Historic diesel locomotives saved by the 2020s may be an odd lot of famous and barely memorable, but these units deserve our respect and attention just as much as the first batch. All of these, even the ones that proved to be technological dead ends, contributed in one way or another to the advancement and […]
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PHOENIX — Extreme weather and natural disasters took a broad toll on railroads in 2021, and BNSF Railway was certainly not exempt. “All of us in the industry,” said Craig Rasmussen, BNSF’s assistant vice president, engineering services and structures, “have realized that Mother Nature is not a nice lady. Sometimes she is really tough to […]
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Norfolk & Western Railway history has two distinct phases. Before 1964, it was a coal hauler controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It even looked like the Pennsy in places: Tuscan Red coaches, position-light signals, and a short electrified district — but no Belpaire fireboxes. In 1964, possibly as a reaction to the proposed merger of […]
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WASHINGTON — The infrastructure bill signed into law in November opens the door for the possibility of more rail funding than Amtrak and states sponsoring intercity passenger service have ever received at one time. The challenge now will be to get money out that door and spend it wisely. How much funding? More than $66 […]
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ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has introduced an incentive program to improve container movement in and out of international intermodal facilities in Chicago and Kansas City, Mo. The “Dual Mission Reward Program” offers truck carriers and steamship lines a $200 incentive every time a drayage driver both delivers and departs with a shipping container, completing what […]
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Here’s our 2022 steam locomotive list. As 2021 may be the best so far in the 21st century to be a steam locomotive enthusiast, 2022 is looking good too! A Big Boy is running on Union Pacific’s main lines, the last Baldwin steam locomotive built is flexing its articulated muscles on a mountain railroad, and […]
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Amtrak trains during the holidays in 2021 are facing ridership demand last seen in 2019 before COVID-19 and a dip in 2020. While autos jam highways where public transportation options are scarce, and airlines offer sufficient capacity to accommodate longer trips, Amtrak in the past has risen to the occasion by offering extra trains and […]
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FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has become the third Class I railroad to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for workers, citing the Biden Administration’s executive order requiring vaccinations for federal contractors. “While we maintain the decision to be vaccinated for COVID-19 is a personal one — and have encouraged employees to make the decision that is […]
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Milwaukee Road history Milwaukee Road history begins with the Milwaukee & Waukesha Rail Road, which was chartered in 1847. Even before it laid its first rails in 1850, its name was changed to the Milwaukee & Mississippi. In 1851 it reached Waukesha, Wis., 20 miles west of Milwaukee. Its rails reached Madison in 1854 and […]
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Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of October 14, 2021. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. CSX […]
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Consumers want to purchase new vehicles, and railroads are eager to transport them, but a persistent microchip shortage riddled with pandemic-related setbacks is likely to mean fewer auto sales and subsequently, fewer autorack loads from U.S. auto plants for the balance of 2021. Year-to-date, U.S. railroads have transported more than 490,870 carloads […]
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Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of October 7, 2021. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP7 diesel locomotive. Great […]
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