Special train, ceremony mark restoration of Trout Run Bridge

Passenger train with two Shay locomotives

CASS, W.Va. — West Virginia state dignitaries were among the passengers Friday on a special Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad train to dedicate the opening of the Trout Run Bridge and with it, reopening of the northernmost 15 miles of the former Chesapeake & Ohio Durbin route. Shay No. 5, West Virginia’s official state locomotive, […]

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Portal Bridge issues resolved, NJ Transit reports

Portal_Bridge_Johnston

KEARNY, N.J. — Repair work at the Portal Bridge has been completed, NJ Transit reports in an update on its website, ending signal issues that disrupted operations for Amtrak and the commuter agency since Thursday. The NJ Transit update says its trains are operating at or near normal schedules today (Saturday, May 13). Regular operations […]

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Genesee & Wyoming opens new dispatching center (corrected)

Genesee & Wyoming logo

ST. ALBANS, Vt. — Genesee & Wyoming held a grand opening ceremony on Thursday for its American Rail Dispatching Center, from which the company dispatches movements on 100 railroads in 42 states. G&W announced plans for the 10,000-square-foot facility early in 2022 [see “Plans set for new Genesee & Wyoming dispatching center,” Trains News Wire, […]

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News photo: Another Metra SD70MACH delivered

Blue six-axle locomotive with red-and-white striped nose

CHICAGO — Metra has taken delivery of another SD70MACH, part of an order of 15 of the remanufactured freight locomotives currently in progress for the commuter agency. No. 505, the fourth in the series to arrive in Chicago, was delivered on Thursday, May 11. This unit is slated to have positive train control equipment added […]

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Five Amtrak maintenance workers hurt in Boston incident (updated)

Amtrak logo.

BOSTON — Five members of an Amtrak maintenance-of-way crew have been taken to a hospital following an incident at a Boston rail yard Friday morning, WXFT-TV reports. The injuries are non-life-threatening, Amtrak said in a statement. The incident occurred about 4:30 a.m. at the Readville commuter rail station in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood, about 8 […]

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Preservation group goes to court over Bismarck bridge

Steam-powered passenger train on large truss bridge over water

BISMARCK, N.D. — The preservation group seeking to block demolition of a 140-year-old BNSF Railway bridge has taken its effort to court. The Bismarck Tribune reports that the group Friends of the Rail Bridge has filed an appeal with the state’s South Central District Court seeking to overturn a decision by the state Department of […]

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FRA issues safety advisory in wake of Union Pacific collision in Texas

Two aerial photos of collision of two trains in Texas

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration issued a safety advisory this week in the aftermath of an April collision and derailment on Union Pacific that involved a misaligned hand-throw switch. The FRA continues to investigate the April 16 collision in Texas that occurred in dark territory with no positive train control overlay. The National Transportation […]

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Problems at Portal Bridge disrupt Amtrak, NJ Transit service

Two-track rail bridge as seen from on train

NEW YORK — Amtrak and NJ Transit are experiencing major service issues today as a result of problems that began Thursday at the infamous Portal Bridge in Kearney, N.J. An Amtrak advisory issued Thursday afternoon says all trains traveling between New York and Newark are experiencing delays because of signal issues at the bridge. All […]

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UP releases ‘Building America’ sustainability report

Image of cover of Union Pacific report with montage of photos

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has released its 2022 Building America Report, outlining the company’s efforts to address sustainability, safety, corporate accountability, and community engagement by outlining its actions in areas ranging from workforce training to cybersecurity to contributions to nonprofit organizations. “This report highlights our progress to achieve the goals outlined in our Building […]

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CPKC launches first Midwest Mexico Express intermodal hotshots

CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC today launched the Mexico Midwest Express premium intermodal service linking Chicago, Kansas City, and Laredo, Texas, with Monterrey and San Luis Potosi in Mexico. A nighttime photo on CPKC’s home page showed train MMX-181 about to break through a CPKC de Mexico banner on its inaugural northbound run. The newly merged […]

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Whistle signals

Whistles

Before radio communication came into wide use in the 1960s, a locomotive’s whistle was an important tool in conveying information to other employees, both on and off the train, and many signals were on the books. The General Code Of Operating Rules, used by many railroads, contains the following list of whistle signals and their […]

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