JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gulf & Atlantic Railways has completed its acquisition of three railroads in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, expanding the company to five railroads. The company announced today (May 16) that it closed on May 12 on the acquisition of the Camp Chase Railroad; Chesapeake & Indiana Railroad; and Vermilion Valley Railroad. It had […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
New BNSF intermodal service to link Port Houston with Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway will add service from the port of Houston to Alliance, Texas, and Denver next month. “As part of our continued commitment to adjusting to our customers’ and the marketplace’s needs to enable growth and the efficient movement of shipments, BNSF is expanding our network of lane offerings with new […]
Union Pacific to consolidate Global 1 intermodal traffic at expanded, upgraded Global 2 terminal
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will shift intermodal traffic from its Global 1 terminal in Chicago to the expanded Global 2 terminal in Northlake, Ill., effective June 19, the railroad said in a customer advisory on Monday. UP has invested more than $150 million in the expansion and upgrade of Global 2. Lift capacity has […]
At least two injured as BART train hits pickup
OAKLAND, Calif. — At least two people on board were injured Monday night when a Bay Area Rapid Transit train hit a pickup truck that had crashed onto the rapid transit line’s right-of-way, KGO-TV reports. The collision occurred about 11:30 p.m. after the truck crashed onto the tracks between the Fruitvale and Lake Merritt stations. […]
News photos: Metro-North introduces heritage unit to mark 40th anniversary
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad has introduced the first of what it says will be up to five heritage locomotives to mark the commuter operation’s 40th anniversary. GE P32ACDM No. 208 has been vinyl wrapped in a silver, blue, and red design honoring the original paint scheme created in 1983 […]
Clean-up under way after 31-car BNSF derailment in Texas
DACUS, Texas — Clean-up is in progress following the weekend derailment of 31 cars of a BNSF Railway train of crushed limestone in the small town of Dacus. No injuries were reported. There is some disagreement between the railroad and local officials over the reporting of the incident. BNSF told KTRK-TV on Monday that it […]
Group examining Amtrak food and beverage service sends recommendations to Congress
WASHINGTON — A group evaluating Amtrak food and beverage service says improving service will hinge on first fixing “systems … behind the scenes” that impact that service nationwide. The Food and Beverage Working Group was created by Congress as part of 2021’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to evaluate the onboard food and beverage operation, a key […]
News photos: ‘Poseidon’ helps CN fight Alberta fires
EVANSBURG, Alberta — A 10-mile stretch of Canadian National’s transcontinental main line about 65 miles west of Edmonton, Alta., continues to be surrounded by what has become the Yellowhead County wildfire, but trains are getting through the area in part because of CN firefighting equipment known as “Poseidon.” The compact fire train was fashioned out […]
New plan released for redevelopment of Washington Union Station
WASHINGTON — A significant reduction in parking spaces — including elimination of above-ground parking and bus facilities — and a larger train hall are key features of a revised plan for redevelopment of Washington Union Station released Friday. The Washington Post reports the revised plan from the Federal Railroad Administration — developed after a two-year […]
Pennsylvania legislature sees series of rail-regulation bills
HARRISBURG, Pa. — While one wide-ranging bill has advanced out of a Pennsylvania House committee, four other bills aimed at regulating railroads in the state have also been introduced since the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, which also impacted Pennsylvania residents. The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown, Pa., reports none have yet been voted on by the state House […]
Wrecking derricks
Wrecking derricks were once the kings of maintenance-of-way equipment, used mainly to move derailed rolling stock but also for such other heavy-lifting duties as bridge replacements. Today, when a derailment needs to be cleaned up, the work is often done by private contractors using bulldozer-like machines delivered to the wreck site by highway. But fifty […]
Hudson carrying the mail
New York Central J-3 Hudson 5437 rushes west with mail train 257 at Millbury Junction, 7.5 miles east of Toledo on the Water Level Route, in September 1955. Philip R. Hastings photo […]