ARLINGTON, Va. — A federal court has shot down a union’s effort to negotiate wages, health care, and other key issues at a local, rather than national, level, according to the organization representing railroads in national labor bargaining. The National Railway Labor Conference said in a press release that the U.S. District Court for the […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Union blames train crew shortage on cutbacks related to Precision Scheduled Railroading (updated)
WASHINGTON — Ongoing service problems related to crew shortages on the U.S. Class I railroads are entirely self-inflicted due to the implementation of Precision Scheduled Railroading, the SMART Transportation Division labor union has told federal regulators. “The freight rail network is at a breaking point,” union President Jeremy Ferguson wrote in an April 1 letter […]
Cargo thefts decline in 2021
While thefts from Union Pacific intermodal trains in Los Angeles made national headlines early this year, overall cargo thefts last year decreased by 15% from 2020 levels, Insurance Journal reports, citing CargoNet’s annual Supply Chain Risk Trends report. The company, which provides cargo theft solutions, reported 1,285 cargo thefts in the United States and Canada, […]
Owner of Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 2-8-0 seeks restoration funding
When Lori Lindsey bought The Mineshaft Tavern in Madrid, N.M., in 2007, she acquired the restaurant, museum, and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe No. 769. After consulting with restoration experts, Lindsey is seeking funding to restore the 2-8-0. With encouragement from Santa Fe, N.M., resident Andrew Delgado, Lindsey consulted with steam restoration experts. She has […]
C&O Historical Society begins effort to restore business car Chessie 29
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. — The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society has begun fundraising for what it calls one of the most ambitious projects in its 53-year history, the restoration of business car Chessie 29 used by C&O President Walter Tuohy. Initial fundraising efforts will be boosted by a matching gift from an anonymous donor. Built […]
News photos: Brunswick, Md., tower moved
BRUNSWICK, Md. — More than 10 years after its closure by CSX Transportation, the preservation of WB Tower in Brunswick, Md., has been assured by its move from railroad to city property. The tower, built in 1910 by Baltimore & Ohio, made a short move uphill on Saturday, April 2. Wolfe House & Building Movers […]
News photos: Albany & Eastern pays tribute to Wrinn
LEBANON, Ore. — The Albany & Eastern Railroad’s Santiam Excursion Trains had a new feature this weekend: A tribute to late Trains Editor Jim Wrinn. Dave Bertz sent these photos of a message added to the cab of the train’s locomotive, Santa Maria Valley No. 205, a 1924 Baldwin 2-6-2, as seen during an excursion […]
Caltrain resumes regular weekday schedule
SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain will resume its 104-train weekday schedule today (Monday, April 4), after reducing midday operations as of March 2 to accommodate work on the ongoing electrification of the San Francisco-San Jose main line. However, another service reduction is planned in about a month. The signal work that was the reason for […]
Options exist to ease Amtrak capacity issues: Special Report
Second of two parts. Part 1 is available here. CHICAGO — Amtrak’s ability to meet increasing customer demand has been hampered by a shortage of equipment on both short-haul and long-haul trains. State-supported trains in California and the Midwest are still awaiting the Siemens Venture cars, even though the first cars were delivered in 2020. […]
April 2022
In every issue News p. 4 Lessons from the soon-to-be late Montana Rail Link Preservation p. 46 A new future for Rock Island’s Silvis Shops Train-Watching p. 48 Short line: Wisconsin & Southern’s Northern Division […]
STB denies mediation request in Amtrak Gulf Coast case
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has turned down a request to order mediation in the Amtrak Gulf Coast case. CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority/Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks had requested mediation, which Amtrak had opposed. In the decision released today (Friday, April 1), the board says it “unfortunate” that […]
CSX hires BP executive as new chief digital and technology officer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation has hired Steve Fortune, a longtime BP executive, to be its executive vice president and chief digital and technology officer. “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Fortune and welcome him to CSX’s executive leadership team. CSX is focused on growing through innovation and being a leader in […]