Weekly U.S. rail traffic again below 2021 levels

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — U.S. intermodal traffic remains below 2021 levels, keeping overall volume down for the week ending Dec. 10, 2022, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Total volume for the week was 500,310 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 2.5% from the corresponding week a year ago. That includes […]

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No locomotive needed!

20181227

An employee uses a car mover to shift a Milwaukee Road boxcar on a side track. Car movers have hinged spurs that bite into the rail. Pushing down on the handle exerts upward pressure on the wheel to start the car in motion. Advance Car Mover Co. photo […]

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BLET reportedly votes to oust president

Logo of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, unhappy about the results of recent labor negotiations, have apparently opted to make a change in union leadership. The Associated Press and other sources are reporting that challenger Eddie Hall defeated incumbent Dennis Pierce in voting for the union presidency, although the union […]

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Carlson, former Metra board chairman, retires

Man in coat and tie

CHICAGO — Norm Carlson, a former chairman of the Metra board of director who had served on the commuter rail agency’s board since April 2013, retired from the board at its meeting today (Wednesday, Dec. 14). Carlson was the longest-serving member of the current board. In addition to his term as chairman, he served two […]

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Rapido Canadian 3800 cylindrical hopper

Canadian cylindrical hopper: A silver model hopper car against. white background

Rapido Canadian 3800 cylindrical hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $54.95; six-pack, $329.70 Era: 1965+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Canadian 3800 cylindrical hopper features: Round-hatch or Trough-hatch design Dofasco S-2 100-ton trucks Two body variations with 6- or […]

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Union Pacific details plans to test feasibility of ground-based conductors

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific is ready to launch pilot programs that will test the feasibility of redeploying conductors from locomotive cabs to ground-based positions, the railroad told the Federal Railroad Administration today during a hearing on the agency’s proposed two-person crew rule. UP believes that ground-based conductors — which the railroad dubs expediters — would […]

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The West Palm Beach Terminal Co. layout in HO scale

The HO scal West Palm Terminal Co. layout

Facts & features Name: West Palm Beach Terminal Co. Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 9-0′ x 12-0′ Prototypes:  West Palm Beach Terminal Co. Locale: East coast of Florida Era: Late 1950s Style: Module Mainline run: None Minimum radius: 1821″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: None Benchwork: Hollow-core doors Height: 45″ Roadbed: Cork sheet Track: Micro engineering […]

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The Great Northern layout in N scale

The Great Northern layout in N scale

Facts & features Name: Great Northern Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10-0′ x 16-0′ Prototypes:  Freelanced Locale: Pacific Northwest Era: Mid-1960s Style: Walk-in Mainline run: 86 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Benchwork: Modified L-girder Height: 46″ Roadbed: Commercial foam roadbed Track: Micro Engineering code 55 (main), Peco code 80 (staging) Scenery: Extruded-foam insulation […]

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Autoflood III coal hopper in N scale from Rapido

Three gray model hopper cars against a white background

Autoflood III coal hopper in N scale from Rapido Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $38.95; six-pack, $233.70 Era: 2004+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Autoflood III coal hopper features: Die-cast frame and floor Full interior rivet and K-member details […]

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Union Pacific wants to provide rail labor with paid sick days, more predictable schedules

Two crew members stand next to their train as another train passes

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific wants to address sick leave for its unionized employees and provide certainty regarding scheduled days off, CEO Lance Fritz told the Surface Transportation Board on Tuesday. STB Member Robert Primus asked Fritz if he would be in favor of adding sick leave, something that rail labor is seeking through congressional action […]

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News photos: Toronto-area transit museum holds Christmas event to cap 2022 season

Streetcar decorated with holiday lights at station

MILTON, Ontario —  The Halton County Radial Railway Museum closed its 2022 season with its “Christmas On the Rails” event Dec. 10-11, operating multiple cars from its collection of more than 50 pieces of 19th- and 20th-century equipment. Among cars in operation were London & Port Stanley Railway interurban car No. 8 (built in 1919 […]

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