Proxy advisory firm backs Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw and five of activist investor’s board candidates

Norfolk Southern shareholders should elect five of an activist investor’s seven board candidates but retain embattled CEO Alan Shaw, proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services recommended today. If institutional shareholders follow the ISS guidance at the NS annual meeting on May 9, it would leave Ancora Holdings two seats short of a majority on the […]

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Latest CSX heritage locomotive wears Pere Marquette passenger livery

Pere Marquette is the newest heritage unit to join the growing CSX fleet of locomotives honoring its predecessor railroads. “Here is our latest CSX Heritage Locomotive celebrating the Pere Marquette line,” CEO Joe Hinrichs wrote on LinkedIn Monday night. “Locomotive #1899 represents the three Michigan-based railroads that merged to form the Pere Marquette to serve […]

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Oberman to speak at NARS meeting

Man standing in front of banner for Midwest Association of Rail Shippers

CHICAGO — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman has joined the list of speakers scheduled to appear at the North American Rail Shippers Conference, beginning tomorrow, April 30, and running through May 2 in Chicago. Oberman last week announced he would retire from the STB chairmanship on May 10 [see “STB’s Oberman sets May […]

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News & Products for the week of April 29th 2024

Two model locomotives in a yellow and gray paint scheme

News & Products for the week of April 29th 2024   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 29th […]

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NS says activist investor violated Railway Labor Act by negotiating deal with engineers’ union (updated)

Crew member walks across front of locomotive as another train passes on adjacent track

Norfolk Southern says activist investor Ancora Holdings violated the Railway Labor Act when it negotiated a deal with the general chairmen of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen in exchange for the union’s support in its proxy campaign. The BLET in February was vehemently opposed to Ancora’s plan to oust Norfolk Southern’s management and […]

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UP train derails on key Portland, Ore., bridge (updated)

Derailed cars on curve leading onto bridge

PORTLAND, Ore. — A Union Pacific train derailed early this morning at the east end of Portland’s historic Steel Bridge, closing the heavily used bridge while authorities assessed its structural integrