Amtrak, Southern Rail Commission welcome news of CP-KCS merger

Canadian Pacific freight train meets Amtrak train

WASHINGTON — The merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern may be a union of two freight railroads, but it is likely to matter for passenger railroading, as well. Amtrak had formally supported the railroads’ merger application before the Surface Transportation Board. That reflected CP’s backing for passenger operations between New Orleans and Baton […]

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Metra, Chicago suburbs see few concerns addressed in merger decision

People walk across railroad tracks as trains meet in background

WASHINGTON — Commuter rail operator Metra and a group of Chicago suburbs received few of the conditions they had sought when the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger was approved on Wednesday. But that doesn’t mean their concerns couldn’t be addressed later, Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman said during a Wednesday press conference, thanks […]

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Auto racks derail at UP yard in Wyoming

Derailed auto racks under cloudy skies

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were involved when 12 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed Monday night at UP’s yard in Cheyenne, Cowboy State Daily reports. UP spokesman Make Jaixen told the news site that the cause of the derailment is under investigation. Cleanup was continuing on Tuesday. […]

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Ohio sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine derailment

Workers and equipment around burned out tank cars

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The state of Ohio is suing Norfolk Southern over the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, claiming the incident was “entirely avoidable and the direct result of Norfolk Southern’s practice of putting its own profits above the health, safety, and welfare of the communities in which Norfolk Southern operates.” The 58-count, […]

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Norfolk Southern reaches sick-time agreements with two more unions

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has reached agreements for paid sick time with members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, bringing to eight the number of unions to reach sick-leave agreements with the railroad. The latest agreements cover more than 1,350 employees. As with earlier agreements, they provide […]

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STB schedules Wednesday announcement on CP-KCS merger

Train with red, yellow, and black locomotives

WASHINGTON — A decision appears to be at hand in the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger. The Surface Transportation Board has announced a Wednesday press conference at 11 a.m. EDT in which board Chairman Martin Oberman will deliver remarks “regarding the agency’s decision on the proposed acquisition” of KCS by CP, followed by a Q&A […]

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Broken wheel believed to have caused UP derailment in Kansas

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

McPHERSON, Kan. — A broken wheel is believed to have caused Sunday’s derailment of a Union Pacific train in McPherson, leading to a spill of denatured alcohol, the Associated Press reports. The derailment Sunday morning ignited a small grass fire in addition to causing the alcohol spill [see “Union Pacific train derails …,” Trains News […]

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General Electric’s B23-7 locomotive

black and blue locomotives hauling freight

General Electric’s B23-7 GE’s best-selling four-axle unit still hauls freight today. General Electric, now Wabtec, has been out of the intermediate horsepower market for decades now, but beginning in the late 1970s, the company newly introduced Dash 7 line made a mark on the industry. Part of the “second generation” of General Electric’s locomotive portfolio, […]

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News & Products for the week of March 13th 2023

News & Products for the week of March 13th 2023: an image of a model freight car

News & Products for the week of March 13th 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 March 13th 2023. […]

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