Boilermakers union ratifies deal with BNSF

Logo of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

FORT WORTH, Texas — Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers have ratified a new five-year contract with BNSF Railway, the union and railroad have announced. The agreement includes average wage increases of 3.5% as well as improvements to health care and vacation time. It was one of two tentative deals announced by BNSF in […]

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BNSF reports record agricultural shipments in October

FORT WORTH, Texas — Federal regulators this summer questioned whether BNSF Railway would be ready to handle this year’s fall harvest. Today the railway reported that it carried a record level of agricultural traffic last month, with ag volume and velocity both up 7% from last year. “We at BNSF are proud to support the […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Just Add Water

Ride the waves with railfan/videographer Tom Danneman, as he makes another epic summertime trek into Big Skies & Iron Rails territory! But this time, he’s hard-pressed to keep his feet on dry land…especially when there are so many captivating angles to be found in, on, and along the trackside waterways on Montana. Join Tom and […]

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BNSF logistics center in Arizona clears first regulatory hurdle

PHOENIX — Plans for a major BNSF intermodal and logistics facility near Phoenix have passed the first step in the permitting process. In a meeting last week, the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for the BNSF Logistics Park Phoenix development, the Phoenix Business Journal reports. The county’s Board of Supervisors will vote […]

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Getting the shot: John Crisanti

train surrounded by mountains in morning

Photographer John Crisanti John Crisanti is a railroader, photographer, and model railroader residing on Colorado’s Front Range. His creative use of light, weather, and wide-angle allows him to capture dramatic scenes of everyday freight. His interest in rail photography does extend beyond The Centennial State. Crisanti recently shared (with Trains) the story of going off-the-grid […]

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How railroads identify buffer service cars

Color photo of HO scale covered hopper painted gray with black graphics.

Q: Although I’m an N scale modeler, I read the review of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy HO scale buffer car on Trains.com. Reading the description brought up a question. Do railroads designate cars to dedicated buffer service? If so, how are these cars identified as used in buffer service only? — Perry A. Pollino […]

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