Young Guns in Preservation: Christopher Schmidt

Selfie of individual in front of a trolley

Wisconsin’s East Troy Railroad Museum garners an impressive volunteer base. Many are young individuals with a keen interest in preserving and operating the 7-mile, electric interurban line, along with its collection of trolleys and streetcars. Those volunteers made a lasting impression on 31-year-old Christopher Schmidt, who now wears multiple hats for the organization by volunteering […]

Read More…

State legislation seeks to kill funding for Twin Cities-Duluth passenger train

Map of proposed route of Twin Cities-Duluth passenger train

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Bills introduced in the Minnesota legislature are seeking to redirect to highway maintenance money the state has already set aside for a Twin Cities-Duluth passenger train. HF 1167, introduced by Rep. Patti Anderson (R-Dellwood), and SF 250, introduced by five Senate Republicans, would block the spending of $194 million allotted by […]

Read More…

East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 6 | Installing subroadbed

David keeps the hammer down and drill humming, as he works to install the joists and subroadbed sections across the entire HO scale East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) model railroad. Watch, learn, and discover clever insights to adding the critical components used to create realistic trackwork and scenery set at various elevations. Be sure to […]

Read More…

Amtrak continues effort to cover for loss of Horizon cars

Passenger train with five deadlead cars behind locomotives

CHICAGO – Amtrak continues to reshuffle its equipment to address the loss of its Horizon car fleet, sidelined suddenly earlier this week because of corrosion issues. That effort has decreased the number of train cancellations. The hardest-hit area remains the Pacific Northwest, where six of seven Amtrak Cascades round trips have been replaced by buses […]

Read More…

Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum announces 2025 schedule

Steam locomotive on turntable

SUGARCREEK, Ohio — The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum will launch its 2025 season on Thursday, April 3, the museum has announced. The season will run through Nov. 22, with tours offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. Family tours begin June 6 and conclude Aug. 30. Special events, […]

Read More…

Amtrak to resume Borealis service with Superliners

Passenger train in snow

CHICAGO — Amtrak will begin restoring Borealis service between Chicago and St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday, March 27, using Superliner equipment in place of the Horizon cars sidelined because of corrosion issues. Meanwhile, bus substitution for about half of the trains on the Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha route will continue “until further notice.” Some 70 Horizon coaches […]

Read More…

Amtrak sidelines Horizon car fleet, leading to widespread cancellations (updated)

Passenger cars in yard

CHICAGO — Amtrak trains on several routes have been cancelled after the company removed its fleet of Horizon passenger cars from service because of concerns over corrosion, raising the possibility of long-term service disruptions. In a statement issued at 9 a.m. today (March 26, 2025), the company said, “We discovered corrosion in several Horizon railcars […]

Read More…

Norfolk Southern adds to certified rail-served industrial sites

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern continues to expand its industrial site development with the recent certification of nine additional rail-served properties in seven states through the Redi Sites program. This brings the total number of NS Redi-certified sites to 12, showcasing the company’s commitment to providing prime locations for businesses seeking rail-integrated solutions. The Redi Sites […]

Read More…