NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern’s fourth-quarter operational improvements enabled it to store more than 300 locomotives and return 100 leased units even as the railroad hauled record volumes and gross ton-miles. NS continued to become more fluid this month, as average train speed was up 15 percent and terminal dwell was down 11 percent compared […]
See the Trains’ editors discuss all the rail news fit to publish for the week of Jan. 25, 2019. This week, Editor Jim Wrinn and Digital Editor Steve Sweeney talk about Precision Scheduled Railroading on Union Pacific, a new video short on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and debris falling on passengers at Chicago […]
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel does not believe that the spread of Precision Scheduled Railroading to U.S. Class I railroads will increase regulatory risk for the industry. “There’s always a risk and we have to manage that. And I think you manage that by educating the regulators as well as the customers […]
Union Pacific OMAHA, Neb. — Canadian National veteran Jim Vena hasn’t yet finished his second week as Union Pacific’s new chief operating officer and he already sees some low-hanging fruit that’s ready for harvest. Expect to see UP begin running longer trains this year — and building the extended sidings to necessary to handle them. […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reported record net profits for the fourth quarter and full year on Thursday and said that its new Precision Scheduled Railroading operating plan would help it reduce costs, improve service, and boost traffic volume. Executives said they expect UP to reduce its operating ratio to below 61 percent this year […]
A schedule for Big Boy 4014’s first operations should be out in February. Trains: Jim Wrinn OMAHA, Neb. — The wait for Big Boy 4014’s first operating schedule got a little shorter or a little longer, depending on how soon you want to make travel plans. On Wednesday, the Union Pacific Steam Club, a new […]
Staging, major industries, interchanges between railroads, and prototype inspiration are four characteristics that all successful model railroads tend to have. However, incorporating all four of these characteristics into one small space can be challenging. Download this free 12-page PDF download for HO and N scale plans, waterfront railroad layouts, small shelf Union Pacific inspired layouts, […]
Norfolk Southern’s classic ABBA cab units pass through Harrisburg, Pa., in August 2012. Trains: Jim Wrinn ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern’s fabulous four — the F-units that were rebuilt for executive train service in 2007 — are being renumbered. NS will drop the first digit from each unit’s road number to make way for General […]
Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale Alco Century 424 and 425 diesel locomotives HO scale locomotives Alco Century 424 and 425 diesel locomotives. New road numbers. C-424: Green Bay & Western (Phase I and II, two numbers each), Delaware-Lackawanna (Phase II, one number), Erie Lackawanna (Phase I, three numbers), and Minnesota Commercial (Phase II, three […]
The 2018 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train accelerates out of Greeley, Colo., in July. Trains: Jim Wrinn DENVER — The last annual steam-powered mainline excursion train in the U.S. is no more. On Monday, the Denver Post said the train Denver-Cheyenne, Wyo., train has come to the end of the line. “While we have enjoyed our […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern reported record results for the fourth quarter and full year, although executives said they were disappointed that the railroad’s service fell short of expectations in 2018. “We did not meet the expectations of our customers or shareowners, particularly in the areas of customer service and growth,” CEO Patrick […]
Pat Ottensmeyer, Kansas City Southern CEO TRAINS: David Lassen KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern has hired a veteran Canadian National executive as a consultant who will help lead its gradual shift to Precision Scheduled Railroading during the next two years. Sameh Famhy, who was senior vice president of engineering, mechanical and supply management […]
