More transit mask rules end, but federal government will appeal ruling

CTrail_Coaches_Lassen

WASHINGTON — More transit agencies have dropped their requirement for riders to wear masks, but the Biden Administration has announced it will appeal the judge’s ruling that struck down the federal mask mandate for public transportation. Among the latest agencies to end a mask rule are several in the San Francisco Bay Area. Bay Area […]

Read More…

Oil Creek & Titusville to host photo charter May 28

Maroon end-cab switcher with yellow trim

TITUSVILLE, Pa. — The Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad will host a photo charter on May 28 featuring all three of its locomotives, featuring M420W No. 3568 in its new Pennsy-inspired Oil Creek & Titusville paint scheme. Just 35 seats are available for the event, scheduled for 5 hours and also featuring Alco S2 locomotives […]

Read More…

Amtrak seeks control of Washington Union Station

People standing in line in hallway of railroad station

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is trying to gain control of Washington Union Station, the southern terminus for most of its Northeast Corridor operations, saying the move is necessary to expand and modernize the second-busiest station on the passenger operator’s network. The Washington Post reports Amtrak has moved to use eminent domain to gain control the facility, […]

Read More…

Maryland Purple Line project receives up to $1.76 billion in federal loans

Purple and white light rail trainset parked on curve

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide up to $1.76 billion in loans for the troubled, long-delayed Purple Line Light Rail Transit project in Maryland, the agency announced last week. The loan from the DOT Build America Bureau will finance up to 33% of the $5.9 billion in eligible project costs, using Transportation […]

Read More…

Steamtown set to resume passenger excursions

Excursion train of locomotive and two passenger cars

SCRANTON, Pa. — Passenger excursions at the Steamtown National Historic Site wil resume beginning May 14, 2022, with 30-minute trips starting that day and the first extended trip set for May 28. The short trips, the Scranton Limited or Caboose Experience, will operate on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and […]

Read More…

NJ Transit awards contract to restore tunnel on Lackawanna Cutoff

NJT_PTC_Lassen

NEWARK, N.J. — The NJ Transit Board of Directors today approved a contract to rehabilitate the Roseville Tunnel on the Lackawanna Cutoff, part of a plan to restore commuter rail service to Andover, N.J. from Port Morris, N.J. The contract with Schiavone Construction Co. LLC of Secaucus, N.J. includes the final design, construction, and commissioning of the […]

Read More…

Amtrak, PennDOT to add Keystone Service

blue and silver passenger train passes brick tower

PHILADELPHIA – Beginning April 25, Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will operate additional Keystone Service trains between New York, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg, Pa. Two new weekday trains will be added, and all pre-pandemic weekend service will be restored. “After a long period of reduced schedules, PennDOT is pleased that Amtrak has been able […]

Read More…

M.U. train at Spuyten Duyvil

New York Central Railroad

Bound for Grand Central Terminal, a New York Central M.U. train passes under the Henry Hudson Parkway bridge at Spuyten Duyvil, N.Y., in the late 1940s or early ’50s. In the background, NYC’s line down the West Side of Manhattan bridges the Harlem River where the Harlem meets the Hudson. Herbert H. Harwood Jr. photo […]

Read More…

Conrail passenger trains: A small chapter for a big blue railroad

Conrail passenger trains: Conrail and Burlington Northern passenger trains in a Chicago rail yard.

Conrail passenger trains are probably the least known of all the aspects of the big blue railroad’s operations over time. As Conrail is the Fallen Flag Railroad of the Month for April 2022, please enjoy these Conrail passenger trains images from Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. Conrail started operations April 1, 1976 taking over […]

Read More…

Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide 2022

Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide 2022

PLUS   Brass engine fix-up Taking the mystery out of brass Add a metal foundry An industry you can model Visit an iron ore hauler An inspiring 23 x 27-foot HO layout You’re the power desk Operating tips from the prototype Add a paved roadway Convincing concrete quickly Modeling a small town Operating possibilities abound […]

Read More…

Sale of Saratoga & North Creek trackage in jeopardy

SNC

TAHAWAUS, N.Y. — The bankruptcy sale of a portion of the former Saratoga & North Creek Railroad is jeopardy after the buyers failed to submit a deposit in timely fashion, according to the bankruptcy trustee. The Adirondack Explorer news site reports buyers Carol McLean-Wright and John Wright, operating as Doc N Duchess Railway, did not […]

Read More…

Alstom explains latest delay for new Acela deployment (updated)

HORNELL, N.Y. — Testing of Amtrak’s next-generation Acela trainsets on the Northeast Corridor has shown that further modifications will be necessary, pushing back the date the equipment will be placed in service because additional testing will be necessary. Amtrak revealed last week at a Philadelphia media event that the first of the 28 nine-unit trainsets […]

Read More…