Amtrak GP7 diesel locomotives served for decades in supporting roles for America’s passenger carrier throughout its network. Electro-Motive Division produced the 1,500-hp, four-axle GP7 from 1946 through 1958, making a total of 2,729 units, including five cabless B units, for more than 40 railroads. By the time Amtrak needed more support motive power […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s ongoing efforts to eliminate slow orders on its rail transit system will continue with shutdowns on the Orange, Blue, and Red lines in April, the agency has announced. Also planned are shutdowns on several commuter rail lines, one of which will last for nine days. More complete details […]
WOODSTOCK, Ill. — Metra will hold an open house meeting in Woodstock on Thursday, March 21, to discuss plans for a new layover yard for the Union Pacific Northwest Line planned near the community in McHenry County, The meeting will be Thursday, March 21, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Woodstock Opera House […]
In 1951, Linn Westcott wrote a story about his ideas for a million-dollar model railroad. It was a thought experiment that looked at everything from the layout space to how he’d control the trains. You can read about it here. A recently republished interview with Linn on Trains.com got some of us thinking about what […]
WASHINGTON — Some 33 rail-related projects are among those receiving $3.3 billion in funding under the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program announced earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The program seeks to address rail lines, highways, or other transportations that create barriers within communities, improving access to daily needs such as […]
THUNDER BAY, Ontario — The Canadian government will provide up to C$6.7 million for two projects to increase capacity at the Port of Thunder Bay, according to a Friday announcement. Up to C$3 million will go to a project to redevelop an existing rail yard at the Port’s Keefer Terminal, adding heavyweight track and switches […]
WASHINGTON — Ancora Holdings, which is leading an activist investor group that’s fighting a proxy battle to oust Norfolk Southern’s management, has responded to Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman’s request for a meeting about its plans for the railroad. “We suggest a discussion with yourself and the continuing Board Members once we have […]
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Transportation has awarded $5 million to CSX Transportation to upgrade the railroad’s Detroit Livernois Intermodal Facility, the agency announced today (Friday, March 15). Improvements will include paving what is currently a dirt and gravel yard, which will help limit dust blown into surrounding neighborhoods. CSX is contributing $6.7 […]
DENVER — Colorado legislators plan to introduce a bill that will increase the state fee on rental cars by $2 to $3 per day to help pay for proposed passenger rail service along the Front Range and to Craig, Colo., the Colorado Sun reports. The fee would generate as much as $50 million annually, which […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board on Thursday denied Union Pacific’s request for a protective order that would have put a cloak of confidentiality over the temporary employment data the railroad is required to submit. In its decision, the board also directed UP to submit public versions of previously submitted data. UP submitted its petition […]
CELINA, Ohio — An enginehouse for R.J. Corman Western Ohio Lines was severely damaged and a warehouse was also damaged Thursday night when a tornado struck in Celina, a community of about 11,000 people in Mercer County. Nearby Auglaize and Logan counties were also struck by the storms. Logan County was the hardest hit, with […]
WASHINGTON — Projects in Illinois, Louisiana, and North Carolina have received a total of $900,000 in planning and development funding under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Interstate Rail Compacts grant program, the FRA announced today (Thursday, March 14). Compacts are agreements between two or more states to support development of intercity passenger rail services that can […]
