Twin Cities Zephyr

Shovel-nose streamlined diesel with passenger train in street

Twin Cities Zephyr Led by 1936 power unit 9905 Zephyrus, the Burlington’s Twin Cities Zephyr swings into the downtown La Crosse, Wis., depot circa 1939. Slow street running was an obstacle in the speed war with rivals Chicago & North Western and Milwaukee Road. Elden H. Hunter photo […]

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Rapido Trains N scale Canadian passenger train

N scale Rapido Canadian passenger train snakes along rocky cliffs of Canadian Canyons project layout

The Canadian is out and it’s roaming the Canadian Canyons layout in the Model Railroader workshop! See Rapido Trains’ all new streamliner is here and Cody Grivno and Eric White take a look at the 10-car set and the add-on sets. […]

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Digest: CSX acquires chemical trucking firm Quality Carriers

CSX logo

CSX acquires Quality Carriers, North America’s largest bulk chemical trucking firm CSX Corp. will acquire Quality Carriers, North America’s largest truck transporter of bulk liquid chemicals, in a deal announced Wednesday morning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Quality Carriers operates a truck fleet with about 2,500 drivers and has a network of more […]

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Analysis: How Kansas City Southern merger bids could affect Amtrak

Passenger train on tracks along river

CHICAGO — Canadian National has announced it intends to beef up what is currently a meandering, unsignaled 40-mph ex-Gulf, Mobile & Ohio branch to connect with Kansas City Southern’s main line to the Gulf Coast. And if Canadian Pacific gets KCS, it expects to direct Mexican supply chain business to and from Western Canada through […]

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Minnesota group unveils repainted Milwaukee Road E9

Maroon and orange diesel locomotive

MINNEAPOLIS — The Friends of the 261 has unveiled a new “retro” paint scheme for Milwaukee Road E9A 32A. The E unit, acquired by the Friends in 2019, is painted orange and maroon to fit with the majority of the Friends passenger fleet. Since Milwaukee Road E9s were only painted Union Pacific yellow, the group […]

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Digest: Engineering work advances Lac-Mégantic bypass preparations

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

Transport Canada says engineering work is done for Lac-Mégantic bypass, on target for 2023 completion Transport Canada reports additional engineering work has been completed on the Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, bypass project and that the project still should be done by 2023. The engineering work will allow relocation of rail operations to the Lac-Mégantic business park, as […]

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Digest: Congressman introduces bill to boost passenger rail commissions

Trains Washington Watch logo

Legislator’s bill would support multi-state passenger rail efforts U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) has introduced legislation to create multi-state passenger rail commissions to improve regional coordination for passenger rail service. The Intercity Rail Commission Act would encourage the formation of up to 10 reginal passenger commissions by providing up to $500,000 in matching funds to […]

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Niagara Junction

Electric freight motor with train

Niagara Junction Although it was built by the Niagara Falls Power Co. in the 1890’s, 11-mile switching road Niagara Junction used steam locomotives at first. Electrification, with 660-volt D.C. catenary and steeplecabs, came in 1913. New General Electric motors arrived in 1952 (that’s one at right, in October ’67), by which time the road was […]

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