TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tuscaloosa has abandoned efforts to place a new Amtrak station in the city’s Alberta area, citing a breakdown in negotiations with Norfolk Southern over the railroad’s safety concerns. “In the final analysis, Norfolk Southern had concerns regarding sight distance at that site,” Mayor Walt Maddox told the Tuscaloosa News. “This made the […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Two honored for safety achievements at short line meeting NEWSWIRE
Cleo Johnson, Jr., Maintenance-of-Way Foreman, Mississippi Export Railroad, was honored as Safety Person of the Year. ASLRRA The short line association’s Safety Professional of the Year was awarded to David Nagy, Executive Director of Safety, Springfield Terminal, part of Pan Am Railways. ASLRRA ORLANDO, Fla. – The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has […]
With funding loss imminent, Amtrak ends ticket sales for ‘Hoosier State’ NEWSWIRE
CHICAGO — Amtrak has announced it will no longer sell tickets for the Hoosier State after June 30 as the train nears cancellation as a result of loss of funding from the state of Indiana. The state currently provides $3 million in funding for the four-day-a-week train, while five local governments provide another $500,000. But […]
Ask Trains: How do train crews earn their pay?
A Union Pacific local train passes through suburban areas near Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., in October 2017. TRAINS: Steve Sweeney Question: How do trains crews earn their money? — Lee Martens, Rifle, Colo. Answer: In short, it is complicated. There are differences between how most Class I railroaders are paid and their short line colleagues — […]
Ask Trains: Will Precision Scheduled Railroading affect Amtrak timekeeping?
Siemens Charger SC-44 No. 4632 leads Amtrak train 391, the southbound Saluki from Chicago to Carbondale, Ill., on the Canadian National Centrailia Subdivision, after passing the coaling towers that were built for the then Illinois Central Railroad in 1949. 18302-27 Jim Pearson Question: What effect, if any, will the implementation of Precision Scheduled Railroading by […]
No. 119, meet SD70ACe
What could be: See how Trains Art Director Tom Danneman added — layer by layer — the various color, striping, and artwork to his photo of a Montana Rail Link SD70ACe, creating a commemorative paint scheme for Union Pacific’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad. The imaginary paint scheme pays tribute to […]
Alaska Railroad’s traffic mix makes up for drop in revenue from less traffic NEWSWIRE
SEATTLE — The Alaska Railroad carried a third less freight by weight in 2018 compared with 2017 totals, but a change in the mix of freight coupled with gains on the passenger side helped dampen the drop in revenue and net income. The Anchorage, Alaska-based state-owned railroad reported operating revenue of $163.4 million in 2018, […]
BLET President decries railroads’ use of Precision Scheduled Railroading in message to labor union members NEWSWIRE
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The president of one of the largest railroad labor organizations in the country has condemned Class I railroads’ move to Precision Scheduled Railroading, writing that it is putting safety at risk and comparing it to the disastrous Penn Central merger a half-century ago. Dennis R. Pierce, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive […]
Canadian development company renews push for rail line linking Alaska to the lower 48 states
SEATTLE — Linking Alaska to the 48 contiguous U.S. is an idea that is resurfacing again with heavier Canadian support. Canadian businessman Sean McCoshen told a recent meeting of the Alaska State Senate Transportation Committee that the company he co-founded and runs, Alberta-Alaska Railway Development Corp., has been working with consultants, the Alaska Railroad, Canadian […]
Great Northern’s first SD45 set to return NEWSWIRE
Great Northern Historical Society’s SD45 No. 400 got a new engine at the BNSF shop in Minneapolis. Steve Glischinski MINNEAPOLIS – Great Northern Railway Historical Society’s GN SD45 No. 400, “Hustle Muscle” is returning to service after two years. The locomotive was the first EMD production model SD45. In spring 2017, while being operated on […]
‘Long-term deterioration’ likely cause of Toledo bridge collapse
“Long-term deterioration” is believed to be the cause of this bridge collapse onto Norfolk Southern tracks last week in Toledo, Ohio. Michael D. Harding TOLEDO, Ohio — Officials believe long-term deterioration was the cause of last week’s bridge collapse that blocked Norfolk Southern’s main line through Toledo for more than six hours. The Toledo Blade […]
New York short line completes rare mileage events NEWSWIRE
An Arcade & Attica Railroad rare-mileage special paused at North Jana, N.Y., on March 30. Pat Connors Jr. ARCADE, N.Y. — New York’s Arcade & Attica ran its final excursion of two for the New York Maple festival to North Java on March 30. The special trips marked the return of passenger trains to this […]
