LA Metro breaks ground for Airport Metro Connector

Rendering of new transit station

LOS ANGELES — With a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, LA Metro marked the formal start of work on the almost $900 million Airport Metro Connector project, which will provide the long-sought direct service for the Metro light rail system to L.A. International Airport. The new facility connect Metro’s light rail system to L.A. International Airport’s […]

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Rail Rangers educational programs to resume on South Shore trains

Woman speaking to railcar full of passengers

CHICAGO — Onboard educational programs will return to select South Shore Line off-peak commuter trains beginning July 1, following a 15-month pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs are offered by the Midwest Rail Rangers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, two to three times per month on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to July […]

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Preservation roundup: Steamtown increases hours, visitor services

Steam locomotive and tender on turntable

Steamtown offering increased hours and features for summer Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pa., will begin increasing visitor services this week, with additional features to open on July 7. As of this Saturday, June 26, the park’s summer hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. go into effect, and the theater will open, allowing […]

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‘Seatrain Georgia’

Cross section of railroad car-hauling boat

‘Seatrain Georgia’ The hull configuration of the Seatrain ships—three decks, each with four tracks (plus four tracks on the top deck)—is evident in this view of Seatrain Georgia being lengthened at Sun Shipbuilding in 1963. The vessel has been cut in two for installation of a new midsection. Hagley Museum & Library collection […]

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News & Products for the week of June 24, 2021

PIKO America Chessie System two-bay hopper with exterior posts no. 150355

Large scale freight cars  Two-bay hopper with exterior posts. Chessie System (black and yellow with Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks) and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald in square and “Santa Fe” billboard lettering). One number per scheme. Removable coal load, plastic wheels, and hook-and-loop couplers. $73.99. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com […]

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Peter Waldraff’s Hidden Epoxy River Railroad Gallery

Peter Waldraff’s Epoxy River Railroad folded open.

  Peter Waldraff has always prioritized saving space when building a layout. His interest in this modeling niche first started when he was 27, when he built his first N scale layout in a custom built, glass-covered coffee table in order to maximize what minimal room he had in his 1,200 square foot house. However, […]

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Digest: Indiana Supreme Court to review legal status of South Shore commuter agency

South Shore commuter train on S curve

Lawsuit challenges unique legal status of Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District The Indiana Supreme Court will review the unique legal status of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, operator of South Shore Line commuter trains, as a result of a lawsuit filed by a Hobart, Ind., man who was injured while performing track maintenance work. […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, detail, and track announcements for June 24, 2021

Broadway Limited Imports N scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Electro-Motive Division F3 diesel locomotive no. 25.

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 June 24, 2021. HO scale freight cars  52-foot mill gondola. Rock Island […]

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Full reopening of U.S.-Canada border unlikely until 75% of Canadians are fully vaccinated

The U.S.-Canada border is not likely to be fully reopened until 75% of Canadians are vaccinated for COVID-19, a Canadian official said Sunday — a long way from the current figure of 18% — while the continued movement of trains and trucks across the border could be jeopardized by a threatened strike by Canadian customs […]

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Rare BL2 locomotives arrive at Indiana museum (with video)

Black and white locomotive pulls two blue and white locomotives as train crosses bride

NORTH JUDSON, Ind. — The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has received the two BL2 locomotives it will operate through a lease with the locomotives’ owner. The former Bangor & Aroostook Railroad diesels, purchased during the bankruptcy sale of Iowa Pacific Holdings subsidiary Heritage Rail Leasing, were delivered to the North Judson museum on Saturday, June […]

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Amtrak, Maryland announce new approach for replacement of B&P Tunnel

View of Baltimore's B&P Tunnel from onboard a train

BALTIMORE — Amtrak and the state of Maryland marked the 150th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel on Friday by announcing new plans to advance treplacement of the tunnel, as well as plans to name the new bore for Maryland-born abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass. Longstanding plans to replace the aging B&P […]

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East Broad Top hires archivist

Woman and young man holding book

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – The East Broad Top Railroad has hired an archivist to begin organizing and cataloging hundreds of cubic feet of the historic narrow gauge line’s company records. Julie K. Rockwell of nearby Huntingdon, Pa., is leading efforts to sift through a vast collection of material documenting the operations of the 33-mile central […]

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