WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., has introduced the Safe Freight Act in the Senate today in an effort to require two-person crews aboard all freight trains in the United States. The bill is a companion to a piece of legislation previously introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. […]
Section: News Wire
GREX business car looms large in honoring company’s founding family NEWSWIRE

An exterior image of GREX Business Car No. 400, Edwin Brazelton Snead. The car served presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower, and served multiple politicians and dignitaries before ownership was transferred to GREX in the 1990s. GREX An interior image from GREX Business Car No. 400, Edwin Brazelton Snead. GREX GEORGETOWN, Texas — On Monday […]
CSX rolls out distributed power on unit coal trains in Appalachia NEWSWIRE

A 220-car loaded CSX Transportation coal train with mid-train distributed power rolls into St. Albans, W.Va., on Jan. 27, 2018. Chase Gunnoe HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Unit coal trains in Appalachia are now running with distributed power less than two weeks after CSX Transportation officials indicated the increased use of the mid-train technology. Ed Harris, CSX’s […]
STB rules against CSX in rare rate-case win for a rail shipper NEWSWIRE

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board recently settled a carrier-shipper rate dispute in favor of the shipper, something that hasn’t happened in several years. The decision was in a case brought by Consumers Energy against CSX Transportation in January 2015. Consumers challenged the rates that CSX charged the Jackson, Mich.,-based utility to move Powder River […]
T1 Trust raises funds to begin building boiler for 4-4-4-4 No. 5550 NEWSWIRE

Photo shows Continental Fabricators rolling a large 16ft diameter plate for another customer showing their capabilities. Gary Bensman ST. LOUIS — The Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Steam Locomotive Trust is excited to announce the purchase order for the first and second boiler courses of new-build 4-4-4-4 No. 5550. The order was placed with Continental Fabricators Inc. […]
Former Milwaukee Road cars set to form mini-‘Hiawatha’ in Washington State NEWSWIRE

Former Milwaukee Road cars form the rear of the Empire Builder on Jan. 23 on their way to Washington State for a special excursion. Justin Franz SEATTLE — It’s been 56 years since the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha rolled its last miles through the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, but on Jan. 27 a “mini-Hiawatha” […]
Sanborn lands at UP NEWSWIRE

Cindy Sanborn OMAHA, Neb. – Former CSX Transportation Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sanborn, who left the railroad as part of an October management purge, has landed on her feet at Union Pacific. Sanborn on Friday was named regional vice president of transportation for UP’s Western Region. She will move into the new role on Feb. […]
UP gives young railfan who died of cancer touching farewell NEWSWIRE

Elliot Burgos with his family at the Union Pacific yard in Mason City, Iowa. Burgos family Elliot Burgos’ casket. Burgos family MASON CITY, Iowa — Elliot Burgos loved trains. Elliot’s parents, Jonathan and Shanda, say Elliot’s fascination began when he was young and never dissipated. One of the Mason City boy’s favorite places was the […]
Letter: NS may move train dispatchers to Atlanta NEWSWIRE

ATLANTA — A union message to its members indicates that Norfolk Southern may soon move all train dispatching to a corporate base in Atlanta. A representative from the American Train Dispatchers Association, affiliated with the AFL-CIO, sent a message to members this week telling them that NS executives plan to relocate and centralize all train […]
NTSB interviews engineer of Amtrak Cascades train No. 501 NEWSWIRE

The remains of Amtrak Cascades train No. 501 in December 2017. Steve Carter WASHINGTON — As part of its ongoing investigation into the Dec. 18, 2017, derailment of an Amtrak passenger train in DuPont, Washington, the National Transportation Safety Board released Thursday an update about the agency’s investigation. NTSB investigators interviewed the engineer and the […]
Union Pacific to build new hump yard in Texas NEWSWIRE

Hearne, Texas Google Maps OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will build a new hump yard in Texas to handle growth in carload traffic that threatens to eventually swamp existing yards in the Lone Star State. The $550 millon Brazos Yard, to be built in Hearne, Texas, is scheduled to open in 2020, Chief Operating Officer […]
CSX to retain former B&O main over Sand Patch NEWSWIRE

CSX train Q261 glides through peak fall foliage it climbs the east slope of Sand Patch grade at Foley, Pa., in October 2011. This auto rack train originated at CSX’s Curtis Bay facility in Baltimore and will terminate in Lordstown, Ohio. Alex Mayes JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation is no longer considering the former Baltimore […]