CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker disclosed earlier this month that his administration seeks to commit almost $1 billion of planned 2026-2031 infrastructure spending to several languishing passenger rail initiatives in the state, but translating proposals into tangible results continues to be a challenge. Hanging over all new construction endeavors is the need for Illinois […]
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Rail Road’s annual Santa Train will visit 11 communities over three days as part of its annual trip across the railroad, set for Dec. 5-7, 2025. It will be the 35th year for the Santa Train. The train offers community members the chance to climb aboard vintage passenger equipment to visit […]
A July 1947 aerial view shows the Pennsylvania Railroad’s big roundhouse at Crestline, Ohio. The long engine at middle left is No. 6100, the 6-4-4-6 duplex of 1939. Classic Trains coll. […]
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Communities represented by two regional commissions, along with the city of Ft. Wayne, Ind., have committed some $650,000 in funding for a proposed Amtrak service linking Chicago and Pittsburgh via Ft. Wayne and Columbus. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission announced the funding, also including backing from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, on Oct. […]
DETROIT — Michigan Central Station, the long-abandoned rail facility revived last year by Ford Motor Co. as the centerpiece of an innovation district, could see trains again under an agreement announced today (Oct. 15, 2025). The Michigan Department of Transportation, the city of Detroit, and Michigan Central, the company overseeing the innovation district, have agreed […]
CLINTON, Iowa — The Iowa Transportation Commission, which oversees transportation planning for the state, approved $3.3 million in grants and loans for four rail infrastructure and related projects within the state at its Oct. 14, 2025, meeting. https://iowadot.gov/news/2025-10-14/33-million-awarded-through-iowas-railroad-revolving-loan-and-grant-program Receiving a $1.469 million grant was a new box manufacturing plant being built by International Paper in […]
An operator pulls the armstrong levers to align a route at busy State Line Tower, near Hammond, Ind., on the Chicago & Western Indiana. As the track diagram shows, several railroads operated through the 200-plus lever plant. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers are expected to make another attempt to address the budget deficit facing Chicago transit agencies during a veto session that begins today (Oct. 14, 2025) — although it remains to be seen if the issue will have the same amount of urgency since the size of the deficit has been […]
Scenery is in full swing on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout! In this episode, both Cody Grivno and David Popp get deep into the effort of framing up the farm scene, developing the depot area, adding weathering effects to bridge abutments, and more! Be sure to keep up with the […]
CHICAGO — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen who operate on Metra’s Union Pacific lines have ratified a new contract, the BLET said on Friday (Oct. 10, 2025). The contract, which calls for a 3.5% wage increase, was ratified by a 60-1 vote. The pay increases will take effect no later than […]
SUGARCREEK, Ohio — Former McCloud River Railroad and Yreka Western 2-8-2 No. 19 is slated to return to full operation in 2026, according to its owner, the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum. The Mikado, famous from its appearance in the movie Emperor of the North, was last under steam in 2020 before undergoing its Federal […]
CHICAGO — Metra plans a fare increase as part of its proposed 2026 budget, a $1.1 million plan that includes other measures to address a projected $68 million funding shortfall but no cuts in service. The commuter rail agency’s announcement today (Oct. 10, 2025) also includes a proposed $575.3 million capital plan continuing Metra’s work […]
