WASHINGTON — It’s back to the drawing board for CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. The Surface Transportation Board today rejected as incomplete CSX’s application to acquire control of Pan Am. “The Board finds that the application fails to include all of the information needed to satisfy the Market Analysis […]
Type of Train: Freight
CN and KCS take first step toward merger
WASHINGTON — Canadian National and Kansas City Southern today asked federal regulators to approve a voting trust that is the initial step in their plans to merge into the first railroad linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. To address competition concerns in the one area where the railroads’ systems overlap, CN said it will sell the […]
Digest: Pacific Surfliner to require reservations on peak summer weekends
Pacific Surfliners to require reservations on four weekends; more could be added Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will require reservations for travel on peak weekends this suffer, a move to manage capacity when more travelers are anticipated. Four weekends have been designated for the reservation requirement — Memorial Day weekend (May 28-June 1), Fourth of July weekend […]
Digest: Industrial development firm launches rail affiliate, announces first operation
Agracel Rail Holdings launches with agreement at Ohio industrial park A company providing industrial development services to rural communities is launching a rail affiliate. Agracel Rail Holdings, a subsidiary of Agracel, Inc., will begin operations by redeveloping and operating rail infrastructure at The Point Industrial Park in South Point, Ohio. “Our goal in becoming a […]
Digest: News report says official leaves California high speed rail agency after investigation
No. 2 official departs from California high speed agency The No. 2 official at the California High-Speed Rail Authority has left the agency as the result of an investigation, the Los Angeles Times reports. Chief Operating Officer Joe Hedges left the agency as of Tuesday following an investigation that began last year with an anonymous […]
Freight car evolution
Freight car evolution Auto parts trains were a mixed bag in the mid-1960s. This Wabash train in May 1964 shows an old 50-foot parts car with only the code and car numbers visible, new 60- and 85-foot cars, and an open auto rack. J. David Ingles collection […]
Digest: UP train derails in New Mexico
UP train derails near Lordsburg, N.M., disrupting Sunset Limited No injuries were reported when about 50 cars of a Union Pacific intermodal train derailed Monday afternoon near Lordsburg, N.M. The Grant County Beat website reports the accident occurred about 3:30 p.m. local time. Sunset Limited service in both directions was disrupted, with trains holding in […]
Iron mule
Iron mule An unseen “iron mule” between the rails propels a coal car, with a brakeman aboard, toward a dumper at Newport News, Va. The C&O, along with rivals Norfolk & Western and Virginian, moved millions of tons of coal to be transloaded to ships in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Chesapeake & Ohio […]
Digest: BNSF seeks eminent-domain authority to acquire land for Colorado intermodal terminal
BNSF asks to use eminent domain to complete land acquisition for Denver-area intermodal terminal BNSF Railway is asking officials in Colorado’s Weld County for eminent-domain authority to obtain land for a new intermodal facility. BizWest reports the railroad has submitted 10 requests at Weld County District Court in Greeley to acquire land to build a […]
Kansas City Southern selects Canadian National as merger partner (updated)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Southern has officially terminated its merger agreement with Canadian Pacific and chosen to partner with Canadian National in a $33.6 billion deal to create the first railroad linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. “We are thrilled that KCS has agreed to combine with CN to create the premier railway for […]
Illinois steam survivor
Illinois steam survivor Wabash 2-6-0 576 creeps west across the Illinois River at Meredosia, Ill., in September 1954. The bridge famously limited the use of diesel locomotives on the railroad’s branch to Keokuk, making this operation a late era Midwest steam outpost. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
CN-KCS merger would make Canadian Pacific an acquisition target, Creel says
CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel says that if rival Canadian National acquires Kansas City Southern, the merger will destabilize the North American rail network and make CP a target for acquisition by another Class I railroad. CP today made a last-ditch effort to convince the KCS board to abandon its agreement to […]