- US Rails

NS Train derails just past Horseshoe Curve

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:47:38 +0000

Yesterday morning:

https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local...n-derails/

New OCS Power

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:35:09 +0000

Norfolk Southern has done it again, two locomotives were painted into a special livery and are now the power for the OCS train. Locomotives #1230 ( Birmingham ) & #1231 ( Atlanta ) are SD70IAC locomotives. They were seen yesterday on their first run going west on the Pittsburgh Division to head south to Alabama. If anyone got photo's of these engines please share them. Sadly I missed out on getting out to see them.

Here is a video found on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17TBkGR...tid=wwXIfr

Next Generation Acela

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 20:35:29 +0000

Well, finally, after years of design, production, and testing, the first 5 of the new Acela trains will begin operating on August 28th with speeds reaching 160 mph.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M649gqtz...nel=Amtrak

Amtrak's new NextGen Acela trains are scheduled to begin service on the Northeast Corridor on August 28. Initially, five new trainsets will be introduced, with the full fleet of 28 expected to be in operation by the end of 2027, according to Amtrak. The new trains will offer expanded schedules, more seats, and enhanced features like free Wi-Fi and improved dining options.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Launch Date: August 28th.
Initial Rollout: Five new trainsets will begin operating on the Northeast Corridor.
Full Deployment: All 28 NextGen Acela trains are scheduled to be in service by the end of 2027.
Service Area: The trains will operate between Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston.
Key Features: The new trains will offer expanded schedules, 27% more seats, free Wi-Fi, and improved dining options, according to Amtrak.
Booking: Amtrak will release details on how to book the new trains as the launch date approaches.
Current Operations: For a period, both the new and original Acela trains will be in operation as the rollout continues.

The Ma and Pa blog

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 01:10:51 +0000

I've been reading George Hilton's book - "The Ma & Pa: A History of the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad" that one of my coworkers gave to me a few years ago. The Ma & Pa: A History of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad - Hilton, George W.: 9780801862946 - AbeBooks

Fascinating stuff about a railroad with grandiose visions never really realized. I live a mere mile or so from it's right of way, and I occasionally walk the "Ma and Pa" trail here in Harford County which is on or near the roadbed that carried freight and passengers (eventually) from North Avenue in Baltimore up to York while hitting small towns and industries along the way. Before the interstate highway system and before everyone had multiple cars, this railroad helped farmers and the small towns bring their goods and services to markets in those two cities. I've also hiked a lot in Rocks State Park, where there is still a bridge abutment and what's left of the roadbed running through the park adjacent to Deer Creek. There's a natural gorge there and you'd never think you were still in Maryland.

What's also fascinating is that the railroad began operation as two distinct railroads each in narrow (3') gauge, and in order to hit all of these small towns, the routing was relatively insane for a railroad, which can be seen by consulting the map here: The Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad - Abandoned Rails. George talks about the extreme twists and turns by comparing it to the Rio Grande mainline, and the comparison isn't even close - the Ma and Pa was the equivalent of a roller coaster thrill ride, and it travelled through some very picturesque countryside.

If I were to model steam...... I might have to give modeling the Ma and Pa a try....

I'll add to this thread as I get more familiar with the history. The entirety of the railroad is within an hour of my homestead.

CSX Heritage Fleet

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 00:40:22 +0000

Hello All,

Since CSX got on the band wagon and has been painting their heritage, I figured why not start a thread for those that have caught them out and about. Sadly I am to far north to be able to get any pictures of them. The closest CSX main to me in Sandpatch grade and that's over an hour away from home. But that's neither here nor there. I know some don't like how CSX painted their engines but each railroad is different. Anways, if anyone has pictures of them please post them for us to see since we have threads for other railroads that have heritage units.

Did you hear a Phila Trolley jumped the tracks............

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 23:46:38 +0000

Did you hear a Phila Trolley jumped the tracks, hit an SUV, then crashed into a historical building?

https://www.fox29.com/news/video-3-hurt-...icials-say

The Trolley was being worked on by a SEPTA mechanic. It got away and started down the tracks and when it got to a curve, it kept going straight...

Reading and Northern Excursion last weekend

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:17:44 +0000

One of my coworkers took one of the R&N excursion trains (double-headed steam (The Iron Horse Rambles)) from Reading to Jim Thorpe and back last weekend. Loved it. A YouTube video taken during the trip can be found here....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww5SfQzzuvk

The owner of the R&N is a big steam fan and has put millions into restoring a T-1 and a Pacific on their roster. They run diesel excursions in parts of the Lehigh Valley Gorge from Jim Thorpe, but during the summer offer these longer excursions from Reading. Real treat if you get a chance. Lots of Railfans along the route.

