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 […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Rail labor opposes Amtrak request for waiver to deal with ‘loss of shunt’ until testing data is shared (updated)
WASHINGTON — Three labor organizations have opposed Amtrak’s request for a waiver allowing installation of a device the company claims will prevent incidents where trains fail to trigger track circuits. As a result, a decades-old issue that recently has forced Amtrak to assign at least seven Superliners to trains operated over Canadian National’s Chicago-Carbondale, Ill., […]
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 […]
Pikes Peak Cog Rail again offering sunrise trips
MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. — The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is bringing back its sunrise trips on four days this summer and fall, after introducing the early-morning departures last season. On these four days, the first departure from the railway’s Manitou Springs station will be at 4:30 a.m. instead of the usual 8 a.m. The early […]
Durango & Silverton debuts ‘Highline Express’ evening excursions
DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has introduced a new early evening steam excursion, the Highline Express, which made its first trip on July 1. Running on Mondays and Tuesdays this month, the 3½-hour trip is the railroad’s shortest summer excursion and its only evening train, departing Durango at 4:30 p.m. […]
Norfolk Southern Lamberts Point coal terminal sets two-month volume record
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern’s Lamberts Point Coal Terminal in Norfolk, Va., set a two-month tonnage record after the collapse of the Key Bridge shut down an export facility at the Port of Baltimore. NS diverted coal trains to Norfolk for CONSOL Energy, whose Baltimore terminal was blocked on March 26 after a container ship struck […]
Durango & Silverton again up and running to Silverton
DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has made quick work of its latest slide disruption. The heritage railroad said on its Facebook page that it has resumed service to Silverton today (Wednesday, July 3) after Tuesday trains to Silverton were halted by a Monday night slide at milepost 486.0, near Needleton. […]
MBTA Orange Line work removes six more speed restrictions
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced it eliminated six speed restrictions during the latest service shutdown on its rapid transit network, suspensions of Orange Line service between North Station and Oak Grove June 22-23 and between North Station and Wellington June 24-30. “We continue to accomplish long deferred maintenance, repairs, and full-depth track […]
Durango & Silverton operations again disrupted by slide
DURANGO, Colo. — For the second time in less than two weeks, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been hit by a rock slide, cutting off service to Silverton. A post on the railroad’s Facebook page says the slide occurred Monday night at milepost 486.0 north of Needleton, and has covered the rail […]
Former UP and Conrail locomotives in Estonia go to scrap
A fleet of GE-built former Union Pacific and Conrail locomotives exported to Estonia two decades ago are now mostly out of service, with many cut up for scrap earlier this year. A handful remain in service, and some, heavily rebuilt, remain in use in Estonia and have been exported to nearby Finland for use there. […]
BNSF has yet to set timeline to replace North Sioux City bridge
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. — BNSF Railway says it has not determined a timeline for replacing the bridge between North Sioux City and Sioux City, Iowa, that collapsed June 23 as a result of flooding, and continues to re-route traffic through Creston, Iowa. KTIV-TV reports that railroad spokeswoman Kendall Sloan said the railroad is coordinating […]
First Tri-Rail express train disrupted by pedestrian accident
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — The launch of a new express service on South Florida commuter rail operator Tri-Rail was disrupted Monday when another train struck and killed a pedestrian, halting operations and forcing the commuter operator to provide buses on the inaugural train of the service. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports a northbound Tri-Rail train […]