Brightline, a somewhat new American high-speed rail system, has been in the news quite a bit recently due to accidents at grade crossings. Brightline has taken into account the many injuries and fatalities and they are working on improving safety at the crossings. There are several ways these accidents happen; here are a few of them:

• not paying attention to flashing lights, bells, and train horns.

• driving around the crossing gates.

• seeing the warning signs, but crossing the tracks anyways.

• car or truck getting stuck on the tracks.

These accidents can be prevented if everyone payed attention to the warnings. Brightline has stated that they will be improving the safety precautions at grade crossings. These precautions include:

• adding crossing gates to sidewalks that cross the tracks.

• adding another set of crossbucks, crossing gates, and lights to grade crossings that don't already block both sides of the road.

• continuing promotion of Operation Lifesaver.

Brightline is taking those steps to ensure safety, but you can take some precautions, too. Here's what you can do and look out for when you are around railroad/grade crossings:

• "LOOK:

  • cross only where you can see a designated crossings.

  • always look both directions before crossing the railroad tracks."

  • find the blue sign on the crossing for emergency services and railroad contact info.

• "LISTEN:

  • trains are quiet, so be alert.

  • don't wear headphones or earbuds around the tracks.

  • there might not always be a train horn at every crossing.

• LIVE:

  • never cross the track when you see a moving train.

  • never trespass on train tracks - it's against the law.

  • never try to chase or outrun a train.

  • never walk or bike along train tracks."

For more from Brightline safety use this link: https://www.gobrightline.com/railroad-construction/safety-fact-sheet

Well-known for the second largest operating steam locomotive in the world, Western Maryland #1309, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) has acquired the Georges Creek Division. On January 15th, 2024, an announcement was released on the WMSR's website documenting the acquisition of the Georges Creek Railway.

The WMSR secured a long-term lease for the Georges Creek Railway in southwestern Allegany County. The acquisition, made possible through a lease agreement with Eighteen Thirty Group, LLC, will result in the rebranding of the line as the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, Georges Creek Division.

Building on the success of doubling visitor numbers on its existing line between Cumberland and Frostburg, WMSR's new Georges Creek Division aims to explore various revenue streams, including passengers and potential freight. The division will operate independently, drawing inspiration from successful short-line railroads like the Tennessee Valley, Everett, and Naugatuck Railroads.

Wesley Heinz, WMSR's Executive Director, sees this move as the result of over two years of discussions with Eighteen Thirty Group. The Georges Creek Division opens opportunities for limited freight services, fulfilling requests from CSX and other vendors. Heinz envisions economic development in the Georges Creek valley through tourism and rail services.

Known for its community-oriented approach, WMSR operates on Allegany County-owned tracks, offering various excursions and events. With "over 47,000 passengers in 2021" and nearly "75,000 visitors" in 2023, the nonprofit seeks innovative solutions to enhance rail experiences.

Heinz emphasizes that the Georges Creek Division initiative allows WMSR to shape its future, capitalizing on the charm of small towns along Georges Creek for new visitor experiences and fostering local economic growth.

The Georges Creek Railway, purchased in 2006 by Eighteen Thirty Group, LLC and Georges Creek, LLC, went dormant in 2019. WMSR plans include addressing overgrowth, ensuring safety measures, and collaborating with community leaders. Interest in developing bike trails alongside the railroad aims to replicate the success of the Great Allegheny Passage.

The partnership reflects a shared passion for history, positioning WMSR as a key economic driver in Western Maryland's communities along the Georges Creek railway. As WMSR embarks on this venture, it aims to revitalize the rail line, one railroad tie at a time.

Canadian Pacific is no longer the only railroad with a train with railcars covered in Holiday Lights! CSX joined the roster of Holiday lights trains! The CSX Holiday Express was first seen with the B&O passenger consist late last week. The B&O passenger consist was recently traveling with the CSX Santa Train; since then it is now making its rounds with the CSX Holiday Express on CSX's main lines. The cars are decorated differently than Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train. 

