A pair of breweries in Lexington, Ky., are collaborating to brew a new beer in honor of the move of former Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive 2716, and the new brew will help contribute to restoration project for the locomotive. Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. says that Ethereal Brewing and Mirror Twin Brewing, both of Lexington, […]
ORLANDO – SunRail is reviving efforts for a 12-mile extension to DeLand, Fla., hoping to learn this summer whether it will obtain the needed federal funding, despite some local qualms about the project. The extension, which will require double-tracking from the current northern terminus of DeBary to DeLand, would complete construction along the 61-mile corridor […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern reported record second quarter financial results today but reduced its volume outlook for the year and said it would trim capital spending as Precision Scheduled Railroading was freeing up capacity on its network. The railroad’s adjusted operating income rose 5%, to $259 million, as revenue rose 5%, to […]
LOS ANGELES – Todd McIntyre will join Metrolink as chief strategy officer, the commuter railroad has announced. McIntyre joins Metrolink after three years at the District (of Columbia) Department of Transportation, where he was an advisor on strategic direction and decision making. Before that, he was a transportation specialist at the Federal Railroad Administration, where […]
On West Virginia’s Cass Scenic Railroad, engine crews with three Shay locomotives signal each other with whistles for moves and stops. TRAINS: Steve Sweeney Q: When you have two steam engines together, how does the second engineer know how much throttle to give? — Dennis E. Schardt, Sr., Summerdale, Pa. A: We get asked this […]
Q: Do you know if any publications, or any web pages, blogs, or any Internet resource that maintains a U.S. map that shows frequency of train service? — Frank Norris, Santa Fe, N.M. A: Simply put, no such resource exists as railroads hold traffic data as proprietary. The best way to learn about railroad operations, […]
Steam locomotive restoration specialist Gary Bensman cuts out staybolts for replacement on Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 in 2017. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn Q: Can anyone provide a definitive status on whether Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 will be running in 2019? — Richard Eaton, Chevy Chase, Md. A: Railfans and railroad preservationists […]
Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 pauses overnight at Rawlins, Wyo., in May 2019. Big Boy’s bell is painted red to keep it looking clean and well-kept. 19143-50 Ryan Nicolay Q: Why are the insides of the bells on Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 and 4-8-4 No. 844 painted red? — Scott Zygutis, Antioch, […]
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. — Transit issues were among the topics when the governors of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island held their first private meeting on Tuesday. The lunch meeting at Eastern Connecticut State University was organized by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, with Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker […]
A grant will significantly boost the restoration of Louisville & Nashville No. 152, but more funds are needed. KRM NEW HAVEN, Ky. — A federal grant will boost — but not complete — the restoration of a beloved Louisville & Nashville steam icon that is the official steam locomotive for Kentucky. According to the Kentucky […]
LOWELL, Ark. — Executives of trucking giant J.B. Hunt are moderately optimistic about intermodal for the second half of 2019 and about the effects of Precision Scheduled Railroading on Hunt operations. Intermodal, which makes up more than 50 percent of Hunt revenues, had a difficult first half of 2019, due to PSR-driven lane closures in […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland-area officials are beginning to explore the possibility of building a light-rail tunnel under downtown to address the bottleneck at the center of the city’s rail system. The Oregon Metro website says the idea, still in its early stages, was first floated two years ago as transit agency TriMet looked at ways to […]
