Caltrain runs first test with eletrified equipment

Electric commuter rail equipment on test track

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The first Caltrain electric trainset has seen action on the San Francisco-San Jose corridor, although at a significantly slower pace than will eventually be the standard. The commuter rail operator reports the trainset was pulled by a diesel at 5 mph between the Santa Clara and Tamien (San Jose) stations, a […]

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Officials approve $1.5 million for Tampa Union Station rehab

Brick building with arched windows

TAMPA, Fla. — City of Tampa officials have voted to spend $1.5 million to refurbish Tampa Union Station, a 1912 structure which remains in use for Amtrak service. WTSP-TV reports the funds will go for updating restrooms, repairing windows and doors, and replacing the intricate façade. Once those repairs are complete, the city plans to […]

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MBTA submits plans to address FTA safety directives

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is slated to have submitted plans by today to address safety directives issued by the Federal Transit Administration, Streetsblog Mass reports. Corrective action plans were required to respond to the four directives issued by the FTA in June [see “Federal directives order MBTA to address safety issues,” Trains […]

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Union Pacific engineer laments high level of misrouted freight cars

Freight train in valley at dusk

WASHINGTON — Pressure to reduce terminal dwell figures has prompted some Union Pacific yards to routinely depart trains that include misrouted cars simply to get them moving, a UP engineer alleges in a letter sent to federal regulators. Michael Lindsey, a veteran engineer based in Pocatello, Idaho, used a train he ran to Nampa, Idaho, […]

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60-foot Pullman-Standard flatcar from Walthers

yellow flatcar

60-foot Pullman-Standard flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $34.98 Era: mid-1960s to present Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com 60-foot Pullman-Standard flatcar features: Decks match different prototype configurations Board pattern with wood grain and bolt details Brake wheel cutout as appropriate 70-ton roller bearing trucks 33” turned-metal wheelsets […]

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National Steel Car 73-foot center-beam bulkhead flatcars from Rapido Trains

seven paint schemes for a flatcar

National Steel Car 73-foot center-beam bulkhead flatcars Scales: HO (1:87.1) and N (1:160) Price: HO scale – single car, $59.95; six-pack, $359.70. N scale – single car, $44.95; six-pack, $269.70 Era: 1987 to present Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com NSC HO scale 73-foot center-beam bulkhead […]

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California feed and poultry producer seeks extension of Union Pacific emergency service order

Train rounds curve in late afternoon sunlight

WASHINGTON – Union Pacific has been delivering unit grain trains as scheduled to a major California poultry and feed producer since federal regulators issued an emergency service order last month. But Fowler Farms, the largest chicken producer in the West, is seeking a 90-day extension of the emergency service order, which expired on July 17. […]

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Moloco HO scale Fruit Growers Express 50-foot insulated boxcars

illustration of green insulated boxcar

Fruit Growers Express 50-foot insulated boxcars Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: In line with current ready-to-run freight car prices Era: March 1967 to 1990s (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Moloco, 302-5025 Harvard Rd., Mississauga, ON, L5W 0W6 Canada, molocotrains.com Fruit Growers Express 50-foot insulated boxcars features: Differing lettering placements for individual car numbers for repainted […]

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CSX’s Foote: Blaming PSR for rail problems is ‘nonsense’

Man speaking at microphone

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — It just may be that CSX Transportation CEO Jim Foote is a bit weary of hearing about the evils of Precision Scheduled Railroading. In his customary blunt style, Foote gave that impression Tuesday when speaking to the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers about ongoing service issues for his railroad and the […]

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Athearn Pullman-Standard PS-2 2,893-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper

illustration of gray hopper

Pullman-Standard PS-2 2,893-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper Scale: N (1:160) Price: $34.99 Era: Mid-1950s through late 1980s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Pullman-Standard PS-2 2,893-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper features: Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers Machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours Minimum radius: 11” Separate, factory-applied round roof hatches, […]

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New York City, state agree on funding plan for Penn Station project

NEW YORK — New York City and the state of New York have agreed on a plan to pay for renovation of Penn Station, the nation’s busiest passenger rail facility, and redevelopment of its surrounding neighborhood. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced the agreement on Monday. As outlined by the website […]

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Commodity prices remains high as inflation persists: Analysis

Train of hopper cars led by black locomotive approaches curve in mountains

CHICAGO — Inflation is still on the rise, reporting a 9% increase in June, driven in part by higher costs for energy and other commodities hauled by railroads. Updates to the nation’s consumer price index released for June earlier this week noted that inflation rose more than 1% from May as a result of elevated […]

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