Union Pacific and BNSF Railway shut down their operations in the Houston area Sunday in preparation for Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall today (Monday, July 8) as a Category 1 storm. Beryl, which was downgraded to a tropical storm this morning, came ashore at Matagorda, Texas, about 90 miles southwest of Houston. Beryl is expected […]
Railroad: CPKC
Fire mostly out at CPKC derailment in North Dakota
BORDULAC, N.D. — The fire at the site of a CPKC derailment in North Dakota has mostly been extinguished, with cleanup and infrastructure repair work continuing today (Sunday, July 7). KFGO Radio reports first responders remain on scene as the fire occasionally flairs up as the derailed railcars are moved. The process is now underway […]
Fire continues to burn at North Dakota derailment
BORDULAC, N.D. — Derailed cars of a CPKC train continued to burn as of early today (July 6) in Foster County, N.D., with an official saying the goal is to extinguish the fire in the next 12 to 18 hours. CNN reports Foster County Emergency Management Director Andrew Kirking said a voluntary evacuation recommendation had […]
Video: The Empress in Iowa
Trains contributor Steve Smedley put together this video of Canadian Pacific Hudson No. 2816 in Iowa on the return leg of the Final Spike Steam tour to accompany his earlier photo gallery of the July 1 move from Davenport to Dubuque, Iowa [see “‘The Empress’ and its train make the trip back to Canada,” Trains.com, […]
CPKC train carrying hazardous materials derails, catches fire in North Dakota (updated)
CARRINGTON, N.D. — Multiple cars of a CPKC train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire early today (July 5) in east-central North Dakota. The Associated Press reports that 29 cars derailed, including cars carrying anhydrous ammonia, sulfur, and methanol, according to an official from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Wind was blowing […]
News photos: The Empress returns north
Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s Final Spike Steam tour made its way from Nahant Yard, south of Davenport, Iowa, to Dubuque, Iowa, on Monday, July 1, as “the Empress,” CP Class H1b Hudson 4-6-4 No. 2816, works its way back to its home base in Calgary, via a planned July 6 display date in Winnipeg, […]
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference members reauthorize strikes against CN, CPKC
LAVAL, Quebec — Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have voted to reauthorize strikes at Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National, the union announced Saturday, June 29. Overall, 89.5% of union members participated in the vote, with 98.6% voting to reauthorize the strike, the union said. At CN, conductors, engineers, and yard workers […]
Crew member injured as CPKC train derails in Iowa (additional update)
MIDWAY BEACH, Iowa — One crew member was reported airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries after the derailment of a CPKC train that reportedly ran away on a spur line on Saturday, June 29, near Montpelier, Iowa. The incident occurred about 7 p.m. near Midway Beach in Muscatine County, Chris Jasper, Muscatine County Director […]
Teamsters Canada holding second vote on CN, CPKC strike authorization
The union representing more than 9,000 CN and CPKC workers is holding a second strike vote amid stalled contract negotiations with the railroads. “It is clear we cannot rely on a timely conclusion to these unfortunate circumstances and must protect our rights regardless of outcome,” the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) said in a press […]
CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour | Canadian Pacific No. 2816 on KCS
After a spirited run from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 steam locomotive No. 2816 “Empress” set off in late May 2024 on new mileage, covering the former Kansas City Southern system with the CPKC Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour en route to Mexico City. Come along with Trains.com as […]
CPKC to pay fine for derailment-related violations of the Clean Water Act
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City for violating the Clean Water Act following two derailments that resulted in oil spills in Maine. The derailments on the former Central Maine & Quebec occurred in 2022 and 2023 following washouts. Nearly 15,000 gallons of contaminants were spilled into nearby […]
CPR No. 2816 returns to the U.S. after completing CPKC’s Final Spike steam tour in Mexico (update)
LAREDO, Texas — With SD70ACU No. 7013 and two FP9 diesels at the head end, Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 pulled into Laredo on June 11 after recrossing the Rio Grande at the International Railway Bridge, reentering the United States. Roughly 2 weeks prior on May 30, The Empress led the three diesels and office […]