CHARLESTON, S.C. — Palmetto Railways will work with Innovative Rail Technologies to convert two of its diesel switchers to battery-electric power, the railroad announced this week. Palmetto, a division of the South Carolina Department of Commerce, received a $4.17 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements, or CRISI, grant for the project in September [see […]
Track ballast Down below the trains, below the rails, the tie plates, and the ties, is a lowly yet vital component of railroading — track ballast. While ballast may not be at the top of anyone’s list of rail topics, it’s literally part of the foundation of railroads, and it can comprise more than 80% […]
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Transportation Committee of the Kentucky House heard testimony Tuesday on a bill requiring two-person crews for freight trains in the state, reviving legislation that has previously failed to advance. HB 33 is sponsored by seven legislators including Reps. Kevin Bratcher (R-Louisville), whose biography includes involvement with the Kentucky Railway Museum among […]
LINCOLN, Neb. — Less than two weeks after the Nebraska legislature killed a bill to require two-person train crews, a legislative committee has heard testimony on another rail regulation bill, this one including limits on train length. The unicameral legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on LB1212, introduced by Sen. Lynne Walz […]
SACRAMENTO — A California state senator is introducing a bill to address projects to prevent interruptions to passenger rail service on the LOSSAN Rail Corridor between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, such as the current slide near San Clemente, Calif., that has disrupted Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink commuter rail service. The San Diego […]
SACRAMENTO — California’s Department of Transportation, Caltrans, announced a $127 million agreement with Stadler Rail on Wednesday to purchase six more hydrogen-powered passenger trainsets, bringing to 10 the number of the trainsets on order for use in the San Joaquin Valley. The funding comes $407 million for the California State Transportation agency to purchase or […]
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City has announced a $1.5 million commitment to support the American Heart Association for heart research over the next three years. As part of the commitment announced on Valentine’s Day, CPKC will support four two-year pre-doctoral fellowships and four one-year pre-doctoral fellowships chosen by the Heart Association and focused […]
WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman was so disappointed in the lack of information provided at Wednesday’s board hearing into the status of Amtrak Gulf Coast service that he ordered the parties to come back in 30 days with a detailed report to address the board’s unanswered questions. “I’ve negotiated a lot of […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Tickets will go on sale today (Feb. 15) at 9 a.m. ET for Reading & Northern Railroad’s three summer 2024 Iron Horse Rambles excursions featuring T-1 class 4-8-4 No. 2102. Two of the excursions will feature new destinations for the former Reading Co. locomotive, while the other will once again see […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic was up for the week ending Feb. 10, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. It was the third straight week showing a gain and fourth in six weeks so far this year. Total traffic was 484,840 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.5% […]
I’ve never been in the market for a private railroad car — editors and writers rarely ascend to that rarified air — but if I was, I’d compose an email this very moment and send it to the equipment broker Ozark Mountain Railcar, there to bid on what might be the ultimate PV: heavyweight sleeper-observation […]
I was promoted to conductor on May 19, 1981. This was rare at my age — I had just turned 21 at the end of 1980. In those days you had to have two years on the road as a brakeman to even qualify to get a promotion. The test I had to take had […]
