Conrail history remembered

Blue diesel locomotives with train of open hoppers

Conrail history starts with Penn Central’s bankruptcy in 1970, a collapse that upset the entire railroad industry. Something had to be done — Penn Central could not simply be liquidated. It operated one-third of the nation’s passenger trains and was the principal freight carrier in the Northeast. Without PC, the industries of the area would […]

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Late-blooming narrow-gauge

New Berlin and Winfield Railroad

The New Berlin & Winfield was a 3-foot-gauge short line in central Pennsylvania extending from Winfield on the west shore of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River to New Berlin. It opened in 1905, quite late for a narrow-gauge common carrier. NB&W 2-6-0 No. 2, photographed at New Berlin around 1910, went to Argent […]

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Reading & Northern runs test trip with No. 2102

Steam locomotive blowing out steam

PORT CLINTON, Pa.  — Reading & Northern 4-8-4 No. 2102 made its first mainline run in 31 years today (April 6), as it shoved a short train south 16 miles from Port Clinton to North Reading. The move culminates a 6-year, $1.7 million rebuilding of the former Reading Co. locomotive, built in the railroad’s Reading, Pa., […]

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NYC Transit prepares vintage cars to run for Yankees’ season opener

Vintage subway equipment next to modern car

BRONX, N.Y. — It’s been three years since the public has had the opportunity to ride New York City Transit’s fleet of vintage subway equipment. That is scheduled to change Friday, April 8, when the century-old Interborough Rapid Transit “Lo-V” cars are slated to operate for opening day at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees’ opener, originally […]

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Delaware Lackawanna and Western locomotives remembered

Black and white image of a steam locomotive passing a depot.

Delaware Lackawanna and Western locomotives: All through March, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. Please enjoy this photo selection of DL&W locomotives selected from the image archives of Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. Lackawanna steam locomotives were top-notch among Northeast coal-hauling roads. The railroad’s last steam locomotive ran in […]

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Chris Raines’ O gauge layout is a mix of modern and digital

Chris Raines layout

Chris Raines’ O gauge layout is featured in the May-June 2022 issue of Classic Toy Trains. It has neat scenery, structures, and lots of O gauge trains, primarily from the 1970s to today. The display has towns and areas named after Chris and his wife’s three children and there’s plenty to see! Chris runs the […]

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News photos: Amtrak releases images of interiors for new Acelas

Seats in Acela Business class

PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak has released images of the interiors for the new Acela trainsets currently under construction or in testing, and now not expected to debut until 2023. “Between the sleek design of their interiors, state-of-the-art technology, and sustainable amenities, and innovative safety features, our new Acela trains will help revolutionize American train travel,” Amtrak […]

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Amtrak to install automated car inspection equipment on Northeast Corridor

Shed-like structure over railroad track

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duos Technologies Group, a firm with products including automated railcar inspection equipment, will provide two of its Railcar Inspection Portals to Amtrak for use on the Northeast Corridor. Duos CEO Charles Parker Ferry announced the contract for the portals, to be placed in Secaucus, N.J., during a Wednesday earnings call with investors […]

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Lionel LionChief 2.0 Baby K4 review

Lionel LionChief 2.0 Baby K4

The Lionel LionChief 2.0 Baby K4 is a modern O gauge steam engine that represents the Pennsylvania RR’s proud Pacific type. The model is simply detailed with lots of operating features including a fan-driven smoke unit, lighted flickering firebox, crew figures, and more! It runs well and is equally at home pulling a set of […]

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MBTA restores Orange Line service following parking-garage collapse

Diagram showing line and station closures on transit lines

BOSTON — Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Orange Line service has resumed after a suspension from Saturday’s partial collapse of a parking garage, but the Haymarket station remains closed. Also, Green Line service remains suspended between Government Center and North Station. The Orange line had been closed between Back Bay and North Station while tunnels and […]

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