MECCA, Calif. — Two Union Pacific crew members were killed early Thursday morning when a train collided with equipment on a siding near the unincorporated Coachella Valley community of Mecca, KESQ-TV reports. The accident occurred about 3 a.m. near Bombay Beach on the north shore of the Salton Sea, UP spokesman Mike Jaixen told the […]
LAKEVILLE, N.Y. — Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroads, which operates three lines in western New York and Pennsylvania, has named Robert Babcock as its president and CEO, effective Sept. 26, 2022. Babcock was most recently general manager, vice president, and senior vice president at the Indiana Rail Road, where he was responsible for train operations, […]
PS-2 2,600-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) and N (1:160) Price: HO, $51.99; N, $36.99 Era: 1965 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com PS-2 2,600-cubic-foot-capacity covered hopper features: Flush or overhanging roof as appropriate Etched metal crossover platforms (HO) and running boards (HO and N) […]
WASHINGTON — In an effort to avert a potential national rail strike, U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was part of a Wednesday session at the National Mediation Board involving the organization representing railroads in national contract negotiations, as well as eight unions that have not yet reached tentative contract agreements, Politico reports. Negotiators from the […]
IRVINE, Ky. — The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. will purchase a full set of boiler tubes and flues from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Ind., for Kentucky Steam’s restoration of C&O 2-8-4 No. 2716. The collaboration, made possible through funds from the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust, will make use of […]
MONTREAL — Catenary work on the Réseau express metropolitain light rail project has been temporarily halted while authorities investigate a Monday incident involving a runaway piece of equipment involved in track construction. The CBC reports a resident of a building overlooking Montreal’s Champlain Bridge captured video footage of the yellow maintenance vehicle rolling uncontrolled into […]
NEW YORK — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has lifted the state’s mask requirement in a number of locations where masks were previously required, including public transportation, where it was one of the few such requirements remaining in the country. Hochul announced the change in a Wednesday update on COVID-19 cases in the state. Masks […]
The city-owned Guelph Junction Railway has added a new customer, Flash Freight Systems, constructing a siding on the city’s north end near Woodlawn Avenue and Edinburgh Road. Flash Freight, headquartered 8 miles north of Guelph in Ariss, Ontario, will be using the siding to transload cement, potato flakes, peas, and lumber. The siding was constructed […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic in August inched above the level for the same month in 2021, the first time volume has been in positive territory since February, when statistics were skewed by weather problems the previous year. August totals saw carloads up 2.3% and intermodal units down 1.2% for a total increase of 0.4%, […]
NEW YORK — Buses will substitute for commuter trains on the Metro-North Port Jervis line beginning Sunday, Sept. 11, at 4 a.m., allowing trackwork including replacement of 10,000 crossties and three switches, as well as track welding work. The bus substitutions will continue for more than two months, through Nov. 13. Buses will operate to […]
WASHINGTON — Subcommittees of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Agriculture will hold a joint hearing, “Rail Service Challenges and the Impact on Agriculture,” on Sept. 15. The hearing will be held by the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. […]
The chief executives of CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific say their railroads are on the mend as more newly hired conductors enter active duty, operations are slowly improving, and freight demand remains strong. All three railroads are trying to hire conductors as quickly as possible to help ease crew shortages that have gummed […]
