A Union Pacific local train passes through suburban areas near Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., in October 2017. TRAINS: Steve Sweeney Question: How do trains crews earn their money? — Lee Martens, Rifle, Colo. Answer: In short, it is complicated. There are differences between how most Class I railroaders are paid and their short line colleagues — […]
Siemens Charger SC-44 No. 4632 leads Amtrak train 391, the southbound Saluki from Chicago to Carbondale, Ill., on the Canadian National Centrailia Subdivision, after passing the coaling towers that were built for the then Illinois Central Railroad in 1949. 18302-27 Jim Pearson Question: What effect, if any, will the implementation of Precision Scheduled Railroading by […]
What could be: See how Trains Art Director Tom Danneman added — layer by layer — the various color, striping, and artwork to his photo of a Montana Rail Link SD70ACe, creating a commemorative paint scheme for Union Pacific’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad. The imaginary paint scheme pays tribute to […]
SEATTLE — The Alaska Railroad carried a third less freight by weight in 2018 compared with 2017 totals, but a change in the mix of freight coupled with gains on the passenger side helped dampen the drop in revenue and net income. The Anchorage, Alaska-based state-owned railroad reported operating revenue of $163.4 million in 2018, […]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The president of one of the largest railroad labor organizations in the country has condemned Class I railroads’ move to Precision Scheduled Railroading, writing that it is putting safety at risk and comparing it to the disastrous Penn Central merger a half-century ago. Dennis R. Pierce, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive […]
SEATTLE — Linking Alaska to the 48 contiguous U.S. is an idea that is resurfacing again with heavier Canadian support. Canadian businessman Sean McCoshen told a recent meeting of the Alaska State Senate Transportation Committee that the company he co-founded and runs, Alberta-Alaska Railway Development Corp., has been working with consultants, the Alaska Railroad, Canadian […]
Great Northern Historical Society’s SD45 No. 400 got a new engine at the BNSF shop in Minneapolis. Steve Glischinski MINNEAPOLIS – Great Northern Railway Historical Society’s GN SD45 No. 400, “Hustle Muscle” is returning to service after two years. The locomotive was the first EMD production model SD45. In spring 2017, while being operated on […]
“Long-term deterioration” is believed to be the cause of this bridge collapse onto Norfolk Southern tracks last week in Toledo, Ohio. Michael D. Harding TOLEDO, Ohio — Officials believe long-term deterioration was the cause of last week’s bridge collapse that blocked Norfolk Southern’s main line through Toledo for more than six hours. The Toledo Blade […]
An Arcade & Attica Railroad rare-mileage special paused at North Jana, N.Y., on March 30. Pat Connors Jr. ARCADE, N.Y. — New York’s Arcade & Attica ran its final excursion of two for the New York Maple festival to North Java on March 30. The special trips marked the return of passenger trains to this […]
A museum on the Cumberland Valley is in this boxcar that has opened at the university in Shippensburg, Pa. Dan Cupper SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — The nation’s newest railroad museum is a boxcar. The Cumberland Valley Railroad Museum opened for business on Saturday in a 1956 New York Central 50-foot boxcar painted in its most recent […]
Sound Transit is seeking public comment on its plans to expand Tacoma’s light rail system to Sea-Tac Airport. TRAINS: David Lassen TACOMA, Wash. — Sound Transit has released potential routes and begun the public-comment period for its planned for its Tacoma Dome Link Extension, which will connect Tacoma’s light rail to Sea-Tac Airport and the […]
ORLANDO, Fla. – The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has a full agenda for 2019, says Vice Chairman Patrick Fuchs. “The board is hard at work addressing the issues before it,” he said today, addressing the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s annual conference. “We’re beginning to work on the big ticket regulatory items.” Upcoming […]
