EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The evacuation order for those living within a mile of the site of last week’s Norfolk Southern derailment and fire has been lifted, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced this afternoon (Wednesday, Feb. 8). Residents within the evacuation zone will be offered air-quality checks of their homes, the Akron Beacon Journal reports, […]
Zone & Region: Northeast
The N scale Adamsville Branchline layout
Facts & features Name: Adamsville Branchline Scale: N (1:160) Size: 3′-3″ x 3′-6″ Prototypes: Freelanced Locale: New England Era: Steam-to-diesel transition era Style: Island Mainline run: 13 feet Minimum radius: 9.5″ Minimum turnout: No. 4 Maximum grade: 2% Benchwork: 1 x 2 open grid Height: 8″ Roadbed: Cork Track: Atlas code 80 flextrack Scenery: Cardboard […]
First lawsuit filed over Ohio derailment; evacuation continues
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The first lawsuit has been filed in the wake of last week’s derailment of a Norfolk Southern train and the subsequent fire and evacuation. WFMJ-TV reports residents and a business owner in the evacuation area have filed a class-action civil liability suit in U.S. District Court against Norfolk Southern, alleging negligence, […]
Wednesday Auto Trains cancelled after late Tuesday arrival in Florida
SANFORD, Fla. — Both Amtrak Auto Trains scheduled to run later today (Wednesday, Feb. 8) have been cancelled after the Monday southbound departure from Lorton, Va., arrived at its destination in Sanford some 12 hours late on Tuesday. The cancellations reflect the domino effect of significantly delayed arrivals, and come at the end of a […]
Legislators seek new safety oversight for MBTA
BOSTON — Two state legislators are calling for a new agency to oversee safety issues with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, although they have different views on who should handle the job. The Boston Herald reports state Sen. Michael Barrett has filed legislation to create an independent commission on transportation safety oversight, while state Rep. […]
Ohio governor says he expects Norfolk Southern to pay for costs of derailment and fire
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said today (Tuesday, Feb. 7) that he expects Norfolk Southern to pay for the costs related to the derailment and fire in the community on the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line. “They’re the ones who created the problem,” DeWine said in a report by the Wheeling (W.Va.) Intelligencer. “It’s […]
Residents await word when they can return home after derailment
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Residents evacuated after Friday’s derailment of a Norfolk Southern train now await word when they might be allowed to return home, although Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine cautioned Monday that it would not be soon. Cleanup of the 50-car derailment involving toxic chemicals is expected to begin to move forward following Monday’s […]
SEPTA rapid-transit train derails
PHILADELPHIA — A train on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Market-Frankford rapid-transit line derailed late Saturday night, with crews finding and repairing a broken rail during overnight repairs, the website Billy Penn reports. SEPTA reported about 100 people were aboard when the train derailed shortly before midnight, and that there were no injuries, although a […]
MTA provides first look at open-gangway subway cars
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Friday provided a first look at a pair of the 20 open-gangway cars in its order for R211 subway cars, part of an overall order of 535 of the New York City Transit cars under construction by Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. The open-gangway cars, designated as R211T […]
Conrail Historical Society’s museum in a boxcar to open April 1
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — The Conrail Historical Society will open its $150,000 museum and archive center – housed here in a retired 86-foot hi-cube auto-parts boxcar – on April 1, the anniversary date of the railroad’s founding in 1976. A brief ceremony at noon that day will mark the culmination of several years of the society’s […]
Massachusetts governor calls for independent review of MBTA railcar issues
BOSTON — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is assembling a group of independent experts to assess ways to address the problems with manufacture of new rapid-transit railcars for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Boston Globe reports. Healey said she was moving to address the problems with manufacturer CRRC during a visit Thursday to the MBTA’s […]
East Broad Top No. 16 set to operate at Winter Spectacular (updated)
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Steam-powered excursions will highlight the East Broad Top Railroad’s upcoming Winter Spectacular, the railroad said in a press release today (Thursday, Feb. 2), with the return of 2-8-2 No. 16 to operating condition. The railroad, which posted a video of the 1916 Baldwin-built locomotive on its Facebook page on Wednesday, confirmed […]