ALAMOSA, Colo. — In late bidding that trustee William Brandt described as “spirited” to a local newspaper, a short line owned by a Colorado billionaire has won the bankruptcy auction for the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad. The Colorado Pacific Railroad, owned by Stefan Soloviev, a billionaire farmer and son of late New York […]
Train Topic: Rail Industry
CSX selects engineering, consulting firm to oversee Virginia projects
PITTSBURGH — Engineering and consulting firm Michael Baker International will lead program and construction management for projects in the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, CSX Transportation has announced. Some $3.7 billion in design and construction projects between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., are involved. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is the lead state agency in […]
RailPulse freight car telematics pilot program to expand early next year
NEW YORK — RailPulse, the joint venture aiming to provide shippers with real-time, precise freight car location no matter where the car is in North America, will expand its pilot program to more than 1,000 cars early next year. The pilot program began in April with just over 300 cars equipped with GPS sensors that […]
Union Pacific “hospital” train detoured onto Iowa Interstate
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The “hospital” train ferrying historic Union Pacific steam locomotives and other equipment to Silvis, Ill. was detoured onto the Iowa Interstate Railroad at Council Bluffs this morning. The train has been making a slow move across the UP main line since departing Cheyenne, Wyo. on Nov. 11. The slow speed of […]
Civic group “adopts” Santa Fe locomotive
SANTA FE, N.M. — Santa Fe 2-10-4 No. 5030, displayed in a Santa Fe park since 1959, is getting a refresh thanks to the Old Santa Fe Association. Volunteers from the civic association cleared trash and weeds and set up a new fence around the 380,300-pound machine. They repaired some of the rust and corroded […]
Norfolk Southern train derails after striking truck at grade crossing
PARIS, Mo. — A westbound Norfolk Southern manifest freight train derailed after colliding with a semi-trailer truck at a grade crossing on Highway 15 near Paris, Mo., on Thursday, Nov. 17th. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, an occupant in the truck and the locomotive engineer suffered minor injuries and were treated at the […]
Canadian Pacific moves steam locomotive into shop
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific has released a video of 4-6-4 No. 2816 being moved into its Calgary shop for overhaul. According to CP, No. 2816 is “being prepped for a special cross-continental trip from Calgary to Mexico City to celebrate completion of the proposed CP-KCS merger, pending regulatory approval, and the connecting of a […]
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad acquires dining car
CUMBERLAND, Md. – The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has added former New York Central grill dining car No. 456 to its fleet. The car was part of the Chattanooga Choo-Choo hotel complex for over 50 years. WMSR said in a Facebook post it will be relocating the diner to Cumberland as soon as possible. The […]
Ohio Rail Development Commission seeks federal grants
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) has approved resolutions to sponsor four Federal Railroad Administration Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant applications, totaling $52 million. Projects Cincinnati Planning Grant — In collaboration with Norfolk Southern, CSX, and Genesee & Wyoming, the project will review and prioritize projects that reduce congestion […]
VIA Rail awards contract to modernize maintenance centers
MONTRÉAL – VIA Rail Canada is awarding two contracts for the modernization of its maintenance centers in Toronto and Montréal. VIA awarded the contract for construction at the Toronto Maintenance Center to Buttcon Limited, based in Concord, Ontario. Pomerleau Inc., based in Montréal has been awarded the contract for work at the Montréal Maintenance Center. […]
FRA ‘Project Inventory’ prioritizes potential $24 billion of Northeast Corridor grants
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has released a priority list of projects eligible for funding under the Northeast Corridor component of the Federal-State Partnership portion of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act. Of the $24 billion available to be matched by Amtrak and 8 states from Massachusetts to Maryland plus the District of Columbia, the […]
The four things railroads must do to win the battle with trucks
NEW YORK — Railroads will not regain market share lost to trucks unless they shift to traffic growth mode, transform their operations, and provide service that’s far more reliable than ever. That’s the view of Oliver Wyman partner Adriene Bailey, who this week outlined four big steps railroads must take in order to deliver the […]