Unions declare impasse in negotiations with railroads, will file for arbitration

Logo of SMART-TD union

The group representing rail unions in bargaining with railroad over a new general agreement says the negotiations have reached an impasse, leading them to file for arbitration. A brief letter today (Thursday, Jan. 20) from Jeremy R. Ferguson, president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) informed other […]

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News photo: First day for Sierra Northern Ventura Division

Yellow locomotives with hills in background

FILLMORE, Calif. — Sierra Northern locomotives roll through Fillmore today (Thursday, Jan. 20) on their first day operating on the former Southern Pacific Santa Paula branch in Ventura County. Sierra Northern is the new contract operator on the county-owned line, formerly home of the Fillmore & Western. Sierra Northern want to rehab the line for […]

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Union Pacific CEO signals interest in autonomous intermodal cars

Genesee & Wyoming plans for first test of autonomous container equipment. Container moving independently on railroad track

CULVER CITY, Calif. — Union Pacific has expressed interest in a new autonomous battery-electric intermodal car concept developed by a group headed by three former Space X engineers. The concept under development by Parallel Systems would see intermodal containers carried by pairs of powered battery-electric wheelsets, moving in “platoons” of cars, but capable of splitting […]

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Ask MR: Flange-bearing frogs explained

A close-up image of a flange-bearing frog on a rail crossing diamond

Q: What is a lift frog and why are they used? – Bob Kolankoski, Scranton, Pa. A: Flange-bearing frogs, also known as lift frogs, jump frogs, or more colloquially leap frogs, are used on switches or diamonds where the main route sees far more traffic than the secondary. On a traditional tread-bearing frog, the flangeways […]

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BNSF files suit to block potential strike

Two trains meet on straight track

OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway is asking a federal judge to block a potential strike by two unions began polling workers about a possible strike over the railroad’s new attendance policies, the Associated Press reports. BNSF filed suit against the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and […]

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Watco to convert two switchers to battery-electric power

Watco logo

SCOTTSVILLE, Texas — Add shortline company Watco to the list of those exploring battery-electric locomotive technology. Watco is teaming with Medha, an India-based manufacturer of locomotives and rail-related electronics, to convert two end-cab switchers into battery-electric units. The SW1200 and SW1500, based in Texas, had been out of service for repairs, according to an article […]

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Weekly U.S. rail traffic sluggish as year begins

Table showing weekly U.S. rail traffic by commodity, plus total intermodal moves

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic continued its slow start to the year, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Overall rail volume for the week ending Jan. 15 was 493,617 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.6% compared to the corresponding week in 2021. That includes 259,970 intermodal units, a drop of 12.2%, and […]

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