Page 83 - All Scale Rails Magazine Issue 19 March april 2018

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News

In mid-February, the Brookville Equipment Corporation delivered the first of seven Liberty
streetcars to Oklahoma City. These streetcars are part of a $33.7 million contract and includes
the design, engineering and manufacturing of the streetcars. It also includes spare parts, train-
ing of personnel, and service support of the units. The Liberty streetcars are slated to begin
operation later in 2018 and will operate on two routes in downtown Oklahoma City.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has begun ac-
cepting applications for $73 million in grant money for projects including positive train con-
trol implementation and improvements to grade crossings. The funding, which comes from
the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, was authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface
Transportation Act.

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A new rail terminal has been opened by Holdings LLC in Gibsland, Louisiana. This facility
features 24/7 hour service, capacity for 100 cars, and on-site storage for containerized sand
boxes with room for future storage capabilities.

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The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) will begin replacing
26 of its oldest light rail cars this spring. The Type 1 units have been in operation since the
MAX Blue Line began service in 1986. Once the Type 1 units have been phased out, the or-
ganization will begin the design phase for the replacement units, which will have updated me-
chanical and electrical systems, modern safety features and low floors to make boarding
quicker. These new units will be in production in 2020 and enter service in 2021. The Type 1
units will be completely retired by 2022.

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Two of the Louisville & Indiana Railroad’s diesel locomotives have a new logo design to hon-
or U.S. Military members and to spotlight the railroad’s efforts to recruit military veterans for
employment. The logo portrays the silhouettes of three soldiers, one each from WWI, WWII
and the Korean & Vietnam wars against the backdrop of an American Flag. Framed by the
LIRC keystone and including five stars representing the five branches of service, the logo is
the vision of Tyler Hardin, the designer. The locomotives are both SD40-2s and units #3001
& #3002.

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