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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Solder track feeder wires in 10 quick steps

Hands holding a pair of wires, one white and one red.

Solder track feeder wires: Good feeder wires are an important part of building a reliable model railroad. Feeders are the small wires that connect the track to a layout’s power bus and ultimately to its control system. Whether you are using AC, DC, or Digital Command Control (DCC) to run your trains, you will need […]

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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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Rolling by on the hill

Rolling by on the hill--steam locomotive on garden railway

Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA Scale: large scale Theme: Tourist railroad with freight operations in the modern era. Description: “Rollin’ By on the Hill” – J&MtZ trains rolling by on the 3% grade at Laurel Jct. Music from YouTube Sound, “Everything Where It Needs To Be” by […]

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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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Canadian Pacific reports strong traffic and earnings growth

CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific reported double-digit growth in revenue and earnings in the third quarter, as overall volume grew 10% and intermodal and potash traffic set new records. “Throughout the year, we have said 2022 would be a tale of two halves and that is exactly how it is unfolding,” CEO Keith Creel said […]

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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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Metrolink, Pacific Surfliner adjust schedules on routes halted by hillside issue

Blue and silver locomotive and passenger train at platform in front of skyscrapers

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Metrolink will resume weekend operations to and from its San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and San Clemente Pier stations as of this Saturday, Oct. 29, while Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will offer an updated schedule for service south of Irvine as of Monday, Oct. 31. Metrolink’s limited return of service will be […]

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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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Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts seek applicants for 2023 grants

Logo of the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts

ANDOVER, Mass. — The Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts organization is seeking applicants for the 2023 edition of its grant programs, the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award and the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund. Applications and instructions for the awards are available here. The H. Albert Webb Award is an annual grant of […]

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Alpenglow Rail acquires terminal in Alberta

Aerial view of yard tracks with tank cars

DENVER — Alpenglow Rail Services Corp and partner Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure have acquired Alberta Midland Railway Terminal Ltd., the companies announced this week. The terminal, approximately 30 kilometers (18.6) miles east of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, in the Greater Edmonton region, becomes Alpenglow’s third rail terminal in Canada to go with three in the […]

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