MONTREAL — Ed Harris, the most traveled Class I railroad operations chief, has come full circle. Harris on Monday was named chief operating officer at Canadian National, a job he held from 2005 to 2007. Harris also served as chief operating officer at Canadian Pacific from 2010 to 2011, at CSX Transportation from 2018 to […]
How to change a locomotive brake shoe: Probably the most important mechanical devices in railroading are the brakes. Whether they be on locomotives, freight cars or passenger cars, properly maintained brakes are a critical component for safe operations. Just like the brakes on your personal vehicle, the material composition on brake shoes wear out and […]
NOVI, Mich. — One of the four unions to vote down a tentative agreement with railroads is decrying President Joe Biden’s decision calling on Congress to impose that agreement and prevent a rail strike, continuing its call for paid sick leave while saying the move will not address rail service issues. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Bernie […]
RALEIGH, N.C. — Just two of the nine cars from the Ringling Bros. circus train bought by the North Carolina Department of Transportation will survive after the state auctioned off the remaining equipment, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. Four of the cars were badly damaged by a fire in March and had to be […]
PORTER, Ind. — The agency overseeing South Shore Line commuter rail operation has approved a contract for engineering work to relocate the rail terminal at the South Bend International Airport, as well as design a new rail route into the airport. The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, at […]
AURORA, Colo. — Full service on the Regional Transportation District’s light rail R Line, halted on a 4-mile segment since a Sept. 21 derailment, is slated to begin today (Tuesday, Nov. 29) at about 4 a.m. MST, the RTD said Monday. The RTD had previously said service would resume the week of Nov. 28, but […]
NEW YORK — The Federal Railroad Administration will grant a waiver allowing the Long Island Rail Road to open its route to the new Grand Central Madison terminal without installation of equipment to prevent Amtrak trains from inadvertently taking the wrong route, the New York Post reports. The move should allow the long-delayed terminal, some […]
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has placed tickets for its 2023 season on sale, launching a 15% off holiday sale that runs through Dec. 31. “Last year, we released tickets earlier than ever and our fans were delighted,” railroad president Scott Gibbs said in a press release. “… It makes for a very meaningful […]
As the caboose of a Maine Central train passes, the operator resets the ball signals at the Maine Central/Boston & Maine crossing at Whitefield, N.H., in 1979. This was the last surviving ball signal in commercial use on a U.S. railroad. Ben Bachman photo […]
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has called on Congress to impose the terms of a tentative agreement between railroads and unions, which would prevent a strike that could come as soon as Dec. 9. Biden said he was calling for legislation to be passed “immediately … to avert a potentially crippling national rail shutdown.” House […]
WASHINGTON — With a Dec. 9 deadline looming, a coalition of more than 400 business groups today urged Congress to prevent a national railroad strike that would cripple the economy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with trade groups representing manufacturers and retailers, said a strike would have major economic impacts as railroads curtail shipments […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation is awaiting regulatory approval to become the first railroad to use Trip Optimizer’s Zero-to-Zero function, which allows the advanced cruise control system to automatically start and stop freight trains. The goal, CSX says, is to save fuel as part of the railroad’s effort to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by […]
