Freight Rail

Union Pacific Releases Trump Locomotive

On June 2nd, the Union Pacific Railroad introduced GE ET44AC (A C45ACCTE in UP parlance) #4547, honoring President Donald J. Trump and commemorating America’s 250th Birthday. The locomotive is dressed in white, red, deep blue, and gold, in an arrangement reminiscent of the new Air Force One scheme. It’s first

Freight Rail Traffic Rises

In it’s Week 21 report on freight rail traffic, the Association of American Railroads reported that U.S. rail carrier carloads edged up by 4%, while intermodal units (containers and trailers) jumped by 10%, over 2025 levels. Notably, grain traffic increased by 33.8%, while coal declined 9%. Both Mexico and Canada

Passenger Rail

Big Changes in City of Big Shoulders

June 1st saw the beginning of the end of the Regional Transportation Authority, long the umbrella entity for Chicago’s Metra commuter rail, the Chicago Transit Authority–which provides subway and bus service, as well as suburban bus operator, Pace. The RTA is being replaced by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, which

Alstom Expands in Mid-Atlantic

Alstom, operator of MARC’s commuter rail services in Maryland and the District of Columbia and manufacturer of Amtrak’s Acela II trains, has acquired property near Newark, DE as part of its agreement to provide maintenance services to the Avelia Liberty-based trains. The new facility will have two indoor tracks to

Subway & Transit

SEPTA Concourse Reopens in Philly

The South Broad Street Concourse, connecting the 15th Street/City Hall and Walnut-Locust stations has reopened after initially being closed

Rail Industry Insights

Happy 50th Birthday Conrail!

April 1, 2026 was Conrail’s 50th Birthday. Few railroads have been as consequential as the eastern railroad giant that was known for blue locomotives, fast intermodal trains, a unique “can-do” attitude, and a battle for control that led to its second act: a multi-city terminal railroad supporting southern rail giants

The Railroaders

Surf Board Adds New Member

Progressive Railroading reports that Richard Kloster, longtime president of Integrity Rail Partners, was sworn in as a Democrat member of the Surface Transportation Board on June 5th. Kloster served as a Board Member of both the Railway Supply Institute and the National Industrial Transportation League (“NIT League”) that rose to

Trackside News

Follow the Big Boy…Live!!

As we speak, Union Pacific #4014–the only operating Big Boy–is traveling over Norfolk Southern’s former Nickel Plate Road main line, headed eastbound. The NKP was very well-known for its fleet of fast Berkshires and Hudsons, but the Big Boy will be the most-watched of the steamers to hit the carrier’s

Railroadiana & Collectibles

2026 Train Show Tour: Richmond, VA!

All Things Trains is in Richmond, VA for the weekend of January 17-18 at the Greenberg’s Train & Toy Show at the Richmond Raceway. Check out our neat selection of vintage HO scale Tenshodo brass locomotives and passenger cars, public timetables from railroads such as Southern Pacific, Wabash, Norfolk &

Model Railroading

TN Train Show Celebrates Milestone

72 vendors, 15,000 square feet of trains, and thousands of visitors from Tennessee’s Tri-Cities Area. What are we talking about? The Big Train Show, of course! May 29th and 30th saw the show celebrate its 10th anniversary, taking place at the East Tennessee State University Ballad Health Athletic Center. Joy

Rail Photo Gallery