This former Pennsylvania Railroad E8 will soon be looking like an Illinois Central unit at Monticello Railway Museum. Steve Smedley MONTICELLO, ILL. — After 13 years of work by one member who made the restoration of an E8 his personal mission, the Monticello Railway Museum is on the verge of a breakthrough: an Illinois Central-painted […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Charlie’s Trackside Postcards: Rail Service at Hull-Oakes Mill
It looks like Charlie has been combing through viewer comments and inquires! I think one viewer will be especially pleased to see that Chas was more than happy to address his question about the Taking Care of Business episode featuring Hull-Oakes Lumber Co. — all in the form of this Trackside Postcard! […]
Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 37 – Coal Country Conquest
After racing and chasing into Yellowhead Pass, Drew, Mike, and KJ now embark on a Coal Country Conquest in Alberta, Canada. That’s where they discover rugged railroad operations routing over CN’s Mountain Park and Foothills Subdivisions. The guys traverse tough terrain to capture coal and aggregate trains charging up steep grades, along mountain streams, and […]
‘Amtrak Cascades’ train derails onto Washington highway
This overall view shows cars off both sides of the tracks at the Interstate 5 bridge near DuPont, Wash. Two photos, Steve Carter SEATTLE – Several people are dead after a southbound Amtrak Cascades train derailed on an overpass above Interstate 5 near Olympia. Although several motorists were injured when the train fell off the […]
Last unpatched C&NW locomotives to be repainted UP NEWSWIRE
C&NW Nos. 8701 and 8646 roll intermodal traffic westbound through Rochelle, Ill. earlier this year. Chris Guss NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Union Pacific is on a quest to create a unified fleet of locomotives all wearing its corporate paint scheme, and the two most visual casualties will be Chicago & North Western C44-9Ws Nos. […]
CSX CEO Hunter Harrison has died NEWSWIRE
CSX CEO E. Hunter Harrison R.G. Edmonson JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation CEO E. Hunter Harrison, the influential and innovative railroader who was respected, sought after, feared, and loathed in equal measures, died today. He was 73. Harrison worked his way up through the ranks after beginning his rail career as a carman for the […]
Iowa Pacific seeks to end Santa Cruz operations NEWSWIRE
A Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay passenger special departs the Santa Cruz boardwalk in December 2012. Elrond Lawrence SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Chicago-based Iowa Pacific Holdings is seeking to end its contract as the operator of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reports. Iowa Pacific subsidiary Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay […]
NCFO union members ratify new collective bargaining agreement NEWSWIRE
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – The National Conference of Firemen & Oilers became the latest union this week to ratify a new labor contract with the nation’s Class I railroads. The union is part of the Coordinated Bargaining Group coalition of unions that have been negotiating with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee for more than a year […]
NS to curtail operations on Christmas NEWSWIRE
NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Southern will be suspending operations in observance of the Christmas Day. In an announcement online, railroad officials state that NS will not accept trains for interchange from 7 a.m. Dec. 24 through 10 p.m. Dec. 25. Railroad operations will cease completely at 3 p.m. Dec. 24 through 10 p.m. Dec. 25. […]
Why does locomotive smoke change color?
Cass Scenic Railroad’s Heisler No. 6 climbs a grade puffing smoke and steam into a gray cloud. Steve Sweeney Q Why is it that one locomotive, on the same day, may have black exhaust, white/light gray, or at times almost invisible exhaust coming from the smoke stack? – Russ Gray, Kernersville, N.C. A The color […]
Amtrak ‘Surfliner’ service still suspended as California fires rage NEWSWIRE
Amtrak No. 454 rolls a ‘Pacific Surfliner’ by the Thomas Fire at Emma Wood State Beach near Ventura before service was suspended north of Oxnard on Dec. 7. Alex Gillman LOS ANGELES – Wildfires in Southern California continue to disrupt Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service between Oxnard and San Luis Obispo on the Union Pacific Coast […]
Defecating man falls off bridge as train approaches NEWSWIRE
New York, Susquehanna & Western Edward S. Kaminski PATERSON, N.J. – When you gotta go, you gotta go. One New Jersey man learned that lesson in more ways than one this week when he fell into a river ahead of an oncoming train while allegedly defecating off a railroad bridge, NorthJersey.com reports. According to reports, […]