BNSF grain train derails in Montana

BNSF Railway logo

ESSEX, Mont. — Twelve cars of a BNSF grain train derailed near Essex early today (Saturday, Oct. 12), KRTV reports. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred about 5:42 a.m. near Java, Mont., on the Hi Line Subdivision, according to a BNSF customer advisory. Both tracks of the main line were affected; BNSF is estimating […]

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Denver commuter rail operators vote to join Teamsters

Denver_ALine_Lassen

DENVER — Workers for the contract operator of the Denver-area commuter rail system have voted to organize with Teamsters Local 17, the union announced Friday. Denver Transit Operators holds a 29-year contract to operate the Regional Transportation District’s commuter rail system, which operations from Denver Union Station and includes the A Line to Denver International […]

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Double diesel

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Union Pacific U50C No. 5000 lays over at the railroad’s North Platte, Neb., shop on Jan. 21, 1975. It was one of 40 such units on the railroad in operation from 1969 to 1978. Bruce Barrett photo […]

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Sale of San Luis Central nears completion

Green and yellow switch engine and crew member

MONTE VISTA, Colo. — Sale of the San Luis Central Railroad, the 13-mile Colorado short line in the state’s San Luis Valley, is expected to close today (Oct. 1), Ed Burkhardt of Rail World Inc. has told News Wire contributor Russell Sharp. The Soloviev Group, owner of the connecting Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad, filed […]

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Denver light rail to resume Downtown Loop service Sept. 29

Railroad tracks in Denver ready to resume Downtown Loop service

  DENVER — Three Denver light rail lines will resume Downtown Loop service on Sept. 29 following the completion of significant construction. The three lines, D, H, and L, had been detouring to Denver Union Station.   After nearly 30 years, RTD is investing in its oldest rail infrastructure to ensure the long-term integrity of […]

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Colorado’s San Luis Central reopens line

Green-and-yellow diesel locomotive on five culverts over waterway with pink railcar

MONTE VISTA, Colo. — The San Luis Central reopens its main line running the first train to operate since May 24, 2024. Here, it crosses an irrigation canal on newly installed culverts that repaired a washout on this section of line on Sept. 9, 2024. Electro-Motive SW8, No. 70, with General Manager Tom Tancula at […]

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Big Boy’s ‘Westward Bound’ recap

Steam locomotive and train round curve in desert landscape

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Union Pacific Railroad‘s Big Boy No. 4014 is en route for its second outing of the 2024 steam season. During its “Heartland of America” tour, the 4-8-8-4 will travel eastbound toward Illinois before pointing its headlight south to Texas. Before looking more into the fall trip, here’s a recap of both the […]

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Crew members injured in BNSF derailment in Colorado

BNSF Railway logo

BOULDER, Colo. — Two crew members were treated at a hospital and released after a BNSF train derailed Thursday night, KDVR-TV reports. The incident was originally reported by Boulder police as a collision of two trains, but BNSF subsequently confirmed a single train was involved. At least one report says the train hit a group […]

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Views from a Colorado narrow gauge garden railroad

model steam engine next to yellow structure on garden railway

I model Colorado narrow gauge, specifically the Denver & Rio Grande Western and Rio Grande Southern. I own two separate garden railroads (not connected and about 8 feet apart). Trains run around approximately 250 feet of mainline tracks with a couple of short lines for logging and running the Galloping Goose. I can run five […]

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Meet on the Rio Grande

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D&RGW SD40T-2s on a coal drag off the Craig Branch hold the main line for a meet with westbound freight No. 83 at Yarmony, a few miles east of Bond, Colo., in June 1976. Richard Loveman photo […]

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