A new steam restoration group has purchased former Chesapeake & Ohio Class J3a 4-8-4 passenger locomotive No. 614 (Lima Locomotive Works, 1948) and plans to return it to operating condition. RJD America LLC, a group of railroaders and businessmen with ties to the engine, has completed the purchase from American Freedom Train Foundation, Inc., according […]
WASHINGTON — A tree branch that penetrated the cab windshield struck and killed the operator of a train on NJ Transit’s light rail River Line on Oct. 14, the National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary investigation report released today. The incident occurred at about 6:02 a.m. when the southbound diesel-powered light rail vehicle […]
ERWIN, Tenn. — Not only will CSX Transportation continues its tradition with the 82nd running of the Clinchfield Santa Train on Saturday, Nov. 23, the railroad is also operating a separate christmas-light-decorated holiday train that will visit Erwin, Tenn., on Thursday, Nov. 21 — two days before the Santa Train. In social media posts today […]
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit’s Franck Beaumin is rolling out four areas of focus in his roadmap as the agency’s new customer advocate. The statewide rail and bus operator, the third-largest U.S. transit agency, named Beaumin to the role of customer advocate in October, ending more than four years with the position vacant [see “NJ […]
WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic showed its biggest gain in seven weeks over the period ending Nov. 2, boosted by a double-digit increase in intermodal traffic. According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, weekly volume was 516,743 carloads and intermodal units, a 6.6% gain over the same week in 2023. That was […]
While the final margins may not be determined for some time in several outstanding races, the election results are coming into focus. Former President Donald Trump has been reelected, Republicans have won a majority in the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House will be split fairly closely, as it has been for the past four […]
Is it time to preserve an Amtrak Genesis P40? Since 1993, Amtrak’s iconic Genesis diesels have hauled countless millions of passengers across its network. From Sunset Limited to Downeaster, the Genesis has been the locomotive for generations of Amtrak travelers. While the Genesis models remain among the most common locomotives for long distance passenger service, […]
BERLIN — Germany’s famed Harz Mountain Railway — a 140-kilometer (87.5-mile) meter-gauge network run by the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (HSB) — has announced plans to make long-term changes to its operation including the future “decarbonization of the popular steam locomotives.” The announcement came as part of a funding deal for this year (providing around $20 million) […]
Four ballot initiatives with at least some rail transit component all appear to have passed on Tuesday, based on results available this morning (Wednesday, Nov. 6). — In Maricopa County, Ariz., which includes Phoenix, voters appear to have approved an extension of a half-cent sales tax for transit, the Arizona Republic reports. The tax, introduced […]
BOSTON — The rapid transit Orange Line is free of speed restrictions for the first time in 15 years as the result of maintenance work completed on Nov. 1, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority reports. Work completed on two segments of the line — Oak Grove-Ruggles Oct. 26-27 and Oak Grove-North Station Oct. 28-Nov. 1 […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board on Tuesday (Nov. 5) granted requests by Amtrak and Southern California’s North County Transportation District to dismiss long-running cases before the board. Amtrak had requested that the board dismiss its request for an order requiring CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern to allow operation of Gulf Coast service between New […]
In every issue News, p. 4 Norfolk Southern sued by federal government over its handling of the Crescent Bill Stephens, p. 10 The more things change, the more they stay the same Great Railfan Roads, p. 46 Follow the BNSF Railway across Montana Preservation, p. 52 Kalmbach Media’s corporate art collection donated to Center for […]
