OTTAWA, Ontario — A move by Canada’s labor minister is likely to delay the start of a possible strike by operating crews against Canadian National and Canadian Pacific. Labor minister Seamus O’Regan Jr. announced Thursday on social media site X that he had asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to “look into maintenance of activities […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
STB’s Oberman retires
WASHINGTON — Martin J. Oberman retired from the Surface Transportation Board today (May 10), concluding more than five years on the board, three of those as chairman. President Joe Biden intends to designate current board member Robert Primus as the new STB chairman, the board said in a press release saluting Oberman’s service. The 79-year-old […]
Five mind-blowing facts — Golden Spike Ceremony
On May 10, 1869, the first Transcontinental Railroad was completed during the Golden Spike Ceremony. Yes, every rail enthusiast and elementary school student has this date ingrained in their mind. The rail enthusiast probably remembers the date better than the elementary school student, but nonetheless, it is a significant date in U.S. history. However, for […]
Santa Fe No. 2926 celebrates its ‘Escape The Gate’ Anniversary
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — On May 6, 2023, Santa Fe No. 2926 made the first movement under steam since restoration from its current site with a 1-mile round trip to Tractor Brewing Wells Park [See “News photos: Santa Fe 2926 takes a short trip,” Trains News Wire, May 8, 2023]. Celebrating the anniversary of that event […]
News photos: The Empress needs a raincoat
Canadian Pacific Railway Class H1-b Hudson No. 2816 continued its Final Spike Steam tour on Thursday, May 9, operating over former Milwaukee Road trackage into Iowa following a display day in Franklin Park, Ill., on Wednesday. The 4-6-4 and the CPKC executive train rolled west across the former Milwaukee Road D&I (Dubuque and Illinois) Division […]
Colorado governor signs bill requiring wayside detectors, creating rail safety office (updated)
PUEBLO, Colo. — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday signed into law a rail bill including a requirement for wayside detectors and creating a new Office of Rail Safety to consider and enforce further regulations. Polis signed the bill in a ceremony at the Pueblo Union Depot. Pueblo was chosen as the site as the […]
TSB of Canada issues report on signal overrun incident, cites importance of supervision of new employees
DORVAL, Quebec — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada on Thursday released an investigation report into a February 2023 incident on the Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway that the agency says highlights the importance of proper supervision for newly qualified employees. The Feb. 22 incident occurred about 9:33 p.m. at Mai Station, Quebec, and […]
Canadian National to move headquarters to new location in Montreal
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway will relocate its headquarters to a new location in Montreal beginning in 2028, the company and real estate developer Kevric announced Thursday. CN will move to Kevric’s 600 DLG project, located at 600 De La Gauchetière Street West in downtown Montreal, and will cover the first 18 floors of the […]
G&W celebrates namesake short line’s 125th anniversary with pair of heritage locomotives
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Short line holding company Genesee & Wyoming Industries today celebrated the 125th anniversary of its namesake original short line — the 14-mile salt-hauler Genesee & Wyoming Railroad — with an excursion and the unveiling of two heritage locomotives. The gleaming units, C44-9 No. 1899 and GP38-2 No. 125, sport that same orange […]
Adirondack to be cancelled in northern New York State, Canada for more than a month: News and analysis
ALBANY, N.Y. — Amtrak’s Adirondack will be cancelled north of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. between May 20 and June 29, passengers already ticketed on the New York City-Montreal train were informed this week. Anyone trying to book a reservation for those dates on Amtrak’s website receives the message, “We do not have any services between the […]
BNSF bridge at Fort Madison, Iowa, reopens after barge strike
FORT MADISON, Iowa — BNSF Railway’s bridge across the Mississippi River between Fort Madison and Niota, Ill., was briefly closed today after having been struck by a barge, but has been reopened, according to authorities. The Hancock County (Ill.) Sheriff’s Office reported the closure at about 1:40 p.m.; police in Fort Madison posted on Facebook […]
Union Pacific releases schedule for Big Boy ‘Westward Bound Tour’
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific has released the schedule for Big Boy No. 4014’s “Westward Bound Tour” to Roseville, Calif., and back, which begins June 30, and concludes July 26, and will include one excursion — July 14 from Roseville to Sparks, Nev. The locomotive will be on display for two days in Roseville (July […]