And the survey says: Rail workers overwhelmingly unhappy with contract recommendations and support a strike

RENO, Nev. – Rank-and-file members of railroad labor unions are disappointed with the Presidential Emergency Board’s contract recommendations and overwhelmingly support a strike, according to an online survey conducted by Railroad Workers United. Nearly 83% of those surveyed said the PEB’s recommendations fell short of their expectations. Nearly 8% expressed neutral sentiments, while the remaining […]

Read More…

Trouble on the Transcon

Earlier this month, Trains drove alongside BNSF Railway’s Southern Transcon from Barstow, Calif., to Belen, N.M., to see how North America’s busiest freight railroad and intermodal corridor is faring amid the crew shortages that have affected operations. BNSF’s California and Southwest divisions have been among the hardest hit in the country as the big four […]

Read More…

General Electric ET44 diesel locomotive from ScaleTrains

Red, black, and gray modern diesel locomotive

General Electric ET44 diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $174.99; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $269.99 Era: 2014-present (depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Road-number-specific details Factory-installed details including wire grab irons, m.u. clusters, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, and […]

Read More…

Missouri judge denies motions to delay Southwest Chief court cases

Aerial view of three Superliner passenger cars on their side after derailment

KEYTESVILLE, Mo. — A Missouri circuit court judge has denied requests to delay lawsuits over the June derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief while the National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the accident remains active. KOMU-TV reports Judge Terry Tschannen ruled Monday that, while certain information may not be disclosed while the NTSB is investigating, the […]

Read More…

Fox Valley Models SD70ACe announced by ScaleTrains

Yellow, silver, and black modern diesel locomotive

Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe diesel locomotive Scale: N (1:160) Price: Direct-current model with Next18 connector, $119.99; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $219.99 Era: 2007-present (depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Road number-specific details Factory-installed details including wire grab irons, m.u. clusters, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, and […]

Read More…

HO scale AC4400CW from ScaleTrains

Gray and red diesel locomotive

General Electric AC4400CW Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $204.99; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $299.99 Era: 1995 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Road-number-specific details Factory-installed wire grab irons, m.u. clusters, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, and more […]

Read More…

ClassOneModelWorks.com announces Electro-Motive Division GP40

Black and gold diesel locomotive

Electro-Motive Division GP40 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: To be announced Era: April 1966 to present (varies depending on paint scheme Manufacturer: ClassOneModelWorks.com, 8610 NW 107th Terrace, Kansas City, MO, 64153; 816-243-0044; ClassOneModelWorks.com Features: Road- and unit-specific body styles Flat cap 48” fans Diamond mesh radiator intake screen Early triangular fuel tank mounts Ribbed cab base […]

Read More…

FRA looking into Southern California tank car incident

Aerial view of tank cars

PERRIS, Calif. — The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating last week’s incident involving a leaking tank car that led to evacuations and closure of an interstate highway for about a day. The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports the FRA’s Hazards Materials Division will look at preparation and loading of the tank car, the car’s move from origin […]

Read More…

BNSF to end California traffic embargo in September

Freight trains meet under cloudy skies

FORT WORTH, Texas – BNSF Railway on Sept. 4 will end its embargo on certain types of carload traffic bound for California, saying that the restrictions enabled the railway to reduce traffic backlogs on its Southern Transcon. “BNSF is terminating our California permit embargo on Sunday, September 4. As anticipated, our weekly number of permits continued […]

Read More…

BNSF intermodal train derails in Texas (updated)

BNSF Railway logo

HEREFORD, Texas — Seventeen cars of a BNSF Railway intermodal train derailed early Wednesday morning on the railroad’s Southern Transcon near the town of Hereford, the Amarillo Globe-News reports. The derailment occurred about 5 a.m. on the Hereford Subdivision, between the towns of Dawn and Hereford, about 45 miles southwest of Amarillo. No injuries were […]

Read More…