Crews unload long rail segments from the Pacific Spike at Stockton, Calif., in this undated photo. David Lustig The Pacific Spike rail ship. This is the ship that was delayed for week in San Francisco Bay. It is unclear why the ship was delayed. David Lustig SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Union Pacific is facing increased costs […]
In mid-July, Amtrak announced it had added a hot-meal option to the pre-packaged lunch and dinner service on the Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited, where it replaced full dining-car service. The original form of that service, as sampled on the Lake Shore, was examined in “Amtrak debuts cold ‘contemporary’ meals” [“Passenger, September 2018 Trains] […]
A Durango & Silverton locomotive pauses at Silverton, Colo. Soon 2,000-hp diesel locomotives will replace certain 2-8-2 steam locomotives on the historic narrow gauge line. TRAINS: David Lassen DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is purchasing two new three-foot gauge diesel locomotives for $3.2 million from Motive Power & Equipment Solutions […]
An Amtrak ACS-64 locomotive in a digital rendering from Dovetail Games Train Sim World. Contributed photo Amtrak wants you to run a train across the Northeast Corridor with an Xbox controller. British video game company Dovetail Games went to the railroad for help creating the route in their game Train Sim World, available on PC, […]
A SunRail train heads north from downtown Orlando. SunRail opens a four-station extension to its route today. TRAINS: David Lassen ORLANDO, Fla. — SunRail, the Orlando-area commuter rail system, will open its four-station, 17.2-mile “Southern Extension” today, expanding the system to 48.9 miles and 16 stations. The four new stations are Poinciana, Kissimmee, Tupperware, and […]
Blockchain technology may be the way of the future for railroads looking to minimize costs and streamline operations. More than 230 transportation and freight companies — including BNSF Railway, Union Pacific, and Canadian National — have joined the Blockchain in Transportation Alliance, known as BiTA, an organization seeking to develop blockchain standards for the freight […]
Norfolk Southern CEO James Squires Norfolk Southern NORFOLK, Va. — There’s more than one way to run a railroad. That sums up Norfolk Southern’s response to Wall Street analysts’ questions on why it has not closed a widening operating ratio gap with its Eastern rival, CSX Transportation. NS CEO Jim Squires on Wednesday took his […]
Canadian National MONTREAL — Canadian National is updating its operating plan to reflect surging volumes and the new track capacity, locomotives, and crews that are coming online to handle it over the next few months. “How we work is not going to change. Precision railroading is our gold standard,” Chief Operating Mike Cory told investors […]
One Chicago-area family is now renting overnight stays in their circa-1906 Pullman car, the Constitution. “Amy” via Air BnB An interior view of a circa-1906 Pullman car once used by U.S. presidents. “Amy” via Air BnB PLANO, Ill. — A family in Illinois is letting their guests sleep like presidents aboard an old Pullman car […]
A Southwest Chief route inspection train prepares to leave Newton, Kan. on Aug 4, 2016. Two photos, Bob Johnston The southbound Saluki is more than an hour late passing through Farina, Ill., north of Centralia, Ill., on May 5, 2018. WASHINGTON – Amtrak management’s refusal to provide a $3 million match that would unlock a […]
Canadian National MONTREAL — Canadian National will eventually double-track its busy main line between Edmonton, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the pace of the capacity additions matching traffic growth. Less than 100 miles of the 800-mile corridor is currently double iron, Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory says, not including the five sections of double-track that’s […]
South African Red Devil 4-8-4 No. 3450 steams near Robertson, South Africa, on July 14 with its first public trip in 14 years. Peter Rogers CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South Africa’s Red Devil celebrity steam locomotive is back on the main line after a major overhaul — the first time the locomotive has been […]
