CHICAGO — The Metra board of directors has approved a new five-year strategic plan that aims to address the commuter rail system’s post-COVID challenges and set goals for its evolution to meet those challenges The 2023-27 plan, “My Metra, Our Future,” approved at Wednesday’s meeting, notes the need to adapt with ridership that currently is […]
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — It may take three years before the Amtrak station in Missouri’s state capital returns to the historic Union Hotel. The Jefferson City News Tribune reports that, while state legislators have appropriated $14.3 million to repair the building, the project faces 10 to 12 months of design work, followed by another 18 […]
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Norfolk Southern announced earlier today it would not take part in tonight’s scheduled town hall meeting on the East Palestine derailment, citing concerns about “a growing physical threat.” The meeting was slated for 7 p.m. at the East Palestine High Auditorium. WEWS-TV reports the meeting would not feature speakers, but was […]
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called for congressional action requiring railroads to provide notification when they are transporting hazardous materials through states in the wake of the Feb. 3 derailment and fire of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch reports that in a Tuesday press conference, DeWine […]
GENEVA, Ill. — Union Pacific will hold an open house meeting, offering an update on its Third Main project through the city of Geneva, on Feb. 23 at the Geneva Public Works Department, 1800 South Street. The session will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Work began in September on the project to […]
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Norfolk Southern will install wells to monitor groundwater as part of its ongoing efforts to manage fallout from the Feb. 3 derailment and fire involving toxic chemicals in East Palestine, according to the remedial action plan released by the company. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the railroad will also engage in soil […]
OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Friends of the Coopersville & Marne Railway Co., a non-profit heritage rail operation, on Monday accepted the donation a GE 125-ton center cab diesel locomotive from Michigan power company Consumers Energy at its West Olive facility Built in 1979, the locomotive was repowered in approximately 2010 with two 600-hp Caterpillar […]
CINCINNATI — The U.S. Postal Service will hold its first-day-of-issue event for “Railroad Stations Forever,” a five-stamp series, at Cincinnati Union Terminal on Thursday, March 9, at 11 a.m. EST. The stamps, which depict Cincinnati Union Terminal, along with stations in Point of Rocks, Md.; Richmond, Va.; San Bernardino, Calif.; and Tamaqua, Pa; were announced […]
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The Village of East Palestine will hold an informational town hall meeting on Wednesday regarding followup to the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment, Mayor Trent Conaway has announced. The 7 p.m. meeting at the East Palestine High School Auditorium will be an opportunity for residents and those in the surrounded area […]
SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America reports it is making significant progress on repairs to former Union Pacific passenger rolling stock at its Silvis, Ill., shop complex. In an email to donors, RRHMA President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Sandberg said in the coming weeks former Southern Pacific business car Stanford will be sandblasted […]
A mail-and-express train running as the second section of Santa Fe train 20 descends Edelstein Hill west of Chillicothe, Ill., around 1950. Six express reefers trail the locomotive, followed by several baggage express cars. The locomotive, Pacific No. 3434, has its smokestack extension raised. T. H. Cole Jr. photo […]
In coordination with the Kalmbach Media sponsored TrainFest hobby show in Milwaukee, Wisc., the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association used the opportunity to fire up their 1913-built American Locomotive Company, Class L-1 2-8-2 steam engine, Soo Line No. 1003. This photo special routed over the tracks of regional railroad Wisconsin & Southern — all to the […]
