A switch crew shuffles sand cars at the south end of Butler Yard, March 2015. Trains: Brian Schmidt BUTLER, Wis. – A Union Pacific yard in Milwaukee’s suburbs on former Chicago & North Western tracks is feeling the impact of UP’s adoption of Precision Scheduled Railroading, observers and those close to the yard tell Trains […]
Section: News Wire
Utah prepares for busy spring celebrating 150 years of transcontinental railroading NEWSWIRE
The Spike 150 website already lists about 100 events across Utah. SALT LAKE CITY – While railroad enthusiasts and history buffs are anxiously awaiting news of when Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 will hit the main line in May, officials in Utah say there are already dozens of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary […]
Tickets go on sale Monday for May 10, 2019 150th anniversary event NEWSWIRE
Tickets go on sale Monday for May 10, 2019 transcontinental railroad anniversary events. Trains: Jim Wrinn PROMONTORY SUMMIT, Utah — Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. mountain time Feb. 4 for 150th anniversary events at the Golden Spike National Historic Site on May 10, 2019. Participants can pay $20 per car that are good […]
South Shore resumes service; Metra Electric line partially open NEWSWIRE
A southbound Metra Electric train arrives at the 11th Street/Museum Campus station in August 2016. Metra Electric service has been restored on this part of the line, but remains cancelled south of Kensington; South Shore service has been fully restored. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Full South Shore Line commuter rail service has been restored […]
Amtrak board Names Kevin Winters as inspector general NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON – Amtrak board of directors has appointed Kevin Winters as the new Amtrak inspector general, effective immediately. He succeeds Tom Howard, who will retire after four decades of experience in senior federal accountability positions. Winters has served as deputy inspector general and counsel since 2015, after serving for 10 years as a senior executive […]
Arizona museum adds Alco NEWSWIRE
Magma Arizona RS3 No. 3 is the latest acquisition at the fledgling Arizona State Railroad Museum. Arizona State Railroad Museum: Al Richmond WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Although the Arizona State Railroad Museum in Williams has yet to break ground on its museum building, the foundation behind it is continuing to accumulate rolling stock relevant to the […]
Canadian National details Western Canada capacity projects for 2019 NEWSWIRE
MONTREAL — Canadian National will continue making major capacity improvements in western Canada this year, with nearly 80 miles of additional double track and three siding projects in the works for its lines linking Canadian West Coast ports, the Prairies, and Chicago. CN has been growing quickly on its spine between Edmonton, Alberta, and Winnipeg, […]
Canadian Pacific, Hapag-Lloyd renew long-term agreement NEWSWIRE
CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific Railway and Hapag-Lloyd have extended of their long-term agreement to the benefit of the international supply chain, the movement of cargo through the ports of Montreal and Vancouver, and the overall North American economy. “We are incredibly proud to continue to work with Hapag-Lloyd,” said Keith Creel, CP President and […]
Chicago’s Metra battles ‘tracks-on-fire’ myth about flaming switch heaters NEWSWIRE
A screen image capture from a Metra video of natural gas-fired switch heaters. Media outlets covering the late January freeze in the Midwest have reported that Chicago’s Metra sets its tracks on fire. METRA CHICAGO — From ABC to the British Broadcasting Corp. with Stephen Colbert in between, the national and international media is obsessed […]
CN derailment keeps Metra, South Shore, and Amtrak trains sidelined NEWSWIRE
CHICAGO – The derailment of a Canadian National freight train in south suburban Harvey that knocked down adjacent catenary supports on parallel Metra Electric tracks continues to affect Windy City passenger operations, even as temperatures begin to climb. For the third consecutive day, all Metra Electric and South Shore Line trains have been cancelled. The […]
For National Railroad Museum, a year of planning, examination NEWSWIRE
An excursion train on the museum’s loop in 2013. Brian Schmidt GREEN BAY, Wis. – The National Railroad Museum is advancing several long-term projects that will include more indoor exhibit space, equipment restorations, and remodeling of existing space. While none of the projects is “shovel ready” yet, plans are moving forward according to Executive Director […]
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy proposes 4,000-mile, coast-to-coast recreation trail NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has announced its vision for the Great American Rail-Trail, an unprecedented commitment to creating an iconic piece of American infrastructure that will connect nearly 4,000 miles of rail-trail and other multiuse trails from Washington, D.C., to Washington State. RTC is committing to this project after more than 18 months of analysis […]