WASHINGTON — The leader of a federation of rail and other unions has written a group of U.S. senators asking that Congress give the Surface Transportation Board more power to enforce railroads’ common-carrier obligations as a way to address ongoing service issues. Tuesday’s letter from Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Division, AFL-CIO — […]
CHICAGO — As part of a celebration of its 75th anniversary, the Chicago Transit Authority is wrapping a number of its railcars with designs recalling paint schemes dating to the 1950s through 1980s, and is planning to operate vintage equipment later this year. A Red Line trainset now displays a green, cream, and orange scheme […]
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Commuter rail operator Virginia Railway Express will contribute almost $195 million to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s purchase of rail right-of-way from CSX Transportation as part the effort for long-term expansion of passenger service. VRE announced Wednesday it would contribute $119.2 million from the proceeds of a bond sale that closed on June […]
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Three unions have ratified new contracts with Canadian Pacific subsidiaries in the U.S. and eastern Canada, the railroad has announced. The agreements cover a total of about 430 employees on the Central Maine & Quebec in Canada (represented by United Steel Workers Local 1976), the CM&Q in the U.S. (represented by the SMART […]
WASHINGTON — With weekly traffic figures remaining depressed, year-to-date carload traffic for U.S. railroad has slipped below 2021 figures, albeit just slightly, according to the latest figures from the Association of American Railroads. Carload volume for the first 25 weeks of 2022 is down 0.1% from the same period a year ago, after being higher […]
MENDON, Mo. — The Southwest Chief was traveling at 87 mph — just under the track speed of 90 mph — when it struck a dump truck and derailed Monday in the accident that killed four people, including three passengers on board the Amtrak train. National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Jennifer Homendy provided that information […]
Meet ClassOneModelWorks.com A new face is joining the model railroad marketplace. ClassOneModelWorks.com., based in Kansas City, Mo., is led by president and chief executive officer Mike Brusky and chief operating officer Stephen Priest. The company plans to introduce several HO scale locomotives and freight cars in the coming months. A brief history Brusky founded and […]
American Model Supply narrow gauge gondola Scale: Large (1:20.3) Price: $160 Era: early 1920s to late 1960s Manufacturer: Accucraft AMS, livesteamstation.com Denver & Rio Grande Western High Side Gondola features: Die-cast trucks and metal wheels Detailed underbody Working couplers Brass handrails Ladders & corner steps Plastic body, brass casting News & Products is a regular feature […]
Trainkids glow in the dark passenger train set Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $109.95, train set; $59.95, locomotive and car add-on kit; $17.95, passenger car add-on; $24.95, figure-8 expansion set; $7.95, magic re-railer two-pack; $12.95, 9” straight section six-pack; $12.95, 18” radius curve six-pack; $19.95, left- and right-hand switch set; $11.95, right-hand switch; $11.95, left-hand switch […]
MR&T Jenks Blue diesel locomotives: The Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, Model Railroader’s staff layout, has been around for more than 45 years. Similar to many full-size railroads, the freelanced MR&T changed paint schemes on its diesel locomotives over the years. The railroad’s third – and current – paint scheme is Jenks Blue, which was introduced […]
MENDON, Mo. — National Transportation Safety Board investigators spent their first day on the scene of Monday’s fatal Southwest Chief derailment worked to gather information on train speed and other data from the locomotive event recorder, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy told reporters on Tuesday evening. The NTSB also sought to examine video from the P42 […]
DULUTH, Minn. — After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and necessary repairs, the Federal Railroad Administration has approved the return to service of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway 2-8-0 No. 332. The locomotive was fired up this week and inspected, including setting its three sets of safety valves. […]
