Digest: Utah budget may have room for commuter rail upgrades

Utah Transit Authority Logo

Utah’s FrontRunner may be in line for double tracking, other improvements Utah’s budget situation looks better than expected for 2021, which may make room for a long-sought double-track project for FrontRunner commuter rail service. The Salt Lake Tribune reports improvements for the commuter operation include double-track segments between Ogden and Provo, which would allow trains […]

Read More…

Class I railroad executives tout growth prospects, customer focus

A Norfolk Southern train heads west through Otis, Ind

Top executives from Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern last week touted the industry’s growth prospects and the ways they are working to make railroads better able to compete against trucks. Their remarks, made at the RailTrends 2020 conference, came a day after consulting firm Oliver Wyman released a survey that showed […]

Read More…

Pike’s Peak Railway getting new snow blower

The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway's new snow blower

MANITOU, Colo. — New railroad snowfighting equipment is relatively rare, but there’s a new snow clearing tool on its way to Colorado.   The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway has ordered a new snow blower as part of its $100 million renovation project. The new snow blower, produced by Zaugg in Eggiwil, Switzerland, will […]

Read More…

Digest: Utah considers cog railway to serve ski resorts

A Utah DOT map shows (in purple) the proposed route of a cog railway

Still more Monday morning rail news: Utah to consider cog railway to serve recreational area A cog railway has been added to the list of options under consideration by the Utah Department of Transportation to address traffic congestion in Little Cottonwood Canyon, a popular recreation area which includes the Snowbird and Alta ski areas. The […]

Read More…

Digest: Rocky Mountaineer to launch Colorado-Utah route

A Rocky Mountaineer train

Still more Thursday morning rail news: Rocky Mountaineer to launch Colorado-Utah route in 2021 Canadian luxury train operator Rocky Mountaineer will launch a U.S. train in 2021. The “Rockies to the Red Rocks” service will be a two-day trip between Denver and Moab, Utah, with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, Colo. The company plans […]

Read More…

John Bush, Cumbres & Toltec president and GM, retires

Cumbres & Toltec President and General Manager John Bush

CHAMA, N.M. — John Bush, president and general manager of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, is retiring after eight years overseeing the narrow gauge railroad. “John has been an incredible asset to the Cumbres & Toltec and has poured his heart and soul into the organization,” Dan Love, chairman of the Cumbres & Toltec […]

Read More…

Photo of the Day

20181213

Union Pacific mixed train Consolidation 284 leads Union Pacific train 386, a mixed train on the road’s Idaho Northern Branch, near Smith’s Ferry, Idaho, in December 1947. R. H. Kindig photo […]

Read More…