WASHINGTON — A Housatonic Railroad employee was killed in an October 2020 accident because he attempted to walk into a limited-clearance area and was struck by a moving track excavator, the National Transportation Safety Board determined in a newly released accident report. The accident occurred on Oct. 14, 2020, in North Canaan, Conn., killing a […]
LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — In the latest step in the process of building a new rail bypass around Lac-Mégantic and neighboring communities, Transport Canada will begin public consultation on the project as of today (Jan. 21, 2022). Through Feb. 4, residents are invited to comment in writing on the bypass plan, including comments on “the main […]
NEW YORK — Janno Lieber was confirmed Thursday as Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, following his nomination earlier in the month by Gov. Kathy Hochul and serving as acting chairman and CEO since July 2021. Following his confirmation, Lieber named four individuals to positions in the MTA’s executive leadership. […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation’s profits and revenue grew in the fourth quarter but the railroad could have moved more freight if not for the ongoing train crew shortage related to the tight labor market and pandemic infections and quarantines. “We are putting the resources in place to deliver a high-quality service product,” CEO Jim Foote […]
The group representing rail unions in bargaining with railroad over a new general agreement says the negotiations have reached an impasse, leading them to file for arbitration. A brief letter today (Thursday, Jan. 20) from Jeremy R. Ferguson, president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) informed other […]
FILLMORE, Calif. — Sierra Northern locomotives roll through Fillmore today (Thursday, Jan. 20) on their first day operating on the former Southern Pacific Santa Paula branch in Ventura County. Sierra Northern is the new contract operator on the county-owned line, formerly home of the Fillmore & Western. Sierra Northern want to rehab the line for […]
CULVER CITY, Calif. — Union Pacific has expressed interest in a new autonomous battery-electric intermodal car concept developed by a group headed by three former Space X engineers. The concept under development by Parallel Systems would see intermodal containers carried by pairs of powered battery-electric wheelsets, moving in “platoons” of cars, but capable of splitting […]
Q: What is a lift frog and why are they used? – Bob Kolankoski, Scranton, Pa. A: Flange-bearing frogs, also known as lift frogs, jump frogs, or more colloquially leap frogs, are used on switches or diamonds where the main route sees far more traffic than the secondary. On a traditional tread-bearing frog, the flangeways […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific on Thursday reported record profits for 2021 despite the impact of the pandemic, wildfires, and congestion in the global supply chain. CEO Lance Fritz says the railroad expects another record-setting year in 2022, when UP will mark its 160th anniversary. But UP’s safety and service did not meet expectations last year […]
Cody Grivno looks at the details and paint schemes on the Rapido Trains HO scale Pacific Car & Foundry 5195 boxcar. […]
Cody Grivno looks at the details and paint schemes on the Rapido Trains HO scale Pacific Car & Foundry 5195 boxcar. […]
OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway is asking a federal judge to block a potential strike by two unions began polling workers about a possible strike over the railroad’s new attendance policies, the Associated Press reports. BNSF filed suit against the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and […]
