DENVER — Amtrak and BNSF Railway have sued the driver of a semi-truck of milk, as well as the truck’s owner, over the Jan. 29 grade-crossing collision that derailed the eastbound California Zephyr near Keenesburg, Colo. The suit, filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, says Dairy Farmers of […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
STB seeks operating details as part of ongoing Sunset Limited investigation
WASHINGTON — In the latest step in its ongoing investigation into on-time performance for Amtrak’s Sunset Limited, the Surface Transportation Board has asked the passenger operator and the train’s host railroads to answer a series of detailed questions on delays encountered during specific runs by the train and other operational details along the train’s route. […]
Crossties 101
Crossties Back in 1830, track structure was different from today: stone blocks supported wood stringers (or rails) surfaced with strap iron. During the harsh winter of 1832, shipments of stone blocks to the Camden & Amboy Railroad in New Jersey were curtailed. John L. Stevens, president and chief engineer of the railroad, ordered the substitution […]
CSX derailment in West Virginia leads to Capitol Limited cancellations
MAGNOLIA, W.Va. — A Monday afternoon CSX derailment in a remote area of West Virginia has disrupted operations of Amtrak’s Capitol Limited. The Monday derailment in Morgan County, W.Va., near the community of Magnolia, involved nine cars, four of which were carrying sodium hydroxide, a corrosive material that can cause severe skin burns and eye […]
Wabtec to modernize more CSX AC4400 locomotives
PITTSBURGH — Wabtec Corp. and CSX have announced a deal to modernize more than 200 locomotives, providing hardware and software upgrades to the railroad’s remaining AC4400 units. The locomotives will receive upgrades including the FDL Advantage engine and digital improvements such as Locotrol Expanded Architecture, which the companies say will provide fuel savings and carbon […]
Dire Strates: Last carnival train still hopes to roll again
TAFT, Fla. – The James E. Strates Shows carnival train – which has hauled midway attractions to fairs up and down the East Coast since 1934 – may have unceremoniously made its last trip. When the 45-car train was spotted on the two spurs adjacent to the Strates headquarters outside of Orlando, Fla., on Nov. […]
Bill seeks to block Arizona from accepting funds for passenger rail service
PHOENIX — Republican legislators in Arizona are seeking to block rail service between Phoenix and Tucson as a condition of continuing legislation to maintain the state’s Department of Transportation, the Arizona Daily Star reports. One of the conditions added to the continuing legislation, SB1184, by the Senate Committee on Transportation, Technology, and Missing Children is […]
Ohio considers rejoining regional passenger rail group
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio legislators are preparing to introduce bills to rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, an organization the state left in 2013, Statehouse News Bureau reports. State Rep. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood) said the House version of the bill will be introduced in the next month or so, and several Republican legislators will sign […]
One thousand ‘Trains’ Magazine covers down!
Trains Magazine covers Whether past or present — staff, correspondents, and contributors — were asked to submit one of their favorite covers since the magazine’s inception in November 1940 — 84 years of railroading history in the making. This is what they came up with and why. If there is a particular cover you like, […]
TSB to investigate CPKC incident in Alberta
LETHBRIDGE, Alberta — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is sending two investigators to the scene of a collision and derailment at CPKC’s Kipp Yard near Lethbridge, the agency said Sunday. Lethbridge News Now reports that CPKC officials said eight cars derailed Sunday while being moved at slow speed. There were no injuries or spills […]
BNSF intermodal train derails in south central Kansas
HAZELTON, Kan. — Seventeen cars of a BNSF intermodal train derailed early this morning (Monday, Feb. 12) east of Hazelton on the railroad’s Southern Transcon, KWNS-TV reports. Officials from Barber County Emergency Management told the station no hazardous materials were involved. BNSF told KWNS in a statement that the crew was not injured in the […]
Amtrak, transit agencies prepare for winter storm in Northeast
NEW YORK — Amtrak and transit agencies in the Northeast have begun making schedule adjustments for Tuesday, Feb. 13, based on forecasts of a major winter storm expected to hit the area. As of 5:10 p.m. Eastern Time, Amtrak has announced these changes for Tuesday: — Acela trains Nos. 2163 and 2167 will not operate […]