Website for excursions is here: https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/schedule

Railroad Interlocking Towers

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 05:06:28 +0000

Ok everyone I figured we would try a different kind of thread this time. Let's see those pictures you have of past and present Interlocking towers. They don't have to be in service. Let's see how many are actually left in the United States.

J Tower is located at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

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Alto Tower is located in Altoona, Pa. This tower was closed in 2012 and all operations were handed over to the Pittsburgh Dispatcher

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AR Tower is located at the top of the grade in Gallitzin, Pa. This tower is a little remote to get to and is illegal to even access the road going to it. Norfolk Southern is currently in the process of demolishing AR and MG Towers.

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MO Tower was located in Cresson, Pa. MO was demolished in 1998. This was taken by my late father. I did have other views of this tower from the other sides but they have since been lost.

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NY Tower was located in Portage, Pa. There are barely any if no photo's of this tower around. There is one photo of the previous NY Tower. All that is left from this one is the foundation and it can be found in the high weeds along the mainline.

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Allegheny Passage

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 23:49:47 +0000

Below are some photo's from mine and my girlfriends trip to Meyersdale back in the Fall of 2020.

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Yes that is a Lego Version of WM Caboose 1803. It is an exact replica of it built in Lego. I took it with us that day because it seemed fitting to pay a little tribute.

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CSX coming upgrade on the ex B&O Mainline

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C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1039 Restored by Western MD RR

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 00:08:29 +0000

Does anyone else know about this??
https://www.wmsr.com/restoring-1309/

They start running her on weekly trips in August!

CSXT gondolas question

Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:49:56 +0000

Hello everyone,
Wasn't sure if this was the right place for this question but I wanted to ask if there are any ex-Union Pacific gondolas out there patched out for CSXT? I thought I would ask on this forum before I start searching the hundreds of pictures on rail fanning and picture archive sites. A follow up question if I may; if there aren't any gondolas are there any freight cars like this? Thanks in advance for replies,

Clint

NJT crash in Hoboken terminal

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:15:28 +0000

New York bound commuter train wrecks inside Hoboken terminal, smashes through buffer and stops just short of waiting room wall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU1yFAN ... rJKzw9zKIj

Mother of an 18 month old dead, more then 100 injured. All ferries and trains (subway and light rail included) shutdown to and from station during the morning rush. When rail service will be restored is unknown. Do you think NJT will finally get a move on with the PTC install?

SEPTA Silverliner Woes

Sun, 03 Jul 2016 19:27:31 +0000

Friday evening July 1st one of the newer Silverliner V cars was seen leaning as compared to her sister car. SEPTA cars always travel in pairs or more linked together. This was a good thing, since it was noticed early.

After a few hours of trail and error, it was found (early Saturday morning) that the Equalizer Beam Plate on one truck had a crack that failed and the 2 pieces fortunately wedged together. This could have caused a derailment at high speeds.

They immediately began inspecting all the "bends" in all the trucks of all the cars that were in the shops for normal service.... they found more stress cracks. They ordered all the remaining Silverliner V cars to operate at reduced speed and to report to the repair shops. There are 8 of these bends (Where the springs rest) on the trucks, 4 per truck, 8 per car. It takes 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to visually inspect each car. They have worked around the clock and have inspected approximately 100 cars as of 2:00 Sunday July 3rd.

Most have stress cracks!! They are still under warranty and SEPTA is petitioning Hyundai (lowest bidder out of 4) to investigate the manufacturing process and honor the warranty. They are also asking NJ Transit and Amtrak for help in borrowing cars and rail clearance for rush hours beginning Tuesday the 5th.

This is 1/3 of the SEPTA fleet and it will have a huge impact on travel in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Here is a link to the story:

http://6abc.com/traffic/septa-1-3-of-re ... -/1411365/

Technical items:
~~ The cracks are supposedly due to a weld between 2 sections that were manufactured at 2 different places and brought together for assembly where they were welded.
~~ They are trying to determine what could have caused the fractures.
~~ The actual fractures are cumulative stress fractures at the weld.
~~ They are small, hairline cracks on either side of the beam. So they can start anywhere near the weld and progressively grow since these are weight (spring) bearing beams.
~~ NTSB and the Railroad Safety Board of the Federal Railroad Administration have been notified (as per regulations)
~~ The SEPTA Board of Directors are fully supportive of the decision to sideline all 120 cars.
~~ Some of the trucks are being switched around so that some cars have 2 good trucks so they could be put into service Tuesday, but this is a very low number of cars.

More to come as the news gets updated!!!!!
(Some of the above information was from a press conference held at 2:00 pm today)

Farewell to the AEM-7 ---- Excursion Train

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 22:24:47 +0000

Amtrak Excursion June 18, 2016

https://m.amtrak.com/mt/www.amtrak.com/ ... sion-train

Northfolk Southern good news

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 20:38:15 +0000

http://www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en ... oposa.html