WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed another week of mild decline for the week ending Aug. 19. According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, the week’s total volume was 478,853 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.7% from the same week in 2022. That marks the seventh time in nine weeks the drop has […]
Type of Train: Freight
SMART-TD calls for FRA standards for those training new conductors
WASHINGTON — The union representing railroad conductors is calling for the Federal Railroad Administration to set standards for those involved in training of conductor trainees, while also issuing an advisory to its members regarding their duties and responsibilities regarding such training and trainees. The actions from the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and […]
Tropical storm hits UP line in Texas; repair work continues in California (second update)
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is now dealing with flooding along Texas’ Gulf Coast as a result of Tropical Storm Harold, adding to the issues it continues to address in Southern California from Tropical Storm Hilary. In a Tuesday evening update to customers, UP said a 5-mile stretch of track was underwater in Corpus Christi, […]
One tube of Gotthard Base Tunnel reopens for freight traffic
The east tube of the Gotthard Base Tunnel has been reopened for freight traffic and is available for almost 100 trains per day, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) reports. With that route now handling freight traffic that had been rerouted over the Gotthard Pass panorama route, improved passenger service over the panoramic route is planned as […]
Brightline says new Stuart, Fla., bridge would cost $218 million, take four years to build (updated)
STUART, Fla. — A new double-track bridge for the Florida East Coast Railway at Stuart would cost about $218 million and take four years to build, Brightline Vice President of Community Relations Ali Soule told Martin County officials on Tuesday. WPTV reports Soule appeared before Martin County Commissioners to ask them to pass a resolution […]
Union Pacific reopens Mojave Subdivision as cleanup continues from Hilary flooding
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reopened its Mojave Subdivision in Southern California today and continues to clean up the mess that tropical storm Hilary left on Sunday. The Mojave Sub, part of UP’s I-5 Corridor, suffered storm damage near Mojave as well as 10 miles north of Fontana. All tracks have been restored to service. […]
BNSF train derails after grade-crossing collision in Louisiana (updated)
NEW IBERIA, La. — Two locomotives and 20 cars of a BNSF train derailed on Monday evening after the train struck a truck at a grade crossing near New Iberia. While KLFY-TV reported one crew member had been taken to a hospital after the 5 p.m. incident, BNSF said in a Tuesday statement that no […]
Preservation group makes arguments to North Dakota Supreme Court on BNSF bridge
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on a preservation group’s appeal of permits allowing BNSF to build a new bridge across the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., and demolish its existing bridge — as well as the group’s separate request for the court to determine whether the state, […]
News & Products for the week of August 21st 2023
News & Products for the week of August 21st 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of August 21st […]
Tropical storm flooding hits Union Pacific routes in Southern California
Tropical storm Hilary, the first to hit Southern California in 84 years, brought heavy rains and flooding that have shut down Union Pacific’s Mojave and Yuma subdivisions. Both subdivisions were out of service this morning due to water and mud over the tracks between Banning and Indio, Calif., on the Yuma Sub and near Mojave […]
North Dakota Supreme Court to hear arguments on BNSF Bismarck bridge
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today on a case stemming from a preservation group’s effort to prevent BNSF Railway from demolishing its bridge across the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., once it completes construction of a new bridge. The group Friends of the Rail Bridge […]
Progress reported in Gotthard Base Tunnel repairs
Freight trains should be able to begin using the Gotthard Base Tunnel on Wednesday, Aug. 23, Swiss national rail operator SBB said Friday in its latest update on repairs following an Aug. 10 derailment inside the world’s longest rail tunnel. Thirty cars of a northbound freight train derailed because of a broken wheel, causing damage […]