When it comes to showmanship in mainline mountain railroading, California’s Tehachapi Pass can be described as a grand theater. Located between Bakersfield and Mojave, historic Tehachapi Loop is at center stage, an impressive helix stretching three-quarters of a mile while looping over itself to gain 77 feet in elevation. The loop itself sits at about […]
Type of Train: Freight
Missouri’s Columbia Terminal to upgrade track in $4 million project
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Funding is secured for municipally owned Columbia Terminal to upgrade track following the securement of a $3.2 million federal grant, KOMU-TV reports. The city will also contribute $800,000 to bring the project total up to $4 million. “We’re replacing some of the track into a heavier grade track that can carry […]
Canadian National to move operations from Jasper
JASPER, Alberta — Canadian National plans to move operations from Jasper 60 miles east to Hinton, Canada’s Global News reports. A wildfire burned through Jasper in July 2024, burning about one-third of the city and displacing thousands of residents. Caught in the fire was CN’s crew bunkhouse, which the railroad has since rebuilt. On Monday, […]
UP explains absence from early contract agreements with organized labor
DALLAS – As BNSF Railway, CSX, and Norfolk Southern continue to sign tentative contract agreements with their labor unions well in advance of the start of national negotiations, one U.S. Class I railroad has been conspicuously absent: Union Pacific. UP executives explained today that – unlike the other railroads – they’re seeking to modernize work […]
Union Pacific outlines volume growth plans and sets three-year earnings target
DALLAS – Union Pacific executives today outlined a three-year growth plan that hinges on regaining market share in intermodal, carload, and bulk traffic in order to offset the continued steep decline of coal. Wall Street analysts have been skeptical of UP’s volume growth forecasts because the railroad has struggled to meet them in recent years. […]
Intermodal continues hot streak in U.S. to post another weekly gain
WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads reported that U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Sept. 14 rose 6.8% compared with the same week last year. Carload traffic was flat for the week, but weekly intermodal volume was up 13% compared to 2023. Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared […]
Short Line Safety Institute completes its first decade of operations
This month, the Short Line Safety Institute enters its tenth year of operations, having marked 155 completed safety culture assessments, and numerous introductions of programs and resources to benefit the short line industry in continuously improving safety culture. Founded in response to the tragic 2013 Lac-Megantic rail accident in Quebec, Canada, on regional Montreal, Maine […]
US Senator urges CSX to reconsider operating changes in Cleveland
CLEVELAND – Ohio’s Democratic Senator urges CSX to reconsider its decision to reduce its crew base at Collinwood Yard in Cleveland and reassign workers to terminals at Willard, Ohio, and Buffalo, N.Y., saying the decision is bad for railroaders and operations. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, in a letter to CSX President and CEO Joseph Hinrichs, […]
CPKC names Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández to board
CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Kansas City names Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández to board of directors, effective Nov. 1, 2024. Mr. Gutiérrez, 58, of Monterrey, Mexico, has been the chief executive officer of Arca Continental, the second largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America, since January 2019. “The addition of Arturo adds to the extensive, diverse […]
Rail Champions campaign promotes individual rail advocacy
WASHINGTON — GoRail’s Rail Champions campaign brings together individuals across the nation who believe rail is essential for reasons from congestion and emissions mitigation to how railroads power local economies, serve consumers, and relieve taxpayers. Railroads matter deeply to Americans, whether they realize it or not, as they reduce costs for families, free up space […]
Indiana port adds rail capacity, eyes container traffic
The Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor has dedicated $25 million to infrastructure upgrades, including two new railyards and the port’s first all-new dock in two decades. “Today marks a historic day for this region, our workers and this port,” Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock said in a statement yesterday. “This is the first new dock […]
How-to Library | Detailing and weathering a diesel locomotive, part 2
Efforts to make a new, HO scale (1:87.1) Alco RS1 diesel locomotives appear more worn continue. Here, David Popp demonstrates easy and effective airbrush weathering techniques for adding dirt, rust, grime, and faded-paint effects. […]