OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reported lower third quarter revenue and profits today (Oct. 19) as volume fell and cost pressure increased. “No doubt about it: It was a tough quarter,” new CEO Jim Vena told investors and analysts on the railroad’s earnings call this morning. But he said he was pleased with the railroad’s […]
Type of Train: Freight
South Dakota board backs six infrastructure projects for federal grants
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Railroad Board will support six of the eight projects which have applied for Federal Railroad Administration infrastructure grants, KELO-TV reports. Some $58.9 million is available for projects in the state under the Special Transportation Circumstances program, for states that lack intercity passenger service or are not connected to the […]
J.B. Hunt set a weekly intermodal volume record in September as traffic rebounds
LOWELL, Ark. – J.B. Hunt had its biggest intermodal volume week ever in September and demand remains strong this month in a potential indication that the intermodal doldrums are finally over. J.B. Hunt’s intermodal third-quarter volume entered positive territory for the first time in three quarters, executives said on the company’s earnings call on Tuesday. […]
Intermodal growth propels overall gain in weekly rail traffic, AAR says
WASHINGTON – Total U.S. weekly rail traffic eked out a 0.5% gain for the week ending Oct. 14, the Association of American Railroads reported today. Total carloads down 2% compared with the same week in 2022, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was up 2.8% compared to a year ago. Six of the 10 carload commodity […]
CN names two operations executives to succeed retiring chief operating officer
MONTREAL — Canadian National today appointed two operations executives to take over for retiring Chief Operating Officer Ed Harris. Patrick Whitehead was named executive vice president and chief network operating officer, while Derek Taylor was named executive vice president and chief field operating officer. Both appointments are effective Nov. 15. Railroads traditionally have a lone […]
Preliminary NTSB findings indicate broken rail caused coal-train derailment near Pueblo
PUEBLO, Colo. — A broken rail is believed to have caused the derailment of a BNSF coal train near Pueblo on Sunday that led to the death of a truck driver on Interstate 25, according to preliminary findings of the National Transportation Safety Board. The Colorado Sun news site reports NTSB investigators determined the broken […]
The Hills Line with James McNab | Methods for handlaying track, Episode 16
Host James McNab explores methods for handlaying track on his portable HO scale Hills Line module, including spiking, using adhesive and pinning. He shares his experiences and challenges with each method, with the aim of helping viewers find the best approach for their own projects. This episode is a practical guide for model railroaders, offering […]
AAR says long trains are safe and that a 7,500-foot limit is unnecessary
WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads says long freight trains are safe and has told the Federal Railroad Administration that there’s no need for an emergency order that would cap train length at 7,500 feet. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen on Oct. 9 called on the FRA to limit train length, claiming […]
R.J. Corman leases closed West Virginia intermodal facility
PRICHARD, W.Va. — R.J. Corman Railroad Group has leased a former Norfolk Southern intermodal facility in Pritchard — the state’s only intermodal terminal when it was closed after four disappointing years — and originally plans to use it as a car repair site. However, long-term goals could see the facility, built for $32 million, returned […]
Broken rail caused March BNSF derailment in Minnesota, NTSB says
WASHINGTON — A broken rail caused the derailment and subsequent fire involving a BNSF Railway train in Raymond, Minn., according to a National Transportation Safety Board memo in the investigation docket of the March 30, 2023, incident released Monday. Twenty-three cars derailed in the incident, 10 of which were carrying ethanol; material was released from […]
Union calls on FRA to impose 7,500-foot train-length limit
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has called on the Federal Railroad Administraton to issue an emergency order setting a 7,500-foot maximum length for trains on Class I railroads, the union announced today (Monday, Oct. 16). The BLET said in a press release that the union’s national president, Eddie Hall, had […]
News & Products for the week of October 16th 2023
News & Products for the week of October 16th 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of October 16th […]