Black Fork Gorge

Steam locomotives on a coal train rounding a curve on a hillside

Black Fork Gorge Seven Western Maryland 2-8-0s — two up front, three at midtrain, and two ahead of the caboose — urge a 78-car eastbound train up the twisting grade through the Black Fork Gorge toward Thomas, W.Va. Edward Theisinger photo […]

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CSX must pay more than $220,000 after whistleblower investigation

CSX logo

NEW ORLEANS — CSX Transportation has been ordered to pay more than $220,000 for violating the Federal Railroad Safety Act for firing a worker for reporting safety concerns. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration found in an investigation that the railroad had “demonstrated a pattern of retaliation” in firing the worker in December 2019 […]

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Cleanup, investigation continue after CP derailment in Alberta

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

LACOMBE, Alberta — Cleanup and investigation are ongoing after the derailment of 23 cars of a Canadian Pacific train on Friday. The CBC reports the derailment was reported about 8:15 p.m. on Friday, and involved a 128-car train which included 110 loaded cars. Among the cars that derailed were four carrying tar oil, also known […]

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Iowa Interstate marks 100th birthday of founding chairman

Black, red, and yellow locomotive

  CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Iowa Interstate Railroad marked the 100th birthday of its founding chairman, Dr. Paul H. Banner, last week, reminding the railroad industry of his contributions to the industry in leadership roles at Southern Railway and the Rock Island as well as the Midwestern regional railroad. Banner’s birthday was June 30. […]

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Williamsport-bound

Smoking steam locomotive passes interlocking tower with train

Williamsport-bound At Fassett, Pa., just south of the New York state line, I1 4315 gets a roll on a Williamsport-bound freight. Rugged, simple, powerful, and compact, the I1’s served for four decades. Jim Shaughnessy photo […]

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‘Canadian,’ Rocky Mountaineer, ‘Coast Starlight disrupted by fires

Parked passenger train under smoky skies

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — VIA Rail Canada’s Canadian, luxury cruise train Rocky Mountaineer, and Amtrak’s Coast Starlight have had their operations disrupted by western wildfires, with trains running over only part of their routes because of fire damage. The wildfire that decimated the town of Lytton, B.C., halted last week’s westbound Canadian about 100 miles […]

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Minnesota DOT awards funding to seven rail projects

Minnesota Department of Transportation logo

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Seven projects will receive a total of $4.05 million in grants from the Minnesota Department of Transportation under its Minnesota Rail Service Improvement program. The seven, chosen from 21 applicants, were selected for their ability to aid economic development throughout the state. “The number of applicants for the 2021 MRSI grants […]

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Shipping container

Boxcars lined up for loading along curved platform

Shipping container New York Central (and subsidiary Michigan Central) had a large fleet of steel auto cars by the early 1920s. These had 10-foot door openings with 6- and 4-foot platesteel doors. New York Central photo […]

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