportation Board that their proposed review timetable […]
Digest: U.S., California in settlement talks over high speed rail lawsuit
Department of Justice in talks with California to settle suit over funds withheld from high speed rail project The U.S. Department of Justice is in talks with California to settle a lawsuit resulting from the Trump administration’s cancellation of a $929 million grant for the state’s high speed rail project. Reuters reports the Justice Department […]
Wabtec to acquire maintenance-of-way equipment firm Nordco
PITTSBURGH — Wabtec Corp. has announced a “definitive agreement” to acquire Nordco, a supplier of new, rebuilt, and used maintenance-of-way equipment, from Greenbriar Equity Group LP for $400 million in cash. Nordco’s product line includes mobile railcar movers and ultrasonic rail flaw detection technologies, with equipment and services supporting North American customers ranging from Class […]
Digest: Competing South Bend, Ind., station plans stalled, face growing costs
Competing Shore Shore station plans for South Bend, Ind., face growing costs Competing plans to build a new South Shore Line station in South Bend, Ind. — one envisioning a downtown station, another for a relocated stop to replace the current terminus at the South Bend airport — have stalled several years after being floated, […]
Emery Rail Heritage Trust announces 2021 awards
The John Emery Rail Heritage Trust has awarded 22 grants totaling almost $325,000 for rail preservation projects in 2021, with 20 new awards joining two projects previously receiving funding. The awards come from 41 applicants seeking grants totaling more than $1 million. The trust was established by long-time Chicago resident John Emery to preserve equipment […]