WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern has filed a notice to abandon 31.3 miles of the long-inactive Saluda Grade in North and South Carolina, a prelude to previously announced plans to sell that section of the route to a consortium of groups who plan to create a biking and hiking trail. The abandonment would be effective […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Work stoppage to hit British Columbia ports on Monday
Most British Columbia port terminals will shut down on Monday morning amid a labor dispute between the union representing 700 forepersons and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 has issued a 72-hour strike notice and plans to walk off the job beginning at 8 a.m. on Nov. 4. […]
Trinity sees improved third-quarter profits
DALLAS — Third-quarter revenue declined but operating profit improved for railcar builder Trinity Industries. Revenues were $799 million for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $821 million in the same quarter a year ago. The company said in an earnings release that lower deliveries of 4,360 railcars was partially offset by favorable pricing […]
VIA Historical Association unveils restored FP9A
SALFORD, Ontario — It was fitting that on Oct. 31, a ghost of VIA Rail Canada’s past was officially brought back to life. The VIA Historical Association completed a full restoration of FP9A No. 6539 back into its classic blue and yellow paint scheme. The unit debuted at the Ontario Southland Railway shops in Salford, […]
Soo Line No. 1003 set for Santa Train appearance
HARTFORD, Wis. — Soo Line 2-8-2 No. 1003 will make its annual appearance for the Hartford Santa Train on Saturday, Nov. 9. The 1913 Alco, operated by the non-profit Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, is a fixture at the Hartford event, held in conjunction with the community’s annual Christmas Parade. The Santa Train will be at […]
Consultants hired for scoping of Eau Claire-Twin Cities passenger rail proposal
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission has hired a consultant team led by HDR Engineering and including HNTB Corp. to carry out the scoping work for proposed Eau Claire-Twin Cities passenger rail service. The scoping work is the first phase in development of a new route under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor […]
It’s locomotive déjà vu all over again in Southern California
Locomotive déjà vu On October 15 of this year, senior Southern California train fans experienced locomotive déjà vu. It was fascinating and sad at the same time. Similar to photos seen in Trains Magazines in the 1950s and 1960s, a set of modern locomotives was hauling yesterday’s power off the property in a single pull. […]
Woodstown Central 0-6-0 set for Nov. 30 debut
WOODSTOWN, N.J. — The Woodstown Central Railroad, the heritage rail operation of SMS Rail Service, has announced that its restored Alco 0-6-0 locomotive No. 9 will make its revenue debut Nov. 30 in Santa Claus Special passenger service. The locomotive, built for the U.S. Army in 1942, also worked for the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway […]
Norfolk Southern nominates four railroads for next heritage locomotive
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern will add another heritage locomotive to its original 20-unit fleet. “We’ve narrowed it down to four iconic railroads, but only one will get to roll out of Altoona,” the railroad said in a recent LinkedIn post, referring to its paint shop in Pennsylvania. The railroad has selected four predecessor railroads as […]
Miami-Aventura commuter rail project advances to engineering phase
MIAMI — The Federal Transit Administration has advanced the proposed commuter rail service between Miami and Aventura, Fla., into the engineering phase, and has made a preliminary commitment to provide $389.5 million in funding for the project, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Miami) announced this week. Wilson said in a press release that the FTA announcement […]
White Pass & Yukon runs train with all-female crew
SKAGWAY, Alaska — The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway marked a milestone in its well over a century of operation earlier this month when it operated a train with an all-female crew for the first time. The event occurred on Oct. 15 with a crew of Lindsay Breen, the railroad’s first woman engineer; conductor […]
CSX adds Mobile, Ala., logistics park to its Select Site program
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —– CSX has designated the 500-plus acre RailPort Logistics Mobile in Mobile, Ala., as a Platinum CSX Select Site. Select Sites are development-ready properties along the CSX network. These properties can meet the needs of a wide variety of manufacturers, significantly reducing the time required to construct industrial facilities and ultimately bringing products […]