As seen in the article's picture, CSX has four boxcars decorated in festive holiday lights. The fist boxcar is covered with the CSX logo, some trees, snowflakes, and Christmas balls. The second boxcar is decorated with the word "Holiday", bells, and presents. The third boxcar is decorated with the word "Express", candy canes, and more presents. The last boxcar is decorated with the American Flag, stars, the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and toy soldiers.

This seems to possibly become a new holiday tradition for CSX. We hope they bring it back next year for another amazing show!

The Indiana Rail Road (INRD) has begun the process of phasing out one of their most iconic locomotives, the SD9043MACs. Earlier this year, the company's lease on the locomotives ended; however, the Indiana Rail Road started to have trouble finding replacement units for the locomotives. INRD initially sourced several CSX C40-8Ws in late 2022 to help work on the railroad; however, more power was still needed. INRD extended the lease on the SD9043MACs until they could find more motive power. The railroad eventually found some former Norfolk Southern SD70Ms; which the company is currently repainting and renumbering with some already operating on the rails. As of late spring and early summer, only two of the SD9043MACs have been removed from service and more are expected to be gone by the new year.

There are not many SD9043MACs left in the United States. Multiple companies did buy some of the 4,300-hp EMD SD9043MACs. The locomotives were introduce in 1995 and were designed to be able to hold a 6,000-hp engine that EMD was working on at the time. 410 total locomotives were purchased by three companies; those companies were CIT leasing (40 units), Canadian Pacific (61 units), and Union Pacific (309 units). In 2008, the Indiana Rail Road purchased a lease on 10 former CEFX SD9043MACs that would replace some of their older INRD SD60s. After 15 years of service, the backbone of INRD's operations is being phased out of service. The locomotives were amazing and power beasts, but their time has come. Indiana Rail Road's iconic SD9043MACs may not see southeastern Indiana and eastern Illinois too much longer, let alone into 2024.

Thank you for your service INRD SD9043MACs.

Just after ONE full year of SIDETRACK PRODUCTIONS existence, the group has hit over 50,000 views on YouTube. We are super excited to see so many people enjoy our rail related programs. We would like to say THANK YOU to all of you who have watched our programs. We are ready for another 50K and more views on our programs looking into the future. Our next big project revolves around Kirkwood Train Station in Kirkwood, Missouri and we hope you will like it!

The Colebrookedale Railroad of Pennsylvania has acquired Canadian National #5288, a 4-6-2. The tourist railroad hopes to restore this locomotive and two others for operations on their railroad. The other steam locomotives the Colebrookedale Railroad has on their roster is Superior & Ishpeming #18, a 2-8-0, and sister locomotive, to 5288, Grand Trunk Western #5030, also a 4-6-2. 5288 is supposed to be moved from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum to the Colebrookedale Railroad within the next couple of days.

In 1919, 5288 was built for the Grand Trunk. The locomotive was later transferred to the Canadian National. F. Nelson Blount purchased 5288 for the Steamtown collection in the early 1960s. The TVRM acquired the locomotive after it was sold to them in 2001. 5288 has been located on the TVRM's grounds for the last two decades sitting just outside of the Grand Junction Station. Once the TVRM decided to sell 5288, the Colebrookedale Railroad purchased it and will be relocating it to their Boyertown Depot until restoration can begin.

For More Information and Updates visit the Colebrookedale Railroad at:

www.colebrookdalerailroad.com

All or most kids can remember growing up with the show Thomas & Friends or just having some type of train thing around their house. For me, I had both. I loved playing with and watching trains. One of my first real train movies was called Challenger 3985 by Railway Productions. I loved that movie so much that the DVD has almost burned out; however, this article is not about my childhood of watching and playing with trains.

Before 2013, my grandparents and my family would go to Knightstown, Indiana. In Knightstown, there was a short tourist railroad called the CKS Railroad. The Carthage, Knightstown, and Shirley Railroad to visitors on a short train ride through eastern Indiana between the namesake towns of Knightstown and Carthage. As a family we would typically go for the annual pumpkin train. CKS #468 (blue locomotive pictured above) pulled the trains normally during the time I went and CKS #215 sat in the Engine House at the Carthage end of the line. However, due to the track degrading and not meeting FRA standards the CKS Railroad shut it's doors in August of 2013.

