Big Boy braking power

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Ten hoppers coupled to the Big Boy consist in January 2014 were used for additional braking power. Steve Sweeney Q Why was there a string of hopper cars in the consist moving Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 from Pomona to West Colton, Calif., in January 2014? – David Tritenbach, Kerrville, Texas A Although Union […]

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Harrison says operations streamlining will continue; ‘I’m not a one-man crew advocate’ NEWSWIRE

CSX CEO E. Hunter Harrison Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — New CSX Transportation CEO E. Hunter Harrison gave some broad-brush outlines today on his plans to cut costs, streamline operations, and improve service. Wall Street analysts quizzed Harrison for nearly two hours during the railroad’s first-quarter earnings call this morning. While Harrison said many details […]

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Taking Care of Business: SMS Rail Lines

A green-paint switching locomotive in a rail yard.

To launch our all-new operation-oriented series, Charlie Conway captures a day in the life of a hardworking SMS Rail Lines crew in New Jersey. In this narrated show, you’ll discover useful modeling insights and prototype railroad information you can apply to your own layout operating sessions. You won’t want to miss any of the shortline […]

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Taking Care of Business: SMS Rail Lines

A green-paint switching locomotive in a rail yard.

To launch our all-new operation-oriented series, Charlie Conway captures a day in the life of a hardworking SMS Rail Lines crew in New Jersey. In this narrated show, you’ll discover useful modeling insights and prototype railroad information you can apply to your own layout operating sessions. You won’t want to miss any of the shortline […]

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An ancient scale test car

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Scale test cars are used to calibrate in-track scales that weigh freight cars. The car shown above was built in 1891 and served until the 1980s. Jim Battle Q The car in this picture was in the New York, Susquehanna & Western’s Little Ferry, N.J., yard in September 1978. Do you know if it is […]

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CSX runs test train on Clinchfield route NEWSWIRE

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Photographers caught CSX Transportation train K446-07 on April 8, led by two SD40-2’s, on a northbound trip on the Clinchfield Route. Here it is seen going through Dante, Va., by the old depot. Nick Dumas DANTE, Va. — Sources close to CSX Transportation say railroad managers are looking for alternative routes now that recent hump […]

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Broken rails: an unexpected pain

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The manufacture and maintenance of rail is as old as railroading — and so are broken rails. Though today’s rail is much harder, stronger, and of higher quality than rail made even 40 years ago, railroads and metallurgists have just recently begun to understand why rails still are breaking. As railroads installed new rail in […]

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The fine science of friction control

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Hydraulic flange greasers are activated when a wheel rolls over an actuator, as shown on CSX’s Indianapolis Line Subdivision. Two photos, Eric Powell Forgive the pun, but it’s a slippery slope that railroads have to deal with, in terms of rail and flange lubrication. Too much or too little grease on the track can cause […]

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CSX to close down hump at Osborn Yard in Kentucky NEWSWIRE

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CSX Transportation’s Osborn Yard Google Maps LOUISVILLE, Ky. — CSX Transportation’s Osborn Yard in Louisville will be the third yard in less than two weeks to have its hump operations shut down. CSX spokeswoman Laura Phelps tells Trains News Wire that after a thorough review of the railroad’s Louisville-region operating plan, the railroad has informed […]

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