Class I railroads can continue business as usual and watch their earnings stagnate and profitability fall as their freight volume declines through 2030. Or they can make meaningful service improvements, become easier for customers to deal with, and launch new intermodal services that capture freight from trucks. Adopting a successful growth strategy will boost revenue, […]
Type of Train: Freight
Nova Scotia government ends subsidy for dormant portion of short line
CAPE BRETON, Nova Scotia — The government of Nova Scotia has ended a subsidy for a dormant section of short line in the province because it sees no chance the line will be restored to operation any time soon, the CBC reports. The move regarding the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway comes after […]
The latest CSX heritage locomotive: Western Maryland
CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs today released the first photos of the railroad’s Western Maryland heritage locomotive. The unit, No. 1852 in honor of the Western Maryland’s founding year, was rolled out of the paint shop in Waycross, Ga., and into the sun. It includes the railroad’s fireball logo. “Here is the latest Heritage Locomotive from […]
Norfolk Southern customers say activist investor’s short-term strategy would hurt service
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A vast majority of Norfolk Southern customers believe an activist investor’s plans for the railroad would worsen service and prompt them to shift some of their freight to truck or rival CSX, according to a Stephens, Inc. shipper survey released today. The Arkansas-based investment bank found that 91% of shippers believe […]
Eight charged in beer thefts targeting rail yards, warehouses in Northeast
NEW YORK — Eight men from the Bronx have been charged with involvement in a two-year string of beer thefts targeting rail yards and warehouses in the Northeastern U.S.. The thefts netted hundreds of thousands of dollars of beer; those involved face charges carrying maximum penalties ranging from five years to life in prison, according […]
U.S. rail traffic increases in March
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was up 4.2% in March compared to the same month in 2023, the second straight month of year-over-year gains, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Traffic for the week ending March 30 was also up, the 10th straight week showing gains compared to a year ago. The […]
Intramotev battery-electric hopper debuts on isolated Pennsylvania coal mine railroad
ST. LOUIS – Intramotev, which is converting standard freight cars into autonomous rail vehicles, says it has successfully deployed the world’s first self-propelled battery-electric railcar in a traditional freight train. In what Intramotev called a major step forward for sustainable freight transportation, the company’s ReVolt hopper has run more than 1,000 miles making trips between […]
Norfolk Southern begins detour moves of coal that normally moves through Port of Baltimore
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern today delivered the first coal train diverted from the closed Port of Baltimore to the railroad’s Lambert’s Point coal terminal in Norfolk, Va. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge following a March 26 strike by a container ship blocked access to the NS-served Consol coal terminal. “At Norfolk Southern, […]
Norfolk Southern acquires Chicago transload and warehouse operation
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has acquired Great Lakes Reload’s Chicago transload warehouse facility, which handles inbound loads of steel and outbound loads of agricultural and construction equipment. NS said the deal, announced on Tuesday, advances its strategy to convert so-called flexible freight to rail. Flexible freight can move via truck or rail. “Transloading solutions play […]
CN modernizes DM&IR fleet with acquisition of 600 new iron ore jennies
MONTREAL — Canadian National is acquiring 600 new iron ore jennies for its former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway operation in Minnesota. Freight Car America is building the cars in Mexico using materials from U.S. Steel, the onetime owner of DM&IR. CN transports iron ore pellets mined by U. S. Steel to the company’s […]
Classic coal hauler
Most offset-side hoppers were built to AAR common designs. This two-bay Minneapolis & St. Louis 2,081-cubic-foot-capacity car, built in 1936, is typical of those in service through the 1960s. Classic Trains collection […]
STB approves proposal for new Utah short line
WASHINGTON – Federal regulators have approved Savage Tooele Railroad’s proposal to build and operate 11 miles of trackage in Utah. Savage Tooele aims to revive Union Pacific’s former 6-mile Warner Branch, restore a quarter mile of ripped-up track, and build 5 miles of new track in the Lakeview Business Park, which is being developed in […]