At Bluffs, Ill., a veteran hostler oils around Wabash 2-6-0 No. 576 before she and sister 573 set off up the Keokuk Branch with freight in September 1954. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Oiling a Wabash Mogul
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Wabtec unveils first production FLXdrive battery heavy-haul locomotive
ERIE, Pa. —Wabtec and Australian mining firm Roy Hill have unveiled world’s first 100% battery-powered, heavy-haul locomotive for mainline service in ceremonies today (Oct. 31, 2023) at Wabtec’s Erie manufacturing facility. The FLXdrive locomotive contains 72 lithium-ion modular battery packs with a total of 36,288 cells, giving the locomotive an energy capacity of 7 megawatt-hours. […]
Republicans push bill to limit Amtrak’s right of preference: Analysis
WASHINGTON — Legislation that aims to reverse Amtrak’s statutory right of preference over host railroad freight trains “within 50 miles of a port or rail yard” has been introduced by a U.S. Congressman representing a rural district without any passenger service. Among its co-sponsors is the head of the U.S. House subcommittee with jurisdiction over […]
Norfolk Southern to install more than a dozen high-tech train inspection portals by end of 2024
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern will install more than a dozen digital train inspection portals across its network by the end of 2024 as part of its drive to improve safety. The first portal – developed by NS and the Georgia Tech Research Institution – was activated Sept. 25 on the Fort Wayne Line in Leetonia, […]
Norfolk Southern concludes removal of contaminated soil from East Palestine
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The last loads of contaminated soil have been removed from the site of February’s East Palestine derailment, according to local news reports. WKBN-TV reports the final excavation at the derailment site was completed Sunday evening. More than 175,000 tons of soil have been removed from the site, with Bob Scoble, Norfolk […]
MBTA completes work, resumes service on Ashmont Branch, Mattapan line
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority today resumed service on the rapid transit Red Line’s Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line, following a 16-day shutdown for track repairs. The MBTA says the 16-day suspension of service allowed crews to replace nearly 5,000 feet of rail and 1,174 ties on the Ashmont Branch between the JFK/UMass […]
Short line train derails in Oklahoma
RAMONA, Okla. — At least 10 cars were reported to have derailed on Sunday in an incident involving a South Kansas & Oklahoma train near Ramona. KWON Radio reports the derailment occurred shortly after noon, according to the Ramona Volunteer Fire Department, and that officials with Washington County Emergency Management say that County Road 3500 […]
‘Empire Builder’ disruptions triggered by snow, mechanical issues
CHICAGO — The Chicago-Seattle/Portland, Ore., Empire Builder is finally on the road to recovery after incurring significant challenges during the past week following a late October High Plains snowstorm and related issues. A series of delays throughout the week culminated in eastbound train No. 8 departing Seattle more than 5 hours late on Saturday, Oct. […]
CPKC asks federal regulators to settle dispute over Wisconsin bridge repair
WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City has asked federal regulators to wade into a dispute with Wisconsin officials regarding emergency repairs the railway made to a bridge over the Menomonee River in Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is threatening to sue CPKC for its 2017 bridge work, arguing that it was performed without […]
Analysis: Norfolk Southern stands behind its long-term growth strategy despite Wall Street concerns over poor quarter
When Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw outlined the railroad’s long-term growth strategy in December, he couldn’t have been more clear: Keeping train crews on the payroll during freight downturns would hurt the operating ratio over the short term. But not furloughing crews would pay off over the long term by enabling NS to maintain service […]
Fort Lauderdale, county officials at odds over replacement for downtown rail drawbridge
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The mayor of Fort Lauderdale and officials in Broward County are at odds over the best way to handle expanded rail operation by Brightline — and proposed future commuter rail service — across the New River in the middle of town. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports Mayor Dean Trantalis wants […]
Attorneys General call for additions to federal proposal on hazardous-material information (corrected)
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry and 12 of her counterparts have indicated their support for a rule requiring railroads to make hazardous-material information available to first responders, and are calling for the rule to be expanded to strengthen aspects of its communications requirements. Henry said in a Friday press release that the […]
