A Chicago-bound Illinois Zephyr passes through Downers Grove, Ill. Amtrak ridership has dropped from 100,000 passengers a day to about 4,000 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the passenger railroad’s CEO says. TRAINS: David Lassen Monday morning rail news: — Amtrak, which normally handles 100,000 passengers a day, is down to about 4,000 a day because […]
DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton is expanding its locomotive roster, adding four diesels with the potential to be tourist attractions in their own right. The D&S has announced it is acquiring four of the White Pass & Yukon Railway’s distinctive Montreal Locomotive Works DL535C diesels, 1,200-hp C-C locomotives built in 1969 and 1971. […]
HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division FP7 and F3B diesel locomotives. Western Pacific (orange, silver, and black paint scheme). FP7 (California Zephyr service with no wings on nose and freight service renumbers [white or black number boards], one road number each). F3B (California Zephyr service with square herald, one number). FP7 and F3B set (California Zephyr […]
An NJ Transit Bergen County Line train passes through Ridgewood Junction, N.J., in August 2019. A new executive order limits ridership of all NJ transit equipment to no more than 50% of listed capacity. TRAINS: David Lassen Sunday morning rail news: — NJ Transit must limit railcar, light rail, and bus occupancy to no more […]
Opening of LA Metro’s Crenshaw Line will be delayed until 2021 because of construction issues. LA Metro This Illinois Central equipment on display in Homewood, Ill., shown in 2016, will be relocated as part of a renovation of the city’s Metra and Amtrak station. TRAINS: David Lassen Saturday rail news: — Construction issues will delay […]
Engines & rolling stock PIKO America, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120 has several new products, including a “mini-Mogul” (#38208). This budget-friendly engine is capable of being upgraded with the no. 36221 Analog Sound Kit or the no. 36220 Digital Steam Sound Kit for full-featured sound on DC or DCC. Price: […]
Forget your prewar Standard gauge electric-outline locomotives. I don’t care how large or flashy or colorful those slab-sided toasters are, they can’t hold a candle to the King Salami of big trains – the No. 400E 4-4-4. The size, look, and color of this model set a standard in its day for power and authority. […]
Anyone who thinks that S gauge starts and ends with American Flyer should take a look at the S-Helper Service line. For years the crew at S-Helper Service has been in the vanguard of manufacturers rising above postwar levels of detail, regardless of train gauge. Out are the cast-in handrails and roofwalks; in are add-on […]
New ‘Railroad History’ editor Dan Cupper Railway & Locomotive Historical Society A Friday afternoon rail news update: — The agency which oversees Amtrak’s Downeaster has voted to suspend operation of the train between Boston and Brunswick, Maine, effective Monday. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority says the suspension will be in effect through at […]
More Friday morning rail news: — Bay Area Rapid Transit staff members have told BART’s board that service to the Berryessa and Milpitas stations in San Jose is now targeted to begin in June. SFGate.com reports that the June start will depend on a number of factors, including certification from the California Public Utilities Commission […]
A BNSF Railway oil train passes through Lisle, Ill. Railroads are resisting requests to use tank cars to store crude oil during the oil price downturn. TRAINS: David Lassen Still more Friday morning rail news: — Railroads are resisting efforts from oil companies to store crude oil in tank cars during the current drop in […]
LA Metro passengers board a train at Los Angeles Union Station in January 2017. Metro is further reducing rail and bus service. TRAINS: David Lassen COVID-19 related rail news for Friday morning: — LA Metro will further reduce bus and rail service, moving to a modified Sunday schedule seven days a week. On Weekdays, Metro […]
