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Here is your one-stop shop for learning about all of the newest additions or changes happening at American-Rails.com. Listed below is every page that is either new or which was updated within the last few days. Simply click on the link "Continue Reading..." under each heading to visit the page in question. With new articles added on a regular basis be sure and either check back here often or subscribe to the website's RSS feed to keep up with the latest.

Jan 18, 2025

The Raleigh-to-Richmond 'S' Line: Rebuilding A Vital Corridor

The 'S' Line project intends to reconnect Raleigh to Richmond by rail via the Seaboard Air Line's former main line abandoned under CSX during the 1980s.

Continue reading "The Raleigh-to-Richmond 'S' Line: Rebuilding A Vital Corridor"

Jan 17, 2025

Fernwood, Columbia & Gulf Railroad: "The Pine Leaf Route"

A division of the Fernwood Lumber Company, the Fernwood, Columbia & Gulf Railroad was formed in 1920 to handle lumber traffic. It was acquired by the ICG in 1972 and later abandoned.

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Jan 17, 2025

The "NW3": Intended For Terminal Assignments

The NW3 was an early experimental road-switcher design marketed by Electro-Motive to offer a steam-generator equipped light-road switcher for passenger terminal assignments. Ultimately, just 7 were produced.

Continue reading "The "NW3": Intended For Terminal Assignments"

Jan 17, 2025

Great Lakes Central Railroad: Preserving Service In Michigan

The Great Lakes Central Railroad has been in operation since 2006 and currently operates roughly 420 miles of trackage throughout central and northern Michigan.

Continue reading "Great Lakes Central Railroad: Preserving Service In Michigan"

Jan 17, 2025

Juniata Valley Railroad: Operating The ex-PRR

The Juniata Valley Railroad is a North Shore Railroad subsidiary, maintaining segments of the former PRR near Lewistown, Pennsylvania.

Continue reading "Juniata Valley Railroad: Operating The ex-PRR"

Jan 17, 2025

Burlington Junction Railway: Serving The Heartland

The Burlington Junction is a Midwestern switching and transloading short line with several locations throughout the Midwest. It has been in operation since 1985.

Continue reading "Burlington Junction Railway: Serving The Heartland"

Jan 17, 2025

Canton Railroad: Serving The Port of Baltimore

The Canton Railroad is a historic industrial road serving the Port of Baltimore. Chartered in 1906 it remains in operation to this day.

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Jan 16, 2025

Front Range Passenger Rail: Fort Collins-Pueblo, CO

Front Range Passenger Rail is a proposed project to link Fort Collins to Pueblo, Colorado by rail via Denver and Boulder. It hopes to be operational by the early 2030s.

Continue reading "Front Range Passenger Rail: Fort Collins-Pueblo, CO"

Jan 16, 2025

Indiana Northeastern Railroad: Operating The ex-NYC and Wabash

The Indiana Northeastern is a 130-mile short line that has been in service since 1992 operating components of the ex-NYC and Wabash in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

Continue reading "Indiana Northeastern Railroad: Operating The ex-NYC and Wabash"

Jan 16, 2025

Indiana Eastern Railroad: Operating The ex-C&O

The Indiana Eastern is a Respondek short line operating the ex-Chesapeake & Ohio's Chicago main line in western Ohio and eastern Indiana. It began service in 2005.

Continue reading "Indiana Eastern Railroad: Operating The ex-C&O"

Jan 15, 2025

Chicago Hub Network Connecting The Midwest Via HSR

The so-called Chicago Hub Network is a collection of high-speed rail corridors connecting the city with several other Midwestern markets.

Continue reading "Chicago Hub Network Connecting The Midwest Via HSR"

Jan 15, 2025

Brightline West: Connecting Las Vegas to SoCal

Brightline West is an ongoing endeavor - since 2005 - to link Las Vegas and Southern California via a high speed rail line covering 218 miles.

Continue reading "Brightline West: Connecting Las Vegas to SoCal"

Jan 14, 2025

Texas Central Railway: Bringing HSR To The Lonestar State

The Texas Central Railway is a proposed 240-mile high speed rail system intended to link Dallas and Houston. It plans to be operational by 2026.

Continue reading "Texas Central Railway: Bringing HSR To The Lonestar State"

Jan 14, 2025

Baltimore–Washington Superconducting Maglev: A New Era Of Travel

The Baltimore–Washington Superconducting Maglev (SCMAGLEV) is an HSR project to connect both cities via a maglev system operating at speeds up to 311 mph.

Continue reading "Baltimore–Washington Superconducting Maglev: A New Era Of Travel"

Jan 14, 2025

Cascadia High-Speed Rail Corridor: Connecting the PNW

The Cascadia Rail system is an HSR project aiming to link Seattle with Vancouver via trains operating up to 220 mph.

