Bombardier HR616 locomotive, a diesel that didn’t

Bombardier HR616 locomotive with black-and-white stripes

The Bombardier HR616 locomotive sold just 20 copies to one railroad, qualifying it as a Diesel That Didn’t. In North America, when we think of builders of diesel road locomotives, we usually conjure visions of EMD, GE, Wabtec, Alco, Baldwin, and Fairbanks-Morse. But there were others, including Canada’s Bombardier. The Montreal-headquartered rail transportation arm of […]

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A Celebration of Chicagoland Railroads, 1935-1971 book review

Cover of book Celebration of Chicagoland Railroads

Don’t be thrown by the name of the publisher: A Celebration of Chicagoland Railroads goes way beyond interurbans. Anchored by the work of Soo Line veteran Bill Raia, this softcover encompasses steam, diesel, and electric and includes virtually every railroad, every station, and seemingly every train. It’s all here: Burlington Zephyrs, Milwaukee Road Hiawathas, Santa Fe […]

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Amtrak St Louis services through time

Amtrak St. Louis service train departing covered station

Amtrak St Louis services have included routes to the East, Southwest, and other Midwest points throughout its 50-plus-year history. At one time, the Gateway City was a secondary Midwest hub for Amtrak. Long-distance trains serving St. Louis through the years included the Inter-American, National Limited, and Texas Eagle. Additional short-distance trains include services to Chicago […]

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N scale Procor 5,820-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper from Rapido

Drawing of covered hoppers in multiple paint schemes

Procor 5820 covered hopper Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $39.95; three-pack, $119.85; six-pack, $239.70 Era: 1977 to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Procor 5820 covered hopper features: Round, round with ribs, or 20” vented cover roof hatches as appropriate Pneumatic or Miner outlet […]

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KCS business train visits Illinois grain elevator (updated with video)

Red, yellow, and black passenger train on loop at grain elevator

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — With officials from both KCS and Canadian Pacific reportedly aboard, Kansas City Southern’s Southern Belle business train visited the Bartlett Grain facility in Jacksonville on Wednesday, Oct. 26. KCS No. 1 led the A-B-A set of FP9 from Kansas City, Mo., to Roodhouse, Ill., then north to the Bartlett facility’s loop on […]

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White House reacts to signalmen’s union rejection of new contract

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that the Biden Administration “is in regular contact” with the two sides in the ongoing dispute and negotiations between railroads and their unions, but that she did not have anything to share about President Joe Biden’s “involvement specifically with the parties.” During a press briefing at the […]

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Two rail issues included on Watchlist from Transportation Safety Board of Canada

Image from video with on-screen statement that "better physical fail-safe defenses and technologies are needed" to address signal issues

GATINEAU, Quebec — Two rail-specific issues — failure by crew members to follow railway signal indications, and unplanned or uncontrolled equipment movements — are on the 2022 Watchlist of leading safety issues released Wednesday, Oct. 26, by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Three other issues on the eight-item list — fatigue, safety management, and […]

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Brightline to begin 79-mph testing in Brevard County

Front view of streamlined passenger train on double track

COCOA, Fla.— Brightline is scheduled begin higher-speed testing on another segment of its route to Orlando as of this Saturday, a 13-mile portion of track in north Brevard County that will see 79 mph testing beginning this Saturday and 110-mph testing in early 2023. During testing, flaggers will be stationed at a total of 18 […]

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