Pennsylvania approves $26 million in funding for freight rail projects

Logo of PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission has approved $26 million in state funding for 24 freight rail infrastructure projects — receiving amounts ranging from $119,000 to $3 million — under the Department of Transportation’s Rail Transportation Assistance Program and Rail Freight Assistance Program. “These investments in Pennsylvania’s rail system create jobs, support efficient […]

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CN, CP, CSX, UP earn environmental recognition (updated)

CDP logo

Canadian National and Canadian Pacific have both received places on the “A List” of global environmental non-profit CDP for corporate transparency and performance on climate change. Both were among a small number of companies receiving that score among almost 15,000 companies scored. CSX Transportation and Union Pacific, meanwhile, have been included in the Dow Jones […]

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Weekly U.S. rail traffic again below 2021 levels

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — U.S. intermodal traffic remains below 2021 levels, keeping overall volume down for the week ending Dec. 10, 2022, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Total volume for the week was 500,310 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 2.5% from the corresponding week a year ago. That includes […]

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No locomotive needed!

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An employee uses a car mover to shift a Milwaukee Road boxcar on a side track. Car movers have hinged spurs that bite into the rail. Pushing down on the handle exerts upward pressure on the wheel to start the car in motion. Advance Car Mover Co. photo […]

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BLET reportedly votes to oust president

Logo of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, unhappy about the results of recent labor negotiations, have apparently opted to make a change in union leadership. The Associated Press and other sources are reporting that challenger Eddie Hall defeated incumbent Dennis Pierce in voting for the union presidency, although the union […]

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Rapido Canadian 3800 cylindrical hopper

Canadian cylindrical hopper: A silver model hopper car against. white background

Rapido Canadian 3800 cylindrical hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $54.95; six-pack, $329.70 Era: 1965+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Canadian 3800 cylindrical hopper features: Round-hatch or Trough-hatch design Dofasco S-2 100-ton trucks Two body variations with 6- or […]

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Union Pacific details plans to test feasibility of ground-based conductors

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific is ready to launch pilot programs that will test the feasibility of redeploying conductors from locomotive cabs to ground-based positions, the railroad told the Federal Railroad Administration today during a hearing on the agency’s proposed two-person crew rule. UP believes that ground-based conductors — which the railroad dubs expediters — would […]

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Autoflood III coal hopper in N scale from Rapido

Three gray model hopper cars against a white background

Autoflood III coal hopper in N scale from Rapido Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $38.95; six-pack, $233.70 Era: 2004+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Autoflood III coal hopper features: Die-cast frame and floor Full interior rivet and K-member details […]

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Food Machinery Corporation 50-foot plug door boxcar in N scale from Athearn

Food Machinery Corporation 50-foot boxcar: an illustration o a green model boxcar against a white background

Food Machinery Corporation 50-foot plug door boxcar in N scale from Athearn Scale: N (1:160) Price: $29.99. Add $5 for Primed for Grime. Era: 1977+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Food Machinery Corporation 50-foot boxcar features: Injection-molded body Scale profile brake wheel Roller bearing, screw-mounted […]

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