Richard Sparks in his studio painting a railroad book cover. Sparks family collection ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Richard M. Sparks, rail enthusiast, editor, author, historian, photographer, artist, and so much more, passed away May 12, 2019 after a valiant, prolonged bout with metastatic cancer. He was 77 years old. Richard was one of a handful who […]
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — Orange County has agreed to contribute to funds for a study of possible regional commuter rail service around Durham, N.C. The service could extend into Johnston, Wake, Orange and Alamance counties. Orange County agreed to pay $75,000 of the study’s total cost of $850,000, which is being shared by the participating counties […]
DAYTON, Ohio – Rail activity is still suspended in Dayton after several tornadoes tore through the city and southwestern Ohio communities late Monday night. CSX Transportation confirms it has temporarily ceased all rail operations through Dayton due to down power lines and other debris across mainline tracks. “CSX personnel are working closely with the electric […]
A Union Pacific train passes under a signal bridge and past a positive train control installation on BNSF Railway track in Cajon Pass, Calif., in 2013. Trains: Steve Sweeney Even as railroads continue to roll out their positive train control solutions, one question remains front and center: Are the systems vulnerable to a cyber-attack? Can […]
As seen from the platform of business car ‘Dearing,’ the 2016 New River Train passes under the New River Gorge bridge near Fayetteville, W.Va., in October 2016. Chase Gunnoe WASHINGTON – Private car owners and operators say they are disappointed of Amtrak’s decision to ban observation deck riding and open dutch doors, despite their efforts […]
Grand Canyon 2-8-0 No. 29 will be featured in a Trains-sponsored event Oct. 26-27. Grand Canyon Railway: Eric Hadder WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Tickets go on sale Saturday for a Trains Magazine-sponsored event Oct. 26-27, 2019, at Grand Canyon Railway featuring 2-8-0 No. 29 in its final appearance before it goes into storage, the magazine and […]
On one of its last transcontinental trips from Toronto, a Panorama dome is positioned just behind the Canadian’s dining car as westbound train No. 1 crosses the North Thompson River at Kamloops, British Columbia, on May 18, 2019. These single-level domes will run only on certain days between Edmonton and Vancouver, B.C., for the rest […]
WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec was selected to implement the positive train control system for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, in an order worth $55 million. Building on ongoing design work, Wabtec will provide full-system integration for deployment of PTC on Rail Runner’s full fleet of 18 locomotives/cab cars and nearly 100 miles of track […]
Loop Capital Markets SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Rail service has been poor more often than it’s been good during the past five years because railroads run too lean and get caught short of crews, locomotives, or both and can’t recover quickly from the impact of unexpected events. So says Rick Paterson, a one-time Australian railroader […]
DARIEN, Conn. – Investment firms Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and Blackstone Group LP have shown interest in acquiring shortline railroad operator Genesee & Wyoming. The inquiries are made through affiliate companies Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and EQT Partners, according to Bloomberg. In March, Trains News Wire reported of G&W’s desire for an investment parter, or outright […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will not implement a rule requiring a certain number of people in the cab of freight trains, the agency announced this week. On Thursday, the FRA withdrew a notice of proposed rulemaking that dated back to 2016, when the federal agency was considering requiring at least two people aboard […]
Ford starts the second phase of construction at Michigan Central Station this week after six months of successful winterizing, drying out, and securing the 640,000-square-foot building. Ford Motor Co. DETROIT – The second phase of construction at Michigan Central Station is underway, including restoring eight acres of masonry and repairing the steel structure of the […]
