Short lines join call for congressional action to settle rail labor dispute (updated)

Blue and yellow locomotives switching

WASHINGTON — The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has joined the growing list of groups calling for Congress to intervene in the Class I rail labor dispute. Meanwhile, the Fertilizer Institute, which already had asked Congress to intervene, renewed its call after railroads announced they would begin embargoing hazardous or security-sensitive material, which […]

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Vermont Rail System updates its paint scheme

Freshly painted red and white locomotive

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont Rail System, operator of five railroads in Vermont and New York, is rolling out freshly painted locomotives in its new image. But you will need to look closely to notice the minor change being introduced as the company paints power for the first time in a decade. The repaints will carry the […]

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No injuries reported in multi-train NS collision in Georgia

Norfolk Southern logo

ROME, Ga. — No injuries were reported in a complex incident Saturday involving Norfolk Southern trains in the towns of Rome and Lindale, Ga. NS spokesman Connor Spielmaker said in a statement that early Saturday, “two cars from a train derailed and a passing train struck them. That train was unable to immediately stop and […]

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Three more unions reach tentative agreements with railroads

Logo of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employee

ARLINGTON, Va. —Three more unions have reached tentative agreements on new national labor agreements, the negotiating body for the railroads, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, has announced. The tentative agreements announced today (Sunday, Sept. 11), with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers: […]

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UP main line to California closed by fire in Oregon

Map of Union Pacific rail lines in California and the Pacific Northwest

OMAHA — Union Pacific’s main line between California and the Pacific Northwest has been shut down in central Oregon today (Sunday, Sept. 11) as firefighters deal with a wildfire near Oakridge, Ore. In an advisory to customers, UP says a curfew on train movements has been imposed from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time […]

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Unions blast railroads’ embargoes as move to force congressional action

Logos for BLET, SMART-TD unions

Leaders of the two major unions representing train crews have blasted the announcement by railroads that they would begin to embargo hazardous-material and other security-sensitive shipments as “corporate extortion” and “corporate terrorism” designed to force Congress to intervene in the current rail labor dispute. Jeremy Ferguson, president of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation […]

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The runaway train that didn’t

Streamlined, double-ended electric locomotive with passenger train

Mountain railroading always gave the opportunity for a runaway train. In 1949, I was working out of the small town of Avery, Idaho, on the Milwaukee Road. The railroad crossed the Bitterroot Mountains on a 1.7% grade through St. Paul Pass. The grade began just east of the Avery depot. Avery was a crew-change, engine-change, […]

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Trucking industry calls on Congress to settle rail labor dispute

Trucks bumper to bumper on street

WASHINGTON — The trucking industry doesn’t want a railroad work stoppage any more than railroads do. In a letter sent to Congressional leaders on Friday, the American Trucking Associations warned that trucks would be unable to replace rail service in the event of a strike or lockout. “While trucking and rail companies compete for ground […]

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