Roadbed for main lines and spurs

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Roadbed for main lines and spurs: Lots of modelers in all scales take measures to differentiate mainline track from spurs and sidings. Spurs are dead-end tracks leading to industries, loading ramps, and sometimes stations. Sidings are tracks usually parallel to mainline tracks and are double-ended so a train can take the siding, stop, and wait […]

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3D printed structures in N scale

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3D printed structures in N scale: In the heart of Tehachapi, Calif., near the Union Pacific’s double-track main line, stands a steam-era Southern Pacific 65,000-gallon water tank. It was brought to the town from another location on the railroad after a major earthquake destroyed its predecessor on April 21, 1952. Without it, Tehachapi had a […]

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Union charges CN has used company-issued tablets to track off-duty employees

Locomotive moving cars of containers with ship and dock in background

OTTAWA, Ontario — A union representing more than 5,000 Canadian National Railway employees in Canada has charged the railroad has been tracking the off-hours location of employees through company-issued computer tablets. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, in a message to members earlier this month on its website, said it had “become aware CN is utilizating […]

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Siemens breaks ground on new North Carolina plant

Aerial-view illustration of factory

LEXINGTON, N.C. — Siemens Mobility broke ground Wednesday, Aug. 23, on its new Lexington, N.C., plant, which aims to begin production in 2024 and expects to employ more than 500 people by 2028. The new facility, on a 200-acre site with room for expansion, will produce passenger cars as well as offering locomotive and passenger […]

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Design consultants selected for bridge-replacement portion of CREATE’s 75th Street project

Map of complex group of rail junctions in south Chicago

CHICAGO — Norfolk Southern has selected four teams of structural design consultants for the Belt Junction and 80th Street Junction Replacements, part of the CREATE program’s massive 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project on Chicogo’s South Side. The project, EW2 in the CREATE list of 70 projects to improve rail traffic flow in the Chicago area, […]

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Service on Metro-North’s New Canaan Branch to return Sept. 2

Logo of Connecticut Department of Transportation

NEW CANAAN, Conn. — Metro-North’s New Canaan Branch, which has been idled since May 30 for track work, will resume operation on Saturday, Sept. 2, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced. Work on the electrified 8-mile, single-track branch — which normally sees 41 trains each weekday — has included tie and rail replacement, insulated […]

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Weekly U.S. rail traffic down 2.7%

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus total intermodal volume

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed another week of mild decline for the week ending Aug. 19. According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, the week’s total volume was 478,853 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.7% from the same week in 2022. That marks the seventh time in nine weeks the drop has […]

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SMART-TD calls for FRA standards for those training new conductors

Man climbing on front steps of orange locomotive

WASHINGTON — The union representing railroad conductors is calling for the Federal Railroad Administration to set standards for those involved in training of conductor trainees, while also issuing an advisory to its members regarding their duties and responsibilities regarding such training and trainees. The actions from the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and […]

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Initial ticket sales strong for upcoming N&W 611 fall excursions

Streamlined steam locomotive with train passes through field

ROANOKE, Va. — Strong sales have followed Tuesday’s release of tickets for the upcoming fall excursions with Norfolk & Western steam locomotive No. 611 on the Buckingham Branch Railroad. The Shenandoah Valley Limited will offer twice-daily, 60-mile round trips during October and November weekends between Goshen and Staunton, Va. Traffic was high on the website […]

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Brightline says new Stuart, Fla., bridge would cost $218 million, take four years to build (updated)

Boat approaches open drawbridge

STUART, Fla. — A new double-track bridge for the Florida East Coast Railway at Stuart would cost about $218 million and take four years to build, Brightline Vice President of Community Relations Ali Soule told Martin County officials on Tuesday. WPTV reports Soule appeared before Martin County Commissioners to ask them to pass a resolution […]

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