CSX debuts Conrail heritage unit, the fourth in a series

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation has released its fourth heritage unit, a salute to Conrail. “Okay rail fans. Here is a sneak peak of the fourth CSX Heritage Locomotive. #1976 celebrates our Conrail heritage. Look for this one out on the road soon. Another great job for our ONE CSX team in Waycross, GA. Enjoy,” […]

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Lionel The Chessie Legacy Greenbrier

Lionel The Chessie Greenbrier front

The Lionel The Chessie Legacy Greenbrier is big. It’s colorful. It’s a steam engine. Should steamers be colorful? Like it or not, fantasy paint schemes on them seem to be an attractive alternative to the prototypical (mostly) black models. This one was featured in 2022’s Volume 2 catalog. A look back at previous offerings indicates […]

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LIRR Far Rockaway service restored after Wednesday derailment

Detail of Long Island Rail Road system map

FAR ROCKAWAY, N.Y. — Long Island Rail Road service has been restored this morning on the Far Rockaway Branch after a derailment during Wednesday evening’s rush hour. WABC-TV reports the lead car of an eastbound train derailed while entering the Far Rockaway station about 6:30 p.m. Some 50 passengers were on board, but no injuries […]

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Ottawa still awaiting estimate when light rail service will resume

Red and white light rail train rounds curve

OTTAWA, Ontario — Ottawa’s transit agency will increase the number of buses replacing light rail service along the shuttered Confederation Line as of today (July 20), but it still has no estimate when rail service will resume. OC Transpo General Manager Renée Amilcar said that operator Rideau Transit Group was “developing a plan” for resuming […]

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FRA gives environmental go-ahead for California segment of Brightline West

Illustration of high-speed Brightline West train

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration last week provided environmental clearance for a Southern California section of the proposed Brightline West high speed rail line to Las Vegas, Nev., moving the project closer to construction. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the FRA determined there would be no significant environmental impacts for the 49-mile extension from […]

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Weekly U.S. rail traffic still down, but by less

Weekly table showing U.S. carload traffic by commodity type plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed its smallest single-week drop since February in the week ending July 15, with traffic down 2.4% compared to the same week in 2022. Total volume was 478,153 carloads and intermodal units. The 225,609 carloads were an increase of 0.9%, while the 252,544 containers and trailers represented at 5.3% decline. […]

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Resumption of British Columbia port strike on hold (updated)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The strike at British Columbia ports, which was halted by a tentative settlement, resumed, then halted by a government ruling, now appears to be in limbo. Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union today provided a 72-hour notice of intent to strike, which set the stage for their walkout at […]

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Gleaming SD9 reminds us of Nickel Plate Road’s big switch

Black-and-yellow Nickel Plate Road diesel locomotive in front of trees

  Just when you think recent progress in railroad preservation can’t get any better — I’m thinking here of everything from Big Boy to Reading & Northern 2102 to Silvis Shops to Michigan Central Station — along comes another milestone that, if not quite a blockbuster, is still remarkable. Especially if you’re interested in diesel […]

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Big Boy’s Home Run Replay (with video)

Big Boy steam locomotive rounds curve on a sunny day.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 made its 2023 debut in June and July with the Home Run Express to the NCAA Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Though a tradition for the Class I railroad to showcase its various equipment at the 12th Street display site outside Charles Schwab Field, […]

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