The electric railways of North America served a variety of purposes: carrying commuters, industrial switching, and mainline freight and passenger service. From coal-hauling, six-axle, red-white-and-blue motors in British Columbia to plain green electric M.U. cars in New Jersey, there can be broad interest in electric railroads. Noted railfan Matthew Herson has lent his photographic collection […]
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Amtrak’s City of New Orleans at Chebanse
Join me in early mid-March, beside Amtrak City of New Orleans at Chebanse, Ill., a few weeks ahead of farmer’s spring planting — about 70 miles south of Chicago. It’s a breezy, crisp early morning before sunrise. The camera’s ISO is notched up to 2500. A lamp brightens the interior of the Chebanse depot, but […]
Jacksonville Terminal Co. N scale 20-foot military supply containers
20-foot military supply containers Scale: N (1:160) Price: Two-pack, $29.65 Era: Present day Manufacturer: Jacksonville Terminal Co., jtcmodeltrains.com 20-foot military supply containers features: Injection-molded plastic Prototype-specific door styles Inter-box connecting pins Magnetic connection system (one magnet on bottom and metal plate on top) Corrugated side Paint schemes: Military series: US Army Camo ‘B’, APMU Camo […]
Jacksonville Terminal Co. N scale 53-foot intermodal containers
53-foot intermodal containers Scale: N (1:160) Price: Two-pack, $33.95 Era: Present day Manufacturer: Jacksonville Terminal Co., jtcmodeltrains.com 53-foot intermodal containers features: Injection-molded plastic Prototype-specific door styles and placard holder location Inter-box connecting pins Magnetic connection system (three magnets on bottom and metal plate on top) 8-55-8 corrugation pattern Paint schemes: Giant Tiger or Tigre Geant […]
Canadian National launches second train pair serving Port of Halifax
MONTREAL – Canadian National has added a second pair of intermodal trains linking the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with points in Eastern Canada and the U.S. Midwest. The railway launched trains Q122 and Q123 this month, joining existing trains Q120 and Q121 that serve Atlantic Canada’s busiest containerport. “Working with our partner PSA, this […]
Four arrested for alleged Amtrak health-care fraud
NEWARK, N.J. — Four people have been arrested and charged for their roles in a health-care fraud scheme that resulted in Amtrak paying at least $9 million in medical claims to those associated with the scheme. A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey says Muhammad Mirza, 50, of […]
Silence on railfan photo lines
Silence on railfan photo lines is growing in importance as technology evolves and we find new, exciting ways to capture the essence of railroading when participating in rail photography charters. Those of us more enamored with still photography than videography may need to dial in on our photo line etiquette in consideration of how these […]
Beset by congestion, BNSF to limit carload traffic bound for California
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway will limit carload traffic bound for California through the end of July as it struggles to overcome congestion related to crew shortages and bad weather along portions of its Southern Transcon. The railroad made the permit embargo announcement in a Thursday advisory to customers. It will take effect on […]
In response to high gas prices, rail tickets are discounted across Europe
Governments in Europe have been turning to discounted and almost-free train travel for those facing huge rises in energy costs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has pushed gas and electricity prices to levels never seen before. The aim of such policies, happening at the same time European economies are seeing near double-digit inflation for […]
MBTA halts service on two subway lines over structural concerns
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has suspended some service on its Orange and Green Line subway lines in downtown Boston after the discovery of what the agency termed “a structural issue” with a parking garage being demolished. The MBTA said in a Thursday press release that the company demolishing the Government Center Parking […]
Amtrak awards preliminary design contract for Penn Station expansion
NEW YORK — Amtrak has awarded a contract to engineering, design, and consulting firm Arup to begin preliminary design for expansion of New York’s Penn Station. The contract, announced Thursday and awarded in partnership with NJ Transit and coordination with New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, will allow design work to begin for new tracks, platforms, […]
State will provide funding for Nebraska industrial park
HERSHEY, Neb. — Nebraska officials will provide $30 million toward construction of a rail-served industrial park near North Platte, Neb., backers of the project have learned. The North Platte Telegraph reports the North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp. was informed Wednesday that it has qualified for the state funding by securing local commitments of […]