In the fall of 2017, my grandparents took my brothers and I to the abandoned railroad to look around. I was so sad to see the blue locomotive I feel in love riding with sitting on a siding, rusting away, not to ever be used again. I began filming the equipment at the Knightstown end of the line and we later then proceed to go to the Carthage end. I filmed some more on that end of the line. However, in 2021, the CKS locomotives got another chance.

CKS #468 and #215 were bought by the Kokomo Grain Company. The two locomotives were moved to the Company's grounds in Kokomo. As of my knowledge, the 468 and 215 are under operation on the Kokomo Grain Companies short rail lines on their grounds.

When I look back to the CKS, I am glad I filmed in 2017. The CKS is one of the reasons I do SIDETRACK PRODUCTIONS today. I wanted to preserve the memory of this great small railroad. That statement is what I stand by when I make videos for SIDETRACK PRODUCTIONS. "Our purpose is to show people what it is like every day to be a railfan or to work on the railroad. We want people to understand that railroading is not just about moving freight or passenger cars; railroading is about the people and these powerful, majestic beasts of machinery.  We want to preserve the railroading of today and yesteryear. We want to show locomotives and railroading from the Age of Steam to the Rise of Diesels and beyond." Preservation is, "the act or process of keeping something in existence," and that is exactly what SIDETRACK PRODUCTIONS wants to achieve.

I have taken inspiration from Railway Productions, Delay In Block Productions, CoasterFan2105, and others for the rail content I make. The CKS Railroad impacted my childhood and proceed to change my video world for the better for the rest of life.

In Mid-2022, Canadian Pacific acquired the Kansas City Southern. CP seems to be proud of buying out KCS and enabling Canada, the United States, and Mexico with a single, continuous rail service between all three countries. CP expects to generate 1 billion dollars within the first three years of this deal. At least, 60,000 truckloads annually will be removed from the interstates. Kansas City Southern seems to be disappearing in the United States and Mexico. For the time being, CP and KCS are still operating separately until the final parts of the deal are completed. If you are a railfan and you haven't got the chance to see KCS, we here at SIDETRACK PRODUCTIONS recommend that you go and take a photo or video of this fading Class 1 railroad before it is consumed by CP.

Even though the name of the Kansas City Southern Lines will disappear; it will live on in the new name of the merger, Canadian Pacific Kansas City.

Christmas is only 24 days away and with New Year's right around the bend, RxR Dispatch takes a look at trains and this worldwide holiday.

Christmastime and trains have gone together for the longest time. You may have seen model trains in shop windows or may even have one running around your Christmas tree. You may have watched Christmas movies with trains or references to trains within them. However, the question almost always asked is, "Why trains?"

Trains, especially steam passenger trains, are related to Christmas because of their significance in bringing family members home for the holidays. Most journeys home included a nice leisurely train ride through the snow-filled wonderland and arriving at a train station where loved ones would be waiting with open arms. A reference to these passenger trains can be seen in the beloved holiday films of ELF and The Polar Express. In ELF, while Buddy is decorating the store he set up an Amtrak train that ran around a LEGO New York City display that is seen a little later in the movie. In The Polar Express, the entire premise of the movie is based around a steam passenger train that takes kids to the north pole to get into the spirit of Christmas.

Trains are not only the movies where we get the feel of the Christmas spirit, but we also get the feeling in the real world with special excursion trains that run this time of year. Museums, scenic railroads, and other rail-based organizations pull Christmas-based train rides during this time of year; most of these trains are called The Polar Express, based on the book and movie. However, the best excursion in my opinion is pulled by none other than Pere Marquette 1225, the locomotive The Polar Express is based on, and the Steam Railroading Institute that is rightfully named North Pole Express.

