Named Class I Railroads; Bill Stephens NEW YORK — Five of the big six Class I railroads reported traffic gains in the first half of the year amid a strong economy, tight truck supply, and soaring truck rates. BNSF Railway led the industry in growth through June 30, with traffic up 5 percent overall, according […]
Nickel Plate Road 587’s boiler is set onto a truck at Noblesville, Ind., on Thursday. It will go to Kentucky for safe haven. Delay In Block/KSHC NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Triumph and tragedy are relative terms, but they seem appropriate for describing what’s happening this week in Noblesville’s leafy Forest Park, where preservation organizations are fighting […]
Canadian Pacific website Union Pacific via Twitter CHICAGO — You could be whistling “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” all the way to bank if you hire out with a Class I railroad that’s having a hard time finding new employees. As the job market tightens and rail traffic climbs, Union Pacific and BNSF Railway […]
“We are committed to making your dining service with us even better” says the menu perched on the seat of a westbound Lake Shore Limited roomette, departing Albany-Rensselaer, N.Y. on June 17, 2018. With that as the measuring stick, how does Amtrak’s new pre-prepared, cold-meal service measure up? FULL SCREEN Bob Johnston It was encouraging […]
A burned covered hopper and bridge on the San Luis & Rio Grande line at Sierra, 40 miles east of Alamosa, Colo. Contractors have been on-site since July 2 and hope to have the rails replaced and operational by July 6. Ed Ellis U.S. Drought Monitor: USDA/University of Nebraska-Lincoln Listed in 2014 by USA Today […]
Illinois Railway Museum Shay No. 5 is under steam today for the first time in 19 years. IRM Steam Team Facebook page UNION — For the second time in less than two weeks, Illinois Railway Museum volunteers have pulled off a major restoration coup. On Tuesday, they fired up J. Neills Lumber Co. three-truck Shay […]
Iowa Interstate QJ 2-10-2s Nos. 6988 and 7081 doublehead in Iowa in 2011. Trains: Jim Wrinn MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa — For the first time in six years, Iowa Interstate will operate Chinese-built QJ-type 2-10-2 No. 6988 on excursions. The trips benefit local fire departments in the central Iowa area and are scheduled for the weekend of […]
Here’s a rare chance to look at a Trains map before it appears in the magazine. This foldout map was originally scheduled to appear in the July issue, in time for the Baltimore & Ohio’s 190th anniversary, but as occasionally happens, outside forces intervened (in this case, short hospital stays for both the mapmaker and […]
SALT LAKE CITY — The journey to Promontory for 21st century rail enthusiasts wanting to taste the history of the first transcontinental railroad 150 years ago is becoming more clear. The National Railway Historical Society is urging members to reserve hotel space now for the event May 7-12 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The convention […]
Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 No. 587 Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. RAVENNA, Ky. — Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 No. 587 will be relocated to Ravenna, Ky., and eventually restored, Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., announced on Sunday. The group is helping relocate the locomotive and other equipment from the Indiana Transportation Museum after the museum recently received […]
Amtrak P40s that didn’t make the first cut for rebuilding wait their turn in Bear, Del., on June 7, 2010. Bob Johnston Q Whatever became of Amtrak’s P40s? They were numbered in the 800 series and looked very similar to the P42s in service today. What’s the difference between them? Does Amtrak still have any […]
CSX Corp. Radnor Yard CSX Corp. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation will reopen the hump at Nashville’s Radnor Yard within the next few weeks. The hump was idled in July 2017 as part of the broad operational changes made by then-CEO E. Hunter Harrison, who converted eight of CSX’s 12 hump yards to flat-switching facilities […]
