ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad has announced details for a one-day revival of its “Winter Spectacular” on Saturday, Feb. 20. The Winter Spectacular was an annual railfan event in south-central Pennsylvania from 1966 to 1981, held each President’s Day weekend. It started with the 1927 gas-electric car No. M-1 […]
Digest: Oregon commuter rail operation costs $108 per passenger, news report says
Still more Tuesday morning rail news: News report says Oregon’s WES commuter rail now costs $108 per passenger to operate Portland, Ore.,-area commuter rail operation Westside Express Service, with already low ridership hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, now costs nearly $108 per passenger to operate — more than 10 times the figures for transit […]
Amtrak, AAR, short line and transit groups congratulate Buttigieg on confirmation as transportation secretary (updated)
WASHINGTON — Amtrak, the Association of American Railroads, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and American Public Transportation Association issued statements Tuesday congratulating former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg on his confirmation Tuesday as U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said the passenger railroad “applauds” Buttigieg’s confirmation, adding, As a mayor […]
Biden administration pipeline restrictions may benefit crude by rail
The Biden administration’s efforts to kill key oil pipeline projects may boost crude by rail volumes, railroad officials say. President Joe Biden last month revoked a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline that was under construction to carry oil sands crude from Canada to refineries in the U.S. “The pipeline was not going to be […]
Digest: Canadian short line train derails after reported runaway
Tuesday morning rail news: Ontario short line train derails, demolishing vehicles, shed A reported runaway situation led to the derailment of a Goderich-Exeter Railway train on Monday in Goderich, Ontario, CTV News reports, demolishing a tractor-trailer, pickup truck, and shed before coming to a halt. An officer of the Ontario Provincial Police told the news […]
Digest: South Carolina port agency seeks funds to improve rail access to Port of Charleston
Tuesday midday rail news: S.C. Ports Authority seeks funds to improve rail access to Port of Charleston The South Carolina Ports Authority is seeking $550 million in funding from state legislators to improve rail and barge access to the Port of Charleston, the only major East Coast port without near-dock rail access. The State newspaper reports the […]
MTA, NJ Transit, Amtrak service resuming after snowstorm (updated)
NEW YORK — Rail service in and through the New York City metropolitan area is resuming in stages after being shut down Monday by heavy snowfall. New York’s MTA announced Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road commuter rail service were to resume Tuesday at 4 a.m., and service on the New York City Transit subway system’s outdoor […]
Denman McNear, last CEO of Southern Pacific, dies at 95
Denman McNear, the chairman and CEO of Southern Pacific during its unsuccessful effort to merge with Santa Fe, and when it was acquired by Rio Grande Industries, died Jan. 5 at an assisted living residence in Bethesda, Md. He was 95. A career SP employee, he joined the railroad in 1948 after graduating from the […]
Digest: CP, controllers union reach tentative agreement on three-year contract
Monday midday rail news: Canadian Pacific, rail traffic controllers reach agreement on three-year contract Canadian Pacific and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Rail Canada Traffic Controllers have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract. The union represents approximately 300 rail traffic controllers in Canada. “This is positive news for these important members of our […]
Digest: Batory joins R.J. Corman board of directors
Still more Monday morning rail news: Former FRA administrator Batory joins R.J. Corman board Ronald Batory, whose term as administrator of the Federal Railroad Adminstration ended concluded with the change of presidential administrations in January, has been named to the board of directors of the R.J. Corman Railroad Group. Batory’s 46-year career in the railroad […]
B&O Museum celebrates restoration of first Electro-Motive streamliner
BALTIMORE, Md. — Baltimore & Ohio Railroad No. 51, the first Electro-Motive Corp. streamlined diesel locomotive, was placed on display in the B&O Museum’s historic roundhouse on Jan. 29 following completion of the locomotive’s restoration. The 1937 EA model set the standard for art deco locomotive design by EMC, which later became the Electro-Motive Division […]
Digest: CDC issues mask order for domestic travel
Monday morning rail news: CDC issues mask order for domestic travel, effective tonight Responding to an executive order by President Joe Biden, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an order requiring mask use for all domestic travel, effective today at 11:59 p.m. The Washington Post reports the order, issued late Friday, will require masks […]