Justice Department and Norfolk Southern near settlement deal in Amtrak Crescent case

Amtrak train at station

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department and Norfolk Southern have reached a settlement in principle regarding the railroad’s handling of Amtrak’s Crescent. Government lawyers disclosed the agreement in a court filing last week, which requested additional time to finalize the settlement. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson approved the parties’ request for a 60-day extension. […]

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SMART-TD considers strike against CPKC

Train with red, yellow, and black locomotives at grade crossing

The union representing Canadian Pacific Kansas City conductors is polling members on a possible strike, claiming the railroad took advantage of a service crisis to make workplace job changes on the former Kansas City Southern. The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) Local 457’s General Committee of Adjustment is […]

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News Wire recommended reading: Inside the Ames Monument

Stone pyramid-like building under threatening skies

Our wide-ranging latest installment of News Wire Recommended Reading includes articles on a Wyoming landmark; a massive space under San Francisco built for currently nonexistent train service;, and how things went wrong for a deal to involve German’s Deutsche Bahn to remake Toronto’s GO Transit commuter rail operations. — You may be familiar with the […]

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DDA40X to power September fundraising trips

Large yellow diesel locomotive with passenger train

SILVIS, Ill. — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will operate two days of fundraising trips Sept. 20-21 with Union Pacific DDA40X No. 6936, with proceeds benefiting nonprofit organizations promoting rail safety, as well as the organization restoring two Chinese-built 2-10-2 locomotives that have previously been part of fundraising efforts. The “Quad Cities Rocket” trips will […]

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American Steel Foundries test train

Two-tone rail cars for American Steel Foundries Test Train

It might be a warm summer morning in the early 1950s on the Illinois Central near Clinton, Ill.; or maybe a cold January day along the Pere Marquette outside of Grand Rapids, Mich. There’s the sound of a fast-running steam locomotive in the distance … the railroad’s in a hurry with something today. Shortly an […]

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Clarence Monin, former BLE president, dies at 84

Head shot of smiling man in suit

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Former Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers International President Clarence V. Monin has died, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has announced. Morin, 84, died on June 26. He held the union’s highest office from 1996 to 1998. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Monin family in their time of […]

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Genesee Valley Transportation’s PA locomotive makes debut

Blue and white diesel passenger loocomotive at station

SCRANTON, Pa — For the first time in more than four decades, an Alco PA locomotive has hauled a passenger train in the United States. Genesee Valley Transportation’s Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad hosted an invitation-only excursion today (Friday, July 11, 2025) marking the completion of restoration on PA4 No. 190, the former Santa Fe and Delaware & […]

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CPKC reports mixed progress on service recovery

red, yellow, and black locomotive on track

WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s local service in former Kansas City Southern territory continues to improve after a troublesome May 3 computer system cutover, but merchandise train on-time performance declined last week and dwell remains stubbornly high at yards in Louisiana and Iowa. CPKC told federal regulators this week that it still expects service […]

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BNSF and UP to meet with regulators over trackage rights dispute

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has ordered BNSF Railway and Union Pacific to participate in a technical conference next week regarding their dispute over new BNSF international intermodal trains that would serve Salt Lake City via UP trackage rights. The virtual meeting, which will be held on July 15, will not be open to […]

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BNSF, Texas town reach agreement on new logistics facility

Map of planned logistics center in north Texas.

GUNTER, Texas — BNSF Railway and the city of Gunter, Texas, have reached agreement on a plan to allow the railroad to develop a 900-acre business park north of the small town in the southwestern part of the state. KTEN-TV reports the agreement requires a buffer zone of 500 to 800 feet from existing residences, […]

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