C&O Historical Society begins fundraising to restore office car Chessie 29 to operation

End view of private car looking in through open door

CLIFTON FORGE, Va. — The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society has begun a fundraising campaign to return historic C&O office car Chessie 29 to operation, organization president Mark Totten has announced. The society will sell a custom, limited-edition, 11-by-17-inch poster of the car from Base Camp Printing of Charleston, W.Va., to fund the hiring of […]

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Alstom to build 60 new passenger cars for Connecticut

Rendering of commuter rail cab car with black and red graphics

HARTFORD, Conn. — Alstom will build 60 new coaches for Connecticut commuter rail service, Gov. Ned Lamont announced today. Delivery of the first cars under the $315 million contract is expected in 2026. The cars are intended for use on the Hartford Line as well as New Haven Line branches. “Having a modernized transit system […]

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Atlas N scale Trinity 3230 PD covered hopper

Color image of N scale covered hopper on white background.

A Trinity 3,230-cubic-foot capacity Pressure Differential (PD) covered hopper has joined the Atlas N scale freight car fleet. The newly tooled Master Line model features a plastic body; etched-metal running boards; and many separate, factory-applied parts. Prototype history The 3230 PD covered hopper is based on a design developed by Thrall, which was acquired by […]

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Amtrak sets hearing, seeks comments on accessibility plans for long-distance equipment

Amtrak wheelchair lift

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is considering the use of semi-permanent coupling in its next generation of long-distance trainsets, and as a result will seek regulatory approval to address accessibility requirements through accommodations throughout those trainsets, rather than in individual cars. That proposal is included in a website the passenger operator has launched as it seeks public […]

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Short Amtrak consists of the 2000s

A model passenger train crosses a bridge over water and a freight train

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour we’ve taken of Amtrak’s short consists throughout the railroad’s history. Starting with the modern era, we then went back in time to the 1970s, then the 80s and 90s. This month, we’re looking at my favorite era of short Amtrak consists. Is it because that’s when I grew up? […]

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Monon group donates business car, caboose to Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

Gray and red passenger car with end platform

NORTH JUDSON, Ind. — The Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society has donated Monon business car No. 2, also known as the Lynne, and Monon wide-vision caboose No. 81532 to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, the two organizations have announced. Plans call for operating the business car in excursion service as an upscale experience, with a portion […]

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Aurora Miniatures HO Gunderson hi-cube boxcar

Color photo of HO scale boxcar.

A newly tooled Gunderson 6,276-cubic-foot capacity 50-foot hi-cube boxcar is the latest release from Aurora Miniatures North America. The HO scale model, offered in six road names, features injection-molded plastic construction, prototype-specific trucks, and many freestanding details. The prototype The 6276 50-foot hi-cube boxcar has been a part of the Gunderson (Greenbrier) product lineup since […]

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Clean up your 2400-series Lionel passenger cars

Lionel 2400 passenger cars catalog image

The 2400-series Lionel passenger cars have always been popular with operators and collectors. In the postwar era the plastic streamliners have been run in green with yellow trim, yellow with red trim, and silver with black trim and gray roofs. Q: I bought a great set of 2400-series Lionel passenger cars. They look fine and […]

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Return of Ottawa light rail pushed back to Aug. 14

Red and white light rail train in station

OTTAWA — Reopening of Ottawa’s light rail Confederation Line has been pushed back yet again, with Aug. 14 as the new date for the resumption of service. But the Ottawa Citizen reports that Renée Amilcar, the city’s transit services general manager, stressed that is an early estimate and subject to change, saying, “We continue to […]

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Railways take over grain exports from Ukraine

Brown waffle-sided covered hopper

Ukrainian Railways (UZ or Ukrzaliznytsia) and rail operators in neighboring European countries are stepping up efforts to move thousands of tons of grain from Ukraine to ports in Poland, Romania, and Germany for export around the world. The increase in rail transport has followed Russia’s decision to end a deal, previously brokered by the United […]

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