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Originally, cars didn’t have it so good. They went in boxcars. They went on flatcars, stacked one on top of the other. Trains were important in making cars, too, and auto-parts special trains with nicknames like the *Sparkplug* began to appear. It didn’t take long to realize that something better had to come […]
This video was originally published by Trains as part of the Locomotive 2017 DVD. Natural gas as a locomotive fuel has been around for decades. Testing in the 1980s and 1990s on several railroads failed to yield the interest and scope of testing the fuel has enjoyed in the past several years. Six of the […]
This video was originally published by Trains as part of the Locomotive 2017 DVD. The northeast United States continues to be an Alco and MLW stronghold. The largest percentage of active units from these two builders call many short line railroads in this region home. Two of these railroads, Western New York & Pennsylvania […]
At first glance, aggregates — stone, sand, and gravel — are unlikely darlings among railroad commodities. They’re low-value and they tend to move only short distances. But even though their revenue per car is low, they are nearly perfect freight: indestructible and relatively harmless if spilled. In fact, stones and sand not only make […]
WASHINGTON — Thanks to the ongoing strength of intermodal traffic, U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 9 was up 4.7% over the comparable week a year earlier. The latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads show 525,253 carload and intermodal units moved for the week. The 235,404 carloads represented a 1.6% decrease […]
WASHINGTON — Media outlets are reporting that President-elect Joe Biden’s planned arrival by train for his inauguration — widely anticipated but never officially announced — will not happen in light of security concerns in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol building. The Associated Press reports the move reflects increased concerns about […]
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn has joined the call by two labor unions for increased security for Amtrak passengers and railroad workers, especially in the Washington, D.C., area, in the wake of last week’s violence at the Capitol building. “There is nothing more important than the safety of our employees,” Flynn said in a statement. “Since […]
Thursday morning rail news: Alghabra becomes Canada’s transport minister, succeeding Garneau (corrected) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shuffled his cabinet, appointing Omar Alghabra as transport minister. Alghabra replaces Marc Garneau, transport minister since 2015, who becomes minister of foreign affairs. Macleans magazine reports Alghabra, a member of parliament from Mississauga, Ontario, first served in […]
Still more Thursday morning rail news: DOT awards $40 million for commuter rail grade-crossing projects The Department of Transportation has awarded $40 million in grants to five states to improve grade crossings along commuter rail routes. The funds, awarded by the Federal Highway Administration in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration, […]
Still more Thursday morning rail news: Winds up to 100 mph halt Union Pacific trains in Wyoming High winds forced Union Pacific to shut down operations across much of Wyoming on Wednesday, with similar disruptions likely today. In an advisory to customers, the railroad said winds gusts of 80 to 100 mph began in southeast […]
Thursday midday rail news: Brightline West aims for spring start to construction of Las Vegas-California line Brightline West is aiming to start construction of its Las Vegas-Southern California high speed rail project this spring, according to a filing with the Nevada High-Speed Rail Authority. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Brightline West President Sarah Watterson said […]
More Thursday morning rail news: New RTD CEO casts doubt on plans for commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont The new head of Denver’s Regional Transportation District is questioning whether a long-planned, voter-approved commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont, Colo., is the best option to provide transit service. Colorado Public Radio reports CEO […]