These passenger trains are one of the reasons that trains are so prevalent at Christmastime, but freight trains are also important to this theme of trains and Christmas. Trains were and still are the primary movers of Christmas presents across the country. Some major railroads across the United States and Canada have recognized this meaning of trains and Christmas. Three corporations that have recognized it are Canadian Pacific, CSX, and the Indiana Rail Road. Canadian Pacific hosts their own Holiday Train which is a locomotive and freight cars covered in Christmas lights. CSX hosts their own Santa Claus train that travels around the Eastern United States, allowing railfans and everyday people to see Santa, a special set of locomotives and rail cars.

Next time you see a train around a Christmas tree or in a shop window you'll know why there are trains at Christmastime.

Around four hours ago, at the time of writing this, Norfolk and Western #475 collided with a rail excavator. Multiple videos had been captured of the collision. The cause for the collision seems to have been that a siding switch was not moved back to its proper position. 475 was pulling a passenger train from Strasburg to Paradise, PA and was running around the train for the return trip. The locomotive passed over the incorrectly set switch; before the engineer had time to stop 475 the arm of the resting excavator went through the front of the locomotive's boiler. At this time there are no reports of injury, but there seems to be extensive damage to the front of the boiler. Hopefully, N&W #475 can be repaired quickly and be back to revenue service.

Watch the incident here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ5JwKY7ytg

UPDATE: N&W #475 has been taken back to the Strasburg Shops by New York Central #8618 and the shop crews have inspected the locomotive. According to Trains Magazine and reports from the Strasburg shop crew, 475 could be back up and running by next week. In the meantime, Canadian National #89 & Great Western #90 (only 75 days from 1,472-day certification before a federally mandated inspection is required) will be handling trains until 475 can be returned to service.

Modern-day steam is a spectacular sight, but there is a small number of these mainline steam stars! Union Pacific #4014 & #844, along with, Nickel Plate Road #765, and SOO Line #1003 are only a couple of the mainline steam stars that ran on the high iron this year. However, even though these are the ones that have run this year, there are multiple steam restorations on the horizon or are currently in process. Here are a few:

Chesapeake & Ohio #2716: The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation is hard at work on the Kanawha and are preparing the locomotive for the years & excursions to come. Completion of 2716's restoration is targeted for some time in 2024.

Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis #576: Nashville Steam is in the concluding steps of restoring 576 and are planning for the first steam up in 2023. Completion of 576's restoration will be in the fall of 2023.

Nickel Plate Road #587: Currently in storage at The Yard, Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation's property in Ravenna, KY. A private owner bought the 587 and plans to restore the locomotive and extremely possibly back to operating condition. 587's plan and restoration schedule has not been announced yet.

Pere Marquette #1225: While 1225 is not truly under complete restoration, the drivers and other wheels of the locomotive are being repaired. Once the wheels are placed back on, 1225 will be back doing its regular excursions. Completion of the restoration of the wheels for 1225's has not been announced yet.

Union Pacific #3985 & #5511: Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will be restoring 3985 and 5511 back to operation as their subsidiary has done with Milwaukee Road #261. 3985's and 5511's plan and schedule for restoration has not been announced yet.

There are more restorations around the country, but these are the ones SIDETRACK PRODUCTIONS is looking out for and hoping to see completed in the near future.

In 2024, Kirkwood Train Station will be getting a brand-new makeover. Kirkwood's beloved train station will be under construction until mid-2025. The station will be renovated to its former glory during the days of the Missouri Pacific. Kirkwood train station was built in 1893 and  has not been renovated since 1941. The renovated station will be a spectacular and welcoming place for railfans and passengers alike. The community is ready with open arms to the many tourists and passengers Amtrak's Missouri River Runner may bring.

The renovations will include the roof, window, doors, the main desk, heating and cooling system,  ADA-compliant restrooms, accessory storage building, and a covered exterior platform for train passengers. All these renovations and additions will accommodate the passengers for the River Runner and the railfans, such as myself, watching trains. I know that I among others will be visiting the renovated station when the time comes.