News

NETWORK Rail’s steam ban was still in force for a trio of special trains marking the 50th anniversary of the end of BR steam on August 11 – despite the arrival of cooler weather and rain in early-August. As a result, the three trains were headed by steam, but with diesel locomotives coupled inside doing…

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SKOOKUM, a 2-4-4-2 Mallet loco built in 1909, is almost ready to return to steam after an absence of nearly 65 years. The loco was originally built by Baldwin as a coal burner for Little River Railroad in Tennessee, but was not accepted as the loco was too large for the lightly built line. It…

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NINETY of the new Siemens ‘Charger’ diesel locos have now been ordered for use operating regional Amtrak, commuter rail or intercity services by companies across the USA. The ‘Charger’ is a diesel electric design which uses a Cummins 16-cylinder QSK95 high-speed diesel engine, producing either 4,000HP (the SCB-40 model bought by Florida intercity operator Brightline)…

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PLANS to transfer the railway line along the Pacific coast of western Oregon to a new Intergovernmental Agency has put the future of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in doubt. The proposed project would see the construction of a cycle and hiking trail on parts of the old railway between Tillamook and the Salmonberry Canyon.…

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A FORMER Belgian Railways diesel railcar has been restored to working order condition at Stoomcentrum Maldegem . The vehicle – number 553.12 – was built in 1941 during the Second World War by Germain of Monceau, and is equipped with an engine and mechanical transmission (crash gearbox/clutch) made by Belgian bus and truck manufacturer Brossel.…

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OPEN access freight operation has started in Greece after the launch of services by logistics firm Goldair Cargo, working with Austrian Railways (ÖBB) subsidiary Rail Cargo Group. The new operator currently has two locos, both formerly with Greek national operator OSE, which now carry a version of ÖBB’s red Rail Cargo livery. From July, the…

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LOCOS built or designed by ALCO, several more than 60 years old, remain in service with multiple freight and some heritage operators in Australia. More than 400 locos built to American Locomotive Company (or ALCO) designs were constructed under licence by Australian firm A E Goodwin between mid-1955 and 1972 before Goodwin became insolvent, and…

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FORMER Danish Railways (DSB) ‘NoHAB’ diesel MY 1125 is now in use with private operator Kárpát Vasút in Hungary, numbered as 459 021. The same operator has a second ex-Danish MY loco – No. 459 022 (ex-MY 1156). The Danish MY design was based on the classic EMD ‘F’ unit and used the EMD567 engine. Fifty-nine…

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TEN of the coaches originally built for a planned express service in post-war USA have been moved for secure storage prior to potential restoration in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. The coaches were never used as intended in the USA and had been in service in Argentina from 1951 to 2015 when they were replaced…

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THE Rother Valley Railway has been created to reconnect the Kent & East Sussex Railway (KESR), currently running to Bodiam, with the main line at Robertsbridge, on the Tonbridge to Hastings Line, a distance of two miles. A new station and platform and other facilities with extensive trackwork have been installed alongside the main line…

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