Amtrak Police Department and Operation Lifesaver mobilize ‘Operation Clear Track’

Blue police-badge logo with two passenger trains. Amtrak Police Department and Operation Lifesaver mobilize 'Operation Clear Track'

WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s police department and Operation Lifesaver, the national rail safety education nonprofit, are joining law enforcement and other first responders across the U.S. today for “Operation Clear Track,” the single largest rail safety initiative in the U.S. This annual initiative takes place during Rail Safety Week, Sept. 18-24, in the U.S., Canada and […]

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Swiss Spectacular, Part 11: Cogwheel to the clouds

Train at station in fog

MONTREUX, Switzerland — Climb every mountain … That sometimes seems to be the motto for the Swiss people, and for its railway builders. There are 26 cog (or rack) railways in Switzerland, according to Wikipedia; given the source, view that number as something less than definitive, but it should at least be in the ballpark. […]

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Alaska Railroad’s SD70MACs

A yellow and blue locomotive rolls along under blue partly cloudy skies with golden vegetation in the foreground

Note: This article corrects an earlier version that contained an error in the description of the SD70’s HTC-R trucks. See Comments for more information.  Alaska Railroad’s SD70MACs make up the backbone of the railroad’s freight operations and they also power all the ARR’s long-distance passenger trains — wait, isn’t the SD70MAC a freight locomotive? Although […]

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Norfolk Southern sets up interim property fund to help home sellers in East Palestine, Ohio

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern has established an interim fund that will backstop the value of homes sold in East Palestine, Ohio, and some surrounding communities, the railroad said yesterday. The Value Assurance Program will compensate home sellers for any difference between a home’s value and its selling price in the wake of the toxic Feb. […]

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BNSF and BMWED union reach tentative deal on paid sick time

BNSF Railway logo

BNSF Railway and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division—International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED) have reached a tentative agreement which includes paid sick days. Building upon existing BNSF paid time off and sickness benefits, BMWED members will receive individual paid days off to use as sick days and gain the ability to convert up […]

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Analysis: New reciprocal switching rule offers carrot and stick for better rail service

Freight train passing Metra station at BNSF Cicero Yard

If it works as intended, the Surface Transportation Board’s proposed reciprocal switching rule just might — emphasis on might — lead to better service for Class I railroad carload customers. Earlier this month the board unveiled the long-awaited rule, which for the first time proposes service standards for railroads. If a railroad fails to meet […]

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News & Products for the week of September 18th 2023

A set of five model freight cars

News & Products for the week of September 18th 2023   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of September 18th […]

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