Q: I’ve always liked unusual rail cars — the more unusual, the better. I wonder how many readers might be stumped by the identity of the rail car in this photo? Hint: It’s pretty heavy; otherwise, it might just float away. – Greg Hodges, Powhatan, Va. A: That car’s not so mysterious; its unique appearance […]
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Metra says new analysis shows CP-KCS merger would vastly increase commuter train delays
WASHINGTON – The impact of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger on Metra commuter operations is even worse than initially thought, the Chicago area commuter railroad has told federal regulators. Changes to CP’s operations in the Chicago area as a result of the merger would cause up to a 1,200% increase in delays to commuter […]
CN’s deal to acquire CSX Massena Line is officially off
CHICAGO — Canadian National’s proposed acquisition of CSX Transportation’s line linking Syracuse, N.Y., with Montreal is officially dead. The railroads informed a federal court last week that the purchase and sale agreement had expired and that the deal was off. As a result, the railroads asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit […]
Wandering cow finds its way to Scottish station platform
GLASGOW, Scotland — Perhaps the next train was a milk run. Rail operator ScotRail posted photos on its Twitter account Monday of a cow which had escaped from a field and ended up on the platform of a Glasgow station, setting off a pun-filled exchange between the rail company and its Twitter followers, one of whom […]
FRA awards to fund trespassing enforcement and suicide prevention programs (updated)
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has selected 25 projects in 13 states to receive railroad trespassing enforcement and suicide prevention grants. A total of $1.96 million of the $2.26 million total in the Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Activities program will fund hourly wages for police to enforce trespass violations at known “hot spots,” where trespassing […]
Issue with trackside walking space likely a factor in BNSF crew member’s death, NTSB says
WASHINGTON — A BNSF Railway conductor was working in an area “with insufficient walking space available … to perform trackside duties” when he was struck and killed during a switching move, the National Transportation Safety Board said in describing the probable cause of an April 2021 accident in Louisiana, Mo. The NTSB accident report, completed […]
MBTA train ran red signal prior to collision, committee is told
BOSTON — One of two trains involved in a collision on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s rapid-transit Green Line this month failed to stop at a red signal and was traveling faster than the posted 7 mph speed limit, an investigator told an MBTA committee on Monday. The Associated Press reports that the train that […]
Texas Central CEO steps down
DALLAS — Carlos Aguilar is leaving Texas Central Railway — the proposed Dallas-Houston high speed rail line — after six years as CEO. In a statement issued via LinkedIn, Aguilar did not indicate a reason for departure or future plans, but said he was “immensely proud” of the company’s achievements, “including end to end regulatory […]
Union Freight House from Ipswich Hobbies
Union Freight House Scale: O (1:48) Price: $120 Era: early 1900s to present Manufacturer: Ipswich Hobbies, 919-721-8757, ipswichhobbies.com Union Freight House features: Laser-cut basswood walls Scribed interior floor Loading dock details Measures 20” x 7” Available now Reproduced from Ipswich Hobbies June 2022 news release News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model […]
Peco launches TT scale product line
Peco launches TT scale products British manufacturer Peco (Pritchard Patent Product Co.) recently announced a new line of track and accessories for TT scale (1:120 proportion). A press release from the manufacturer stated, “Peco’s launch of this once-loved scale has come through a surge in demand from collectors as well as a personal passion of […]
QJ makes last trips before rebuilding
SILVIS, Ill. — Chinese-built No. 6988, a QJ 2-10-2, traveled the Iowa Interstate Railroad on Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, 2022, for a final time before its FRA 15-year inspection and rebuilding. Although the locomotive’s certification has expired the FRA granted a one-time extension for the two trips. The QJs — Nos. 6988 […]
Regulators scold railroads over recovery plans, order improvements
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board, making clear its unhappiness with service recovery plans filed by the four largest U.S. Class I railroads, will require those railroads to correct deficiencies in service recovery plans submitted to the board, and to provide additional information on how they plan to improve service and communication with customers. At […]
