Minnesota lawmakers approve funding match required for second Chicago-Twin Cities round trip

Passenger train passing under overhead signal bridge on multi-track route

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It was only $10 million out of a $7 billion state omnibus transportation package, but the legislation signed into law on Monday by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz adds the last required match to a $31.8 million 2020 Federal Railroad Administration grant that paves the way for a second Amtrak round-trip between […]

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Canadian National touts additional support for proposed KCS merger

Canadian National and Kansas City Southern logos

MONTREAL – Canadian National and Kansas City Southern note that their proposed combination continues to gain support, with letters from customers, suppliers, elected officials, and other stakeholders being filed with the Surface Transportation Board. Nearly 200 additional letters have been sent to CN and KCS and filed with the STB, bringing the total number of […]

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Beech Grove man charged for fire at Amtrak facility

Amtrak logo.

INDIANAPOLIS – A Beech Grove man was arrested Monday in Indianapolis on federal criminal charges related to his alleged setting fire to two buildings at the Amtrak Beech Grove shop complex early on May 2, 2021. According to court documents, on the night of May 1, 2021, Casey Sage, 34, trespassed onto the grounds of […]

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News & Products for the week of July 1, 2021

Bachmann large scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe animated stockcar no. 27905.

Large scale freight cars  Animated stockcar. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (horse transport); Chicago & North Western (horse transport); Denver & Rio Grande Western (cattle transport); and North Pole & Southern (reindeer transport). One road number per scheme. Four animated animal heads, blackened metal wheels, and truck-mounted knuckle couplers. Runs on 45mm track. $152. Big […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, detail, and electronics announcements for July 1, 2021

Bachmann HO scale Ambrose Wine Co. three-dome tank car no. 7501.

Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of July 1, 2021. HO scale locomotives Union Pacific class FEF-3 4-8-4 steam […]

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Trains magazine exclusive photo charter with Soo Line No. 1003

black steam engine in rual setting

HARTFORD, Wis. — Trains magazine is excited to announce an exclusive photo charter with Soo Line 2-8-2 No. 1003 with a freight consist through scenic rural Wisconsin on Nov. 14. Enjoy multiple runbys, sweeping curves, and watching the Soo Line crew load coal! This photo charter is open to only 50 registered guests, so book […]

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Caltrain governance talks break down in dispute between counties

Caltrain logo

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Discussions over the governance of Caltrain have broken down, reflecting concerns about a lawsuit between the agencies involved in operating the San Francisco Bay Area commuter railroad. The San Mateo Daily Journal reports board chair Dev Davis attended Friday’s Caltrain meeting but would not participate in discussion of the governance issue. […]

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Company seeking to build Alaska-Alberta rail line enters bankruptcy

Map showing proposed rail line linking Northern Alberta to Alaska

The company that has proposed building a rail line connecting Alaska to the rest of the North American rail network has filed for bankruptcy protection and may be sold to pay debts. Bloomberg reports Alaska-Alberta Railway Development Corp. — which promoted itself under the A2A label — received protection from a Canadian court after the […]

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BNSF coal train derails on recently reactivated line

BNSF Railway logo

BENNET, Neb. — Ten cars of a BNSF coal train derailed Friday evening on a recently reactivated line southeast of Lincoln, Neb. The Lincoln Journal Star reports portions of the train still on the tracks initially blocked traffic on Bennet Road, but crews were able to separate the train to allow traffic flow to resume. […]

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‘Broadway’ interrupted

Steam locomotive with passenger train by signal gantry

‘Broadway’ interrupted Pennsylvania Railroad K4s Pacific 5369 pauses with the eastbound Broadway Limited at Englewood Union Station on Chicago’s South Side in the late 1920s or ’30s. Singly and later doubleheaded, the K4 was standard power on PRR trains 28 and 29 for a quarter of a century. Andrew Hritz photo […]

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