ADRIAN, Mich. — A runaway freight car from a short line struck a Norfolk Southern train this morning in Adrian, derailing 10 cars of the NS train, the Class I railroad told a local TV station. The incident occurred at about 8 a.m. at a crossing of the NS and the Adrian & Blissfield railroad. […]
Zone & Region: Midwest
Visiting the Milwaukee County Zoo Safari Train
Despite its small size, grand scale railroading – well-known for miniature train rides at parks – can be full of uniqueness, character, and history that is as big as the 1:1 scale. The Milwaukee County Zoo’s North Shore Bank Safari Train is a grand example of this as I’ve come to learn of this 15-inch […]
Big city, big station
A view east down Clybourn Street in Milwaukee in the 1940s is dominated by the Milwaukee Road’s depot on the south edge of downtown. An engine crewman climbs into the cab of an F7 Hudson on a westbound train as its tender is filled with water. Classic Trains coll. […]
Union Pacific intermodal train derails in Iowa
GLIDDEN, Iowa — An estimated 36 cars of a Union Pacific intermodal train derailed Monday evening about a mile east of Glidden, Carroll Broadcasting reports on its website. No injuries were reported, and no hazardous materials were involved, a Union Pacific spokesman told the radio stations. The derailment occurred about 5 p.m., blocking both grade […]
Milwaukee zoo railroad to run steam locomotive on 10 dates in August
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County Zoo, which will close out its history of steam-powered train operations later this year, plans to operate its remaining steam locomotive for its 15-inch gauge railroad, 4-6-2 No. 1924, on 10 days in August, most of them weekends. Scheduled operating dates are Aug. 9-10, 15-18, 23-24, and 30-31. Dates are […]
NTSB releases preliminary report on July 6 fatality at UP’s Proviso Yard
WASHINGTON — A Union Pacific conductor was killed at Proviso Yard earlier this month when the tank car he was riding during a shoving move struck the side of another train, the National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary report issued on Thursday, July 25. The July 6 incident at the yard in Melrose […]
Chicago South Shore & South Bend adds new coil steel cars
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — The Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad has received 100 new coil steel cars from two manufacturers, each of which built 50 of the cars. The 48-foot, 115-ton capacity cars were built by The Greenbrier Cos. and National Steel Car, and expand the CSS car fleet to nearly 700 railcars. […]
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America | Silvis, Ill.
Headquartered in the former Rock Island Railroad steam locomotive backshops in Silvis, Ill., Railroading Heritage of Midwest America is quickly becoming a major player in the rail preservation scene. The new owner of famed Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger No. 3985 and DDA40X Centennial diesel No. 6936, the RRHMA is the proud owner of a large […]
A Tiffany jewel
Chicago & North Western SD45 No. 905 and SD40 No. 927 make a fine sight leading eastbound train No. 576 across the Tiffany Stone Bridge at Tiffany, Wis., on Feb. 15, 1977. The arch bridge, which spans Turtle Creek, was built in 1869. David Franzen photo […]
NTSB issues report on NS conductor death in grade crossing accident
WASHINGTON — The probable cause of a grade crossing collision that killed a Norfolk Southern conductor in Cleveland last year was the crew’s failure to follow a railroad rule requiring a member of the crew to be on the ground at the private crossing, the National Transportation Safety Board said today. The conductor of NS […]
BNSF clears routes after two derailments
BNSF has reopened the main lines involved in both its derailments on Saturday, July 20, the railroad reports. The first of those incidents occurred about 12:45 a.m. near Ottawa, Kan., on the railroad’s Emporia Subdivision [see “BNSF deals with two derailments,” Trains News Wire, July 20, 2024]. One main line there was reopened at 8:30 […]
Amtrak National Limited service through the years
Amtrak National Limited service began operation on May 1, 1971, linking New York City and Washington, D.C., with Kansas City. It carried Nos. 30-31. The route roughly paralleled that of Interstate 70, which links Baltimore and Kansas City. The name was a nod to a Baltimore & Ohio train serving Washington and St. Louis, but […]