In this week’s news round-up, Trains Digital Editor Steve Sweeney talks briefly about a contract for Talgo, California High Speed Rail, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014. […]
Section: News Wire
MBTA to add late-night service on three lines NEWSWIRE
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will add late-night trains on three South Shore commuter lines this fall, responding to a long-running request from residents who wanted the option to use transit to attend concerts, sporting events, and other evening activities. The Greenbush, Kingston/Plymouth and Middleboro/Lakeville lines will all add trains leaving Boston at […]
Amtrak ‘San Joaquins’ introduce revised schedule NEWSWIRE
FRESNO, Calif. — Amtrak’s San Joaquins will introduce a new schedule on May 20, returning service to seven full-corridor round trips and offering service every two hours. Five of the trains will operate between Bakersfield and Oakland, while two will run between Bakersfield and Sacramento. In a media release, David Lipari, marketing manager for the […]
Big Boy brings big boost to local businesses along Union Pacific main line NEWSWIRE
No. 4014 lays over at Evanston, Wyo., eastbound on May 12. The city brought in extra resources to handles the expected crowds. Michael D. Harding ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – The thousands of people that have been following Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 across Utah and Wyoming this month are a welcome sight for hotel […]
Big Boy stubs its toe with derailment NEWSWIRE
UP steam program manager Ed Dickens hammers home wood blocking to rerail No. 4014. The locomotive derailed Thursday afternoon in the Rawlins, Wyo., yard. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn The UP steam crew walks No. 4014’s two derailed drivers back onto the rail at Rawlins, Wyo. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn RAWLINS, Wyo. — The world’s largest operating steam […]
Diesel No. 4014 gets new number ahead of Big Boy debut NEWSWIRE
The former UP No. 4014, an SD70M, departs Yermo, Calif., in April 2014 with Big Boy No. 4014 in tow. Behind the steam locomotive is appropriately numbered SD70M No. 4884. Brian Schmidt OMAHA, Neb. – With the pending return of 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 to the roster in early May, many observers seemed to […]
FRA officially pulls the plug on California high speed rail grant NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The federal government is officially pulling out of a nearly $1 billion-deal with the state of California over building a high-speed rail network. A 25-page letter to the California High Speed Rail Authority’s CEO, Brian Kelly, lays out problems with the project including: the authority “consistently and repeatedly failed in its management and […]
Musical responses to the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike NEWSWIRE
OMAHA, Neb. — There have been all kinds of celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad this May – from ceremonies at Promontory Summit, Utah, to the Big Boy steaming to and from Ogden, Utah’s, Union Station, to special exhibitions at museums all along the original route — but the […]
Nevada governor signs two-person crew law NEWSWIRE
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada has become the second state this year to pass a law requiring at least two people in the cab of freight trains on Class I and Class II railroads. On May 15, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed Assembly Bill 337 into law, just two months after Colorado’s governor signed a […]
Night photo shoot will raise funds for Rock Island E units NEWSWIRE
Rock Island E8 No. 652 and E6 No. 630 pose for a night photo session in Oelwein, Iowa, in August 2017. Jerry Huddleston MANLY, Iowa – S & B Productions will hold a night photo session with Rock Island E6A No. 630 and E8A No. 652 on May 30. The event will raise funds to […]
Union Pacific operations chief says hump yard focus is misplaced NEWSWIRE
Union Pacific BOSTON — Union Pacific Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena wants to reset the discussion about hump yards and Precision Scheduled Railroading. Converting hump yards to flat-switching facilities was a key element of E. Hunter Harrison’s PSR strategy at Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and CSX Transportation. And at CSX, where Harrison idled eight of […]
Vehicle crash damages shop housing new steam locomotive NEWSWIRE
PALISADE, Colo. – A speeding car careened off a road and crashed into the Mammoth Locomotive Works, starting a devastating fire and killing the driver of the car. A full-size replica of a Rio Grande Southern steam locomotive under construction sustained minor damage, although much of the shop’s machinery was extensively damaged by fire and […]
