Waterloo, Iowa, receives federal funds for possible rail yard relocation

Aerial view of railroad yard

WATERLOO, Iowa — The city of Waterloo has received a $750,000 grant to begin preparations for possible relocation Canadian National Railway’s yard from downtown Waterloo to outside of town, along with other rail projects to improve safety, traffic flow, and pedestrian access. The project will be funded from the Department of Transportation’s Neighborhood Access and […]

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Minnesota bill seeks to limit train lengths

Overhead view of train with red locomotive in city near river

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota bill to limit the length of freight trains has cleared its first legislative hurdle, passing a committee of the state’s House of Representatives on Tuesday. HF3499, introduced by Rep. Jeff Brand (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, St. Peter, Minn.), would limit trains to 8,500 feet, with penalties escalating from as little as […]

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Milwaukee S3 4-8-4 on a freight

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Milwaukee Road class S3 Northern 267 rolls stock and refrigerator cars east at Bensenville, Ill., in the 1940s. The 4-8-4 is one of 10 built by Alco for MILW in 1944; sister 261 was restored for excursion service in 1993 and still runs out of Minneapolis. Classic Trains collection […]

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Virginia governor vetoes two-person crew bill

Seal with woman standing on top of man

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed the bill that would have required two-person crews for freight trains within the state, the news website Virginia Mercury reports. Youngkin said in a veto message issued March 8 that he took the action because the actions in the bill “appear premature and lack the necessary […]

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Rail labor unions oppose tests of Parallel Systems autonomous railcars

VIDALIA, Ga. – Railroad labor union leaders today urged the Federal Railroad Administration to reject or at least severely restrict a proposal that would allow a pair of Genesee & Wyoming short lines to conduct intensive tests of Parallel Systems autonomous, self-propelled battery-electric freight cars. The Heart of Georgia and Georgia Central railroads last year […]

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News & Products for the week of March 11th 2024

A model house structure with scenery

News & Products for the week of March 11th 2024   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 March 11th […]

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BNSF eliminates management jobs amid uncertain freight outlook

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway eliminated several hundred management positions at its headquarters and across the system last week as part of a belt-tightening move. The railroad did not disclose how many jobs were affected, but people familiar with the matter say that BNSF cut 8% of its management workforce. That would translate into […]

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STB chairman disappointed activist investors haven’t agreed to meet regarding their plans for Norfolk Southern

Man gesturing while talking

WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman says he’s disappointed that executives from Ancora Holdings, the activist investor firm engaged in a proxy battle with Norfolk Southern, have yet to schedule a meeting to discuss its goals for the railroad. Ancora Holdings Group Chairman and CEO Frederick DiSanto and Ancora Alternatives President James […]

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STB passenger advisory committee has no shortage of nominees

Passenger train meets commuter train with station in background

WASHINGTON — When the Surface Transportation Board names the members of its first Rail Passenger Advisory Committee, it will be worth remembering that the competition for places among the panels 18 voting members was fiercer for some seats than for others. As outlined in the January call for nominations, the panel has a very specific […]

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Western New York & Pennsylvania mothballs 70 miles of track

Map of railroad in western New York and Pennsylvania

MEADVILLE, Pa. — The Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad is discontinuing operation on about 70 miles of railroad between Saegertown, Pa., and Jamestown, N.Y., the Meadville (Pa) Tribune reports. Company president Bob Babcock told the newspaper that the railroad generated just three carloads of traffic over that segment last year. A “handful” of employees […]

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Transportation Trades Department urges NS shareholders to reject activist investor’s proposals

Man in orange vest climbing onto black locomotive

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Trades Division of the AFL-CIO today urged Norfolk Southern shareholders to reject an activist investor’s bid to gain control of the railroad. Ancora Holdings, which has been critical of Norfolk Southern’s response to the Feb. 3, 2023, hazardous materials derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, as well as the railroad’s lagging financial […]

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