A Sounder commuter train arrives in Lakewood, Wash., in June 2018. Tickets for the commuter train will be just $2 in June as Sound Transit introduces post-COVID-19 “recovery fares.” TRAINS: David Lassen More Tuesday rail news in brief: — Seattle-area Sound Transit will offer temporarily reduced “recovery fares” as of June 1 as it resumes […]
Section: News & Reviews
White Pass & Yukon receives second new locomotive NEWSWIRE
The second of the White Pass & Yukon’s new diesels arrives in Skagway, Alaska, on Monday. White Pass & Yukon Tuesday morning rail news in brief: — The White Pass & Yukon has received the second in its order of 10 new locomotives. National Railway Equipment E3000CC-DC No. 3001 arrived in Skagway, Alaska, by ship […]
Digest: Charges reinstated against Amtrak 188 engineer
Monday morning rail news in brief: — Criminal charges have been reinstated against Brian Bostian, the latest twist in the legal saga of the engineer who was at the controls for the fatal Philadelphia derailment of Amtrak train No. 188 in 2015. Charges against Bostian were dropped for the second time in July 2019 when […]
KCS unveils ‘Salute to Heroes” locomotive NEWSWIRE
Kansas City Southern has released specially painted SD70ACe No. 4009, saluting railroad and other essential workers. Kansas City Southern Monday afternoon rail news in brief: — Kansas City Southern has unveiled a locomotive saluting “the heroes throughout our network and beyond — especially railroad employees,” according to a Facebook post. SD70ACe No. 4009 wears a […]
Placerville & Sacramento Valley welcomes steam locomotive for excursions NEWSWIRE
Santa Cruz Portland Cement No. 2 arrives in Folsom, Calif., via Nelson Brothers Trucking for use on the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad. Michael Florentine Monday morning tourist railroad and railfan news in brief: — The Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad has received an operating steam locomotive for excursions on a portion of the former […]
Short Line Safety Institute names new hazardous materials programs director NEWSWIRE
John Walsh American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association WASHINGTON — The Short Line Safety Institute is pleased to announce the hiring of John Walsh in a new position, Director of Hazardous Materials Programs. Walsh’s 30-year career includes experience in public safety, security, emergency management, homeland security and compliance, including 15 years in the freight […]
Tourist lines, museums face challenges of operating in wake of virus NEWSWIRE
A family watches vintage transit equipment operate at the Illinois Railway Museum. Like almost all rail museums and tourist railroads, the facility in Union, Ill., is closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn Future visitors to facilities like the California State Railroad Museum are likely to face new guidance on social distancing. TRAINS: […]
New model trains for the week of May 21, 2020
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP59 and GP60 diesel locomotives. GP59: Electro-Motive Division demonstrator and Norfolk Southern (Operation Lifesaver 25th anniversary scheme and Southern Ry. heritage scheme, one number each). GP60: BNSF Ry. (Heritage III in two numbers, Vermont Ry. patchout in one number), CSX (dark blue and yellow), Denver & Rio Grande Western (black […]
Approval process begins for new Northeast Corridor bridge in Connecticut NEWSWIRE
An Amtrak Northeast Regional train crosses the Connecticut River bridge east of Old Saybrook, Conn., in October 2011. Bob Johnston Saturday rail news in brief: — Design details for a proposal to replace a century-old Northeast Corridor bridge over the Connecticut River have been presented to harbor commissions in Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, Conn. […]
Rail writer, editor, historian Peter A. Hansen dies
WINTER PARK, Fla. — Railroad writers rarely are known for wide exposure in multiple forms of national media, but Peter A. Hansen was a major exception. He not only edited the venerable publication Railroad History and wrote frequent long-form stories for Trains and Classic Trains, he also hosted or appeared in several nationally broadcast television […]
‘Carolinian’ set for full return June 1; other Amtrak changes not yet finalized (corrected)
Amtrak’s Carolinian is scheduled to resume service between Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C., as of May 18, with full service to New York returning June 1, according to a spokeswoman for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, while Piedmont trains will be suspended until further notice. However, other service changes and equipment deployment decisions for state-supported […]
CDC issues guidelines for restoring transit service NEWSWIRE
The CDC has issued this set of guidelines to help transit systems decide when to restore or increase service. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday morning rail news in brief: — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a set of guidelines to help mass transit managers decide when to reopen or […]