CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors on Friday approved a $700 operating budget for 2021, as well as a $386.8 million capital budget, and also approved a plan to improve transit service to Chicago’s South Side that will see reduced fares on two Metra Lines. The operating budget does not call for fare increases or […]
A C&NW E8 leads the Chicago–Rapid City, S.Dak., Dakota 400 past the shimmering waters of Devil’s Lake on October 7, 1956. Today, Wisconsin & Southern freights pass through this scenic state park, located 3 miles south of Baraboo. Photo by William D. Middleton […]
Thursday midday rail news: Decatur & Eastern Illinois conductor killed in switching accident A Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad conductor was killed during a switching accident on the grounds of Cabot Corp.’s silica plant in Ficklin, Ill., on Wednesday morning. The Douglas County Sheriff was called to the scene at 9:44 a.m. Wednesday where officers found the […]
More Tuesday morning rail news: CTA train derails after striking tire, disrupting Blue Line service A Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train has derailed this morning near the Harlem Station in the city’s Norwood Park neighborhood, disrupting through service between downtown and O’Hare Airport. WBBM-TV reports service was halted about 5:15 a.m. between the Rosemont […]
More Monday morning rail news: NS coal train derails in Illinois Twenty-four cars of a Norfolk Southern coal train derailed in Panama, Ill., Sunday morning, according to a Facebook post by the Chris-Mont Emergency Management Agency. A press release from the agency says the Shoal Creek Fire Protection District was dispatched to the derailment at […]
CHICAGO — Metra’s first bike car — a Pullman-Standard coach with seating removed on half of the lower level, creating space for 16 bicycles — made its debut Saturday, a biking-friendly day of unseasonable temperatures in the 70s. Metra unveiled the car on Thursday, saying its debut had been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic […]
CHICAGO — Metra will introduce its first bike car — a coach with room for 16 bicycles, instead of the usual five — on Saturday on the Milwaukee District North Line, and will relax its bicycle policy to allow bikes on all trains across its 11 lines as of Monday, Nov. 9. There will still […]
Thursday morning rail news: Metra, Amtrak ask Surface Transportation Board for more mediation time Saying they have made progress in their dispute over Metra’s lease at Chicago Union Station, Metra and Amtrak have requested more time from the Surface Transportation Board for mediation. In a letter filed Nov. 2, Metra’s attorney, filing on behalf of […]
Missabe 2-8-0 at work Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-0 No. 1218 has hold of a side-door caboose as it switches cars around Oliver Iron Mining Co.’s plant at Rainy Junction, Minn., in September 1954. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Host James McNab shares secrets to making scenic showcases on his HO scale Hills Line model railroad. You’ll see that repetition is a helpful thing when it comes to making realistic scenery layers. From applying a single coat of paint, to adding static grass, to making stone ballast, James demonstrates that rinse and repeat techniques […]
Thursday afternoon rail news: MARS to hold winter meeting online, will feature CP, BNSF CEOs The annual winter meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers — which traditionally draws an exceptional lineup of speakers — will move online this January and be condensed to a half-day, but still will feature notable guests. “Our highest […]
Wednesday morning rail news: Minnesota Legislator fails to fund second Chicago-Twin Cities train Efforts to launch a second daily Amtrak train between Chicago and the Twin Cities suffered a setback when the Minnesota Legislature adjourned without providing $10 million in matching funds for a federal grant to advance the plan. The Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports that […]
