South Dakota governor signs bill to fund rehabilitation of short line

Map of the Twin Cities & Western Railroad and its two related rail lines

PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has signed a bill authorizing $6.25 million in state funding for the rehabilitation of the Sisseton-Milbank Railroad, a 37-mile short line with a badly deteriorated right-of-way needed to move agricultural products. KXLG Radio reports Noem signed Senate Bill 16 earlier this week. The appropriation from the state’s […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Branch Lines and Locals

Branch line and local trains deliver goods to big and small towns everywhere. These routes are important arteries in the nation’s economic lifeline, especially to remote areas. While we use the term “last mile”, sometimes a local will traverse many miles to get cargo from main line railroad distribution yards to Main Street, USA. Take […]

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Union Pacific announces sick-time agreements with eight unions

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific announced today that it had reached agreement with eight unions on paid sick leave, bringing to nine the number of UP unions with such agreements. The agreements, effective April 1, cover the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers; Brotherhood of Railway Carmen; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; International […]

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Lionel Vision Line Stock Cars squeal into stores

Lionel Vision Line Stock Cars door and deck detail

The latest Lionel Vision Line Stock Car sets are now hitting the market. You might call them a squeal of a deal. Car sets aren’t new to the orange-and-blue. We were introduced in 2014 to these three-packs with steel-sided reefers. Since then, the train maker has expanded on the theme. In 2020 the train maker […]

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KCS working to ease congestion in Mexico as CP merger date looms

Freight train passes station in Mexico

KANSAS CITY — Kansas City Southern de Mexico is battling congestion in key terminals thanks to a combination of stronger than expected traffic growth and a shortage of train crews. The congestion, which began in December, now threatens to gum up Kansas City Southern’s U.S. network less than four weeks before Canadian Pacific gains control […]

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Positioning of dead-in-tow locomotives in Alabama derailment was against NS rules, NTSB says in preliminary report

Derailed freight cars next to rebuilt right-of-way

WASHINGTON — Two locomotives being transported dead-in-tow were coupled together, contrary to Norfolk Southern operating rules, in the consist of the NS train that derailed March 9 near Anniston, Ala., according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report released Monday. With Norfolk Southern under close scrutiny in the wake of February’s derailment in East […]

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