Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western SD60F No. 5544 leads a train at Falkirk, N.D., on Jan. 4. Erich Linser BISMARCK N.D. — Two Midwest railroads have acquired a handful of retired cowl locomotives from Canadian National. Following CNs decision to retire its fleet of 60 EMD SD60F locomotives in 2017, the 5500 series locomotives were […]
Section: News Wire
SEPTA officials looking to return regional train service to West Chester NEWSWIRE
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — It’s been almost 32 years since the last SEPTA commuter train left West Chester, west of Philadelphia. Officials with the regional commuter agency say they’re considering restoration of service to the Chester County seat. A regional planning organization working with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Transportation Authority estimates up to 2,000 people […]
‘Trains,’ Luckin to partner on Transcontinental Railroad video NEWSWIRE
WAUKESHA, Wis. — Trains Magazine of Waukesha, and Luckin Productions of Golden, Colo., have reached an agreement to produce a documentary for retail as well as public television called “Journey to Promontory, the story of the Transcontinental Railroad” and set for delivery in the fall of 2018 on the eve of the 150th anniversary in […]
‘There is no turning back’ NEWSWIRE
CSX CEO James M. Foote CSX Corp. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jim Foote-era at CSX Transportation began with a rumble that emphatically signaled his commitment to following through on what the late CEO E. Hunter Harrison began. In a symbolic move, Foote’s first decision after being named chief executive in December was ordering the hump […]
Florida East Coast’s new CEO has long industry career NEWSWIRE
Florida East Coast CEO Nate Asplund Florida East Coast Railway ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Florida East Coast Railway’s new CEO is a railroad and transportation industry veteran. CEO Nate Asplund took over Jan. 1 from former chief Jim Hertwig, who retired as of Dec. 31, 2017. Before joining FEC, Asplund served as president and CEO […]
With changes at railroad, CSX capital plans remain unsettled NEWSWIRE
CSX Transportation’s Tod Echler, assistant vice president, engineering, speaks at Saturday’s session of the NRC conference in Los Angeles. TRAINS: David Lassen LOS ANGELES — It has been a year of change at CSX Transportation, with the arrival of CEO Hunter Harrison in March, his death in December, and the selection of James M. Foote […]
Catherine Taylor, longtime CSRM leader, dies NEWSWIRE
Catherine Taylor Bullock Museum AUSTIN, Texas — Catherine Taylor, director of the Bullock Texas State History Museum and a longtime leader at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, has died after a brief illness. A native of Texas, Taylor lived in California for most of her life. She earned a BA in history at […]
CN to boost capital spending, add capacity NEWSWIRE
Jim McLeod, Canadian National’s chief engineer, structures, design & construction, speaks at the NRC conference in Los Angeles on Friday. TRAINS: David Lassen LOS ANGELES — When it comes to capital spending, Canadian National has left behind “steady as we go” and is moving into a cycle of “the gangbuster variety.” That’s the assessment of […]
Norfolk Southern to serve new joint Toyota and Mazda assembly plant in Alabama NEWSWIRE
Huntsville, Ala. Google Maps NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern, already the largest rail shipper of auto products in North America, will add another assembly plant to its network when a new Toyota and Mazda factory opens in Alabama in 2021. The plant will be built in Huntsville, Ala., Toyota and Mazda officials announced on Jan. […]
Drama aside, ‘The Commuter’ offers up accurate railroading — mostly NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK CITY — The best ticket to cure cabin fever could be a train ride from a nearby station or it may be the rated PG-13 movie “The Commuter.” The Commuter stars Liam Neeson as — a rail commuter — ostensibly on NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Hudson Line, with a few outside scenes to […]
Tracks used by Catskill Mountain Railroad to be removed NEWSWIRE
Tourist railroad lines threatened by conversion to rail-trails, as of July 2016. TRAINS Illustration: Rick Johnson KINGSTON, N.Y. — A contractor has begun removing track along the Ashokan Reservoir, effectively ending a years-long effort by a tourist railroad to access the scenic area. A recreational trail will replace the track. In November, the Ulster County […]
UP: Capital spending to be flat in 2018 NEWSWIRE
Kevin Hicks, Union Pacific’s associate vice president, engineering-design, reviews 2017 and announces UP’s capital spending plans for 2018 at the NRC conference in Los Angeles. TRAINS: David Lassen LOS ANGELES — A Union Pacific leader says the railroad will likely keep its capital spending right around $3 billion this year — the same as for […]