Continue reading "Cascadia High-Speed Rail Corridor: Connecting the PNW"

Jan 14, 2025

Portland and Western Railroad: Operating The Ex-SP

The Portland and Western Railroad is a large, 500+ mile regional operating ex-Southern Pacific trackage in Oregon. It has been in operation since 1995.

Continue reading "Portland and Western Railroad: Operating The Ex-SP"

Jan 13, 2025

North Carolina's High-Speed Rail: The Southeast Corridor

The "Southeast Corridor" is North Carolina's high-speed rail project that hopes to link Charlotte to Washington, D.C. via Raleigh and Richmond.

Continue reading "North Carolina's High-Speed Rail: The Southeast Corridor"

Jan 12, 2025

Challenges Facing Railroads In The Modern Era

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Jan 12, 2025

Keokuk Junction Railway: Serving Illinois Since 1980

The Keokuk Junction has been in service since it acquired nearly 5 miles of ex-Rock Island trackage in 1980. Today, it operates 126 miles of track.

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Jan 11, 2025

Railroad Safety: Regulations and Technological Advancements

This article explores the subject of railroad safety technology and regulations throughout the years.

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Jan 10, 2025

Conemaugh and Black Lick Railroad: Serving Johnstown Since 1923

The Conemaugh and Black Lick Railroad is a former Bethlehem Steel property that has served Johnstown, PA since 1923.

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Jan 10, 2025

The Everett Railroad: Operating The Former PRR and H&BTM

The Everett Railroad is a long-running short line utilizing the former Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Railroad and PRR in Pennsylvania.

Continue reading "The Everett Railroad: Operating The Former PRR and H&BTM"

Jan 09, 2025

Railroad Preservation: Maintaining The Past

Modern railroad preservation efforts began around the end of the steam era and a great deal of equipment from the early 20th century is now on display at various museums and groups around the country.

Continue reading "Railroad Preservation: Maintaining The Past"

Jan 09, 2025

The Role of Railroads in Sustainable Transportation

Railroads have long been known as the most efficient means of transportation on land, carrying an average of one ton of freight 500 miles on a single gallon of fuel.

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Jan 08, 2025

Exploring the World of Railroadiana, Collectibles and Memorabilia

This articles explores the world of railroadiana, a term describing historic, and typically valuable, classic railroad items.

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Jan 08, 2025

Iconic Train Journeys: Traveling Through Time and Scenery

Featured here is a brief listing of well-known Amtrak routes across the United States which offer guests incredible scenery.

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Jan 07, 2025

California High-Speed Rail: A Vision For The Future

The California High-Speed Rail project is an ongoing, nearly 800-mile project to connect L.A. with Sacramento/San Francisco with true, high-speed service.

Continue reading "California High-Speed Rail: A Vision For The Future"

Jan 07, 2025

Modern High-Speed Rail: The Future Of U.S. Rail Travel

While there have been many high speed rail systems developed around the world, the U.S. has no such system in place. Hopefully one day that will change.

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Jan 06, 2025

"GP39" and "GP39-2": EMD's Mid-Powered 645 Model

The GP39 and GP39-2 series were mid-powered, four-axle models EMD offered in the 645 line. They proved unsuccessful although Santa Fe wound up with 106 units.

Continue reading ""GP39" and "GP39-2": EMD's Mid-Powered 645 Model"

Dec 16, 2024

The Fred Harvey Company: An Acclaimed Enterprise in Travel and Dining

The legendary Fred Harvey Houses were a staple service along the Santa Fe's main line for many years and their impact still remains today.

Continue reading "The Fred Harvey Company: An Acclaimed Enterprise in Travel and Dining"

Dec 15, 2024

Kansas City Terminal Railway: Serving Union Station

The Kansas City Terminal Railway was formed by a consortium in 1906 to handle switching at Union Station. Today, it operates a terminal freight line.

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Dec 12, 2024

The "Flexi-Van": NYC's Revolutionary TOFC Service

The so-called "Flexi-Van" was New York Central's trademark service. While far ahead of its time the railroad failed to lure the industry as a whole. It had died out by the Penn Central era.

Continue reading "The "Flexi-Van": NYC's Revolutionary TOFC Service"

Dec 09, 2024

Chessie System (Railroad): The WM, B&O, and C&O

The Chessie System was a holding company created in 1973 composed of the B&O, C&O, and Western Maryland.

Continue reading "Chessie System (Railroad): The WM, B&O, and C&O"

Dec 09, 2024

The "Desert Wind" (1979-1997)

The Desert Wind is a former Amtrak service connecting Chicago and Los Angeles. Formerly known as the Los Vegas Limited, it ran from 1979-1997

Continue reading "The "Desert Wind" (1979-1997)"

Dec 06, 2024

The "San Francisco Zephyr" (1972-1983)

The "San Francisco Zephyr" was Amtrak's "California Zephyr" precursor, operating from 1972-1983 between Chicago and Oakland.

Continue reading "The "San Francisco Zephyr" (1972-1983)"