CHICAGO — Canadian National has announced it intends to beef up what is currently a meandering, unsignaled 40-mph ex-Gulf, Mobile & Ohio branch to connect with Kansas City Southern’s main line to the Gulf Coast. And if Canadian Pacific gets KCS, it expects to direct Mexican supply chain business to and from Western Canada through […]
MINNEAPOLIS — The Friends of the 261 has unveiled a new “retro” paint scheme for Milwaukee Road E9A 32A. The E unit, acquired by the Friends in 2019, is painted orange and maroon to fit with the majority of the Friends passenger fleet. Since Milwaukee Road E9s were only painted Union Pacific yellow, the group […]
Transport Canada says engineering work is done for Lac-Mégantic bypass, on target for 2023 completion Transport Canada reports additional engineering work has been completed on the Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, bypass project and that the project still should be done by 2023. The engineering work will allow relocation of rail operations to the Lac-Mégantic business park, as […]
Legislator’s bill would support multi-state passenger rail efforts U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) has introduced legislation to create multi-state passenger rail commissions to improve regional coordination for passenger rail service. The Intercity Rail Commission Act would encourage the formation of up to 10 reginal passenger commissions by providing up to $500,000 in matching funds to […]
Visiting the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Chama, New Mexico, might be some of the most sacred ground for 1920s railroad and steam locomotive enthusiasts. That’s the western end of the mighty Cumbres & Toltec Scenic, and it’s the site of an authentic shop, yard, and depot. It’s the start of the dramatic eastbound climb across […]
Tom Nelligan, who extensively rode, photographed, and wrote about Northeastern and Canadian railroads in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, died April 9, 2021, at the age of 70. The author of seven books about railroading, he was also a frequent contributor to both Trains and Passenger Train Journal. A native of Connecticut, Nelligan covered the […]
DURANGO, Colo. — On Sept. 2 and 3, Trains Magazine will sponsor Extra 493, a two-day event on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad that will be the first photo freight charter for the K37 steam locomotive brought back to life in 2020. Visiting narrow gauge 4-6-0 Southern Pacific No. 18 also will make […]
NJ Transit awaits funding for plans to test battery-electric commuter equipment NJ Transit wants to test battery-electric rail equipment on its North Jersey Coast Line — if it can find the funding, NJ.com reports. The program would be similar to that announced last month by the Long Island Rail Road [see “Long Island Rail Road […]
Virginia Railway Express to restore full schedule on June 1 Virginia Railway Express will restore service to pre-pandemic levels as of Tuesday, June 1, the commuter rail operator has announced. The agreement allowing VRE passengers to use some Amtrak trains remains suspended. Schedule information is available here. VRE reduced service to its “S” schedule, with […]
WASHINGTON — The Chicago suburb of Barrington, Ill. — which battled Canadian National’s acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern in 2009 and has protested increased rail traffic ever since — has warned federal regulators that CN’s proposed merger with Kansas City Southern would create “a traffic congestion nightmare for the people of the greater […]
Union Pacific bridge sustains moderate damage, but remains in service after fire A Union Pacific Railroad bridge in Springfield, Ore., suffered moderate damage in a fire early Monday morning, although the railroad is able to continue operations over the bridge at reduced speed. The Eugene Register-Guard reports firefighters from the Eugene Springfield Fire Department responded […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration “has been unable to obtain access to all the data and analysis necessary” to properly review the issues involved in Amtrak’s effort to restart Gulf Coast passenger service, the agency said in a Monday filing to the Surface Transportation Board. A letter penned by FRA Acting General Counsel John […]
