Unions ask for end to mediation over national contract

Logos of 10 unions that make up the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition

  WASHINGTON — Two unions involved in the negotiations for a new national rail labor contract have asked to be released from mediation with the coalition representing railroads, instead requesting to move to arbitration. In a letter dated Feb. 23, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference, and the […]

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BNSF plans capital spending increase in 2022

Double-stack container train passing maintenance equipment

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF will increase capital spending to $3.55 billion in 2022, after a spend of $2.97 billion in 2021, the railroad reported in its fourth-quarter financial summary. Of that $3.55 billion, $2.71 billion is budgeted for maintenance and replacement, including 14,000 miles of track surfacing or undercutting; replacement of 381 miles of […]

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Canadian rail accidents showed slight increase in 2021

GATINEAU, Quebec — Rail accidents increased in Canada in 2021, while still remaining below the five-year average for such incidents, according to preliminary statistics released Monday by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Air transportation and pipelines also saw increases, while marine accidents decreased. The TSB suggested in a press release that the increases likely […]

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Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad history remembered

Boxy diesel locomotive with passenger train on curve

Is there a more dignified railroad name than “Lackawanna?” Certainly, Lackawanna history evokes many images. In the days of steam, the name meant meticulous track supporting well-proportioned, dual-service “Pocono” 4-8-4s, hefty hogs in the form of three-cylinder 4-8-2s and ponderous 2-8-2s, speedy commuter 4-6-2s, and gorgeous 4-6-4s that even long-time Trains Editor David P. Morgan […]

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Athearn adds General Electric AC4400CW to Genesis 2.0 line

CSX no. 1, the Spirit of West Virginia, is based on one of the first six AC4400CWs built. Features on the model include a Holden K5H air horn, angled grab irons on top of the nose, and evenly sized radiator grills on the right side.

A General Electric AC4400CW diesel locomotive joins the rapidly growing Genesis 2.0 product line from Athearn Trains. The HO scale six-axle road unit is scheduled for release in April 2023. Road names in the first release will include The CIT Group (blue and white), Chicago & North Western (green and yellow with Operation Lifesaver logo), […]

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The Lionel no. 3429 helicopter car

Lionel's no. 3429 helicopter car

The Lionel no. 3429 helicopter car was the company’s answer to get more kids to buy its products in the late 1950s. It was an attempt to get away from a product line the public regarded as old-fashioned. The company’s creative minds decided to make items Lionel could link the trains to popular military and […]

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Weather, construction leads to Chicago-area intermodal issues for BNSF

Freight train with orange locomotives leaves yard as commuter train approaches

CHICAGO — BNSF Railway is working to recover from intermodal service issues in the Chicago area stemming from weather and construction impacts, the railroad informed customers on Friday. The Corwith, Cicero, Wilow Springs, and Logistic Park Chicago facilities were hit by blizzard conditions Feb. 17-18, leading to major road closures and “reduced productivity at intermodal […]

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