MONTREAL — Unifor, Canada’s largest union, has opened bargaining with Canadian National for a new contract, the union said Wednesday. The union says it represents about 3,600 workers at CN terminals and headquarters across Canada, including mechanics, crane operators, machinists, electricians, and clericial, administrative, and customer-support workers. The current agreement expires on Dec. 31. “The […]
Type of Train: Freight
Residents file class-action suit over CSX coal-dock explosion
BALTIMORE — Residents of Baltiimore’s Curtis Bay area have filed a class action lawsuit against CSX Transportation over the Dec. 30, 2021, explosion at the railroad’s Curtis Bay Coal Piers, claiming negligence led to the blast that released “poisonous and carcinogenic chemicals” including lead and arsenic. WJZ-TV reports the residents are seeking $5 million in […]
Canadian government sets new dates for Lac-Mégantic consultation, information sessions
LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — The Canadian government has set new dates for public consultation on hydrology and mitigation in its deliberate process of building a rail bypass around Lac-Mégantic. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Wednesday that online consultation will be held Oct. 24 to Nov. 25, along with three public information sessions: — An in-person, invitation-only […]
TSA issues rail cybersecurity directive
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has issued its cybersecurity directives for freight and passenger railroads, a move greeted positively by the Association of American Railroads. The 14-page directive requires railroads to submit a cybersecurity implementation plan to the TSA for approval with 120 days. That plan must address measures to prevent operational disruption […]
U.S. rail volume ends five-week losing streak
WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic ended a five-week stretch in negative territory, edging up by 0.7% for the week ending Oct. 15, 2022, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Overall volume included 500,304 carloads and intermodal units. That included 237,263 carloads, up 3.2%, and 263,041 containers and trailers, down 1.6%. Coal […]
No injuries reported as CP train derails in Maine
ORNEVILLE, Maine — Three locomotives and six cars of a Canadian Pacific train derailed early this morning (Wednesday, Oct. 19) in Orneville, an uncorporated area also known as Southeast Piscataquis. WABI-TV reports the incident occurred about 3:15 a.m. and is attributed to a washout. The crew was not injured and no public safety issues have […]
Athearn Maxi-III five-unit articulated well car
Maxi-III five-unit articulated well car Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: $159.99 Era: 1988+ to 1994+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: 33” and 38” solid nickel silver wheels with RP-25 contours Body-mounted McHenry double-shelf couplers Injection-molded plastic body Improved metal bolster for added weight Minimum […]
Rail Development Corp. joins RailPulse
PITTSBURGH — Rail Development Corp., the Pittsburgh-based company which includes part ownership of the Iowa Interstate Railroad and a wide range of freight, logistics, and passenger operations in South America and Europe, is the newest member of the RailPulse coalition. RailPulse is working to bring widespread use of GPS and other telematics technologies to the […]
Gunderson rebuilt all-purpose 53-foot well car from Wm. K. Walthers Inc.
Gunderson rebuilt all-purpose 53-foot well car Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $44.98 Era: Mid-2000s to present Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Gunderson rebuilt all-purpose 53-foot well car features: Carries 20- to 53-foot intermodal containers Etched-metal see-through walkways Heavy die-cast metal body Body weld line details Factory-installed wire grab irons, brake gear, […]
Smart-equipment efforts — telematics — face differing expectations
FORT WORTH, Texas — There are plenty of barriers to be faced in equipping the U.S. freight car fleet with telematics, the use of GPS equipment and other sensors to provide real-time information about car location and all sorts of additional information. One is just getting all parties to agree on the benefits, and what […]
Missouri DOT seeks $50 million to address grade crossing improvements
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The fatal collision and derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief appears to have spurred action by officials in Missouri to address grade-crossing safety. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking $50 million from the state’s general budget to address grade-crossing improvements. Currently, the state budgets about $1.5 […]
Charleston, S.C., port breaks ground on new intermodal yard
CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina Ports has broken ground on a new near-dock rail facility, the Navy Base Intermodal Facility in North Charleston, to bolster the competitive position of the Port of Charleston. The facility is about a mile from the port’s Leatherman Terminal; containers will move to and from the terminal on a dedicated […]