Digest: Former LIRR worker charged for filing false inspection report at site of derailment

Train negotiating complex switchwork

Former Long Island Rail Road signalman charged for false report, could face two years in prison A former Long Island Rail Road signalman has been charged with falsifying a track inspection report at a location where a train derailed in 2019, according to a criminal complaint announced Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the […]

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Digest: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad sets schedule, to resume operation May 1

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad logo

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to resume operation May 1 Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will resume operation May 1 with National Park Scenic rides operating through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Trains will operate three days a week (Friday through Sunday) in May and five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday) beginning in June. “We look […]

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Massachusetts DOT, MBTA challenge CSX acquisition of Pan Am Railways

Train coming around curve

WASHINGTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority have told federal regulators that they oppose CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. In a filing with the Surface Transportation Board this week, state officials claim the transaction will harm rail competition, potentially hinder commuter rail operations, and […]

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California Energy Commission awards $4 million for development of hydrogen fuel cell switcher

Yellow switcher locomotive

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The effort to develop alternative-fuel locomotives continues to gain momentum. The California Energy Commission has awarded Sierra Northern Railway and research and development firm GTI almost $4 million to fund design, development, and demonstration of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered switching locomotive. The funds will retire a Tier 0 diesel and replace it […]

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Digest: MTA says safety rules weren’t followed at site of electrical-shock accident

Logo of Metropolitan Transportation Authority

MTA says contractor failed to follow safety rules at site of LIRR construction accident The contractor performing work that led to the severe electrical-shock injury of an ironworker at a Long Island Rail Road station last weekend failed to follow some safety protocols, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said. Newsday reports the accident at the LIRR […]

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Behind Amtrak’s new locomotive designs

Amtrak locomotive in new Midnight Blue paint scheme

WASHINGTON — “If you’re planning for a 50th anniversary, you’ve got to look at where you came from to see how far you’ve gone,” Amtrak’s Matt Donnelly tells Trains News Wire. Donnelly, the company’s lead brand communications specialist, and Devon Parsons, Blair Slaughter, John Skalski, John Dzedzy, and Seth Geist — equipment and rolling stock engineering […]

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Trains Magazine, Luckin Productions team up to produce EMD documentary

Diesel locomotive on turntable

The introduction of the FT diesel in 1939 would make fortunes soar for General Motors’ locomotive-building affiliate, Electro-Motive. The four-unit FT demonstrator, No. 103, was the prototype for, in the words of former Trains editor David P. Morgan, “the world’s first standardized mass-produced line of diesel freight locomotives with no equal in railroading.” However, the […]

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Digest: Caltrain adjusting schedules as of March 22

Caltrain logo

Caltrain schedule changes include two more weekday trains Caltrain will make schedule changes as of March 22, adjusting its weekday and weekend schedules to support regional transit connections. In a press release, the commuter railroad says the changes will maintain connections with BART at the Millbrae Transit Center to coincide with BART’s March 22 schedule […]

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Digest: Hitachi contract for DC Metro cars could be worth $2.2 billion

Rendering of subway car

Hitachi Rail finalizes contract to build up to 800 DC Metro cars Hitachi Rail has received a contract worth up to $2.2 billion to build new 8000-series railcars for the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, finalizing a decision and setting financial terms for a deal first reported in October. The initial contract with DC Metro is […]

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Atlas buys select M.T.H product tooling

Atlas logo

Atlas Model Railroad Company Inc. has purchased a selection of the tooling for M.T.H. Electric Trains’ Premier O scale locomotive and rolling stock lines, as well as some of M.T.H.’s RailKing accessories. According to a release from Atlas, the acquired car-manufacturing molds include the 4-Bay Hopper, Coalporter Hopper, PS2CD High Side Hopper, 40′ PS1 Box […]

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Atlas buys select M.T.H product tooling

Atlas logo

Atlas Model Railroad Company Inc. has purchased a selection of the tooling for M.T.H. Electric Trains’ Premier O scale locomotive and rolling stock lines, as well as some of M.T.H.’s RailKing accessories. According to a release from Atlas, the acquired car-manufacturing molds include the 4-Bay Hopper, Coalporter Hopper, PS2CD High Side Hopper, 40′ PS1 Box […]

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