East Broad Top group acquires 1934 standard-gauge PRR boxcar

Boxcar being lowered by cranes

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – The East Broad Top Railroad reached one of its preservation goals Thursday, Aug. 19, with the arrival of a period standard-gauge, 40-foot steel boxcar to illustrate how the historic common-carrier narrow gauge line once hauled larger cars on interchange trucks. Loaded on a flatbed trailer on Wednesday at the Kiski Junction […]

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California high speed rail board approves Bakersfield-Palmdale environmental report

California High Speed Rail Authority logo

LOS ANGELES — The California High-Speed Rail Authority board of directors has approved the final environmental report for the 80-mile Bakersfield-Palmdale section of the project, the first portion in Southern California to receive clearance under the California Environmental Quality Act. The move sets the stage for clearance of the full 500-mile San Francisco-LA/Anaheim route under […]

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UP updates plans for Big Boy display in New Orleans

BigBoy_Speer_Wrinn

NEW ORLEANS — Union Pacific is adjusting plans for Saturday’s display of Big Boy No. 4014 in New Orleans in light of local COVID-19 guidelines. The railroad has announced the locomotive will be on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Audubon Riverview Park, 6500 Magazine Street. However, the “Experience the Union Pacific” rail […]

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Illinois DOT announces project to unsnarl junction near St. Louis

Freight train crosses tracks near building being demolished

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced a $10.1 million project to improve rail operations in Mitchell, Ill., northeast of St. Louis. The project will reconfigure rail lines and replace a 97-year-old interlocking tower, with funding from six sources: $5.1 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvments […]

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Veteran railroader, Trains contributor Bud Bulgrin dies

Man in black cap with camera

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – Veteran railroader and well-known railfan Burdell L. “Bud” Bulgrin died Aug. 18 of complications of Covid-19. He was 82. Bulgrin’s long railroad career included stints in the communications departments at Santa Fe, Illinois Central, Soo Line, and Canadian Pacific. But he was probably best known as a life-long railfan and photographer […]

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CSX train derails in Indiana (updated)

Derailed cars, including tank car lifted above roadway

FOUNTAINTOWN, Ind. — Fourteen cars of a CSX train derailed this morning in an unincorporated area near Greenfield, Ind., blocking a state highway and knocking down some local power lines. CSX says in a statement that the derailment occurred about 8:11 a.m., and involved six empty cars and eight loaded cars. No hazardous materials were […]

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KCS shareholders to vote on CN merger on Sept. 3 (updated)

Canadian National and Kansas City Southern logos

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern shareholders will vote on the proposed merger with Canadian National on Sept. 3. KCS this morning convened and adjourned its previously scheduled special meeting of shareholders, delaying the vote in the absence of a Surface Transportation Board decision on CN’s request to put KCS into a voting trust […]

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Norfolk Southern service slowed by two derailments

Norfolk Southern logo

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern has issued customer advisories informing shippers of delays because of two derailments on its system. On Wednesday, the railroad reported a derailment near Meridian, Miss., would lead to delays of at least 24 hours on several routes, including its Meridian Speedway interchange with Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific interchange traffic, […]

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News Photo: Big Boy departs Houston

Steam locomotive and diesel pulling yellow passenger train

HOUSTON — After a display day on Tuesday, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 resumed its 2021 tour on Wednesday, resuming its trek toward New Orleans. The 4-8-8-4 and its train is show here leaving Houston on Wednesday’s move to Beaumont, Texas. Today, it is scheduled to continue to Livonia, La., where it will lay […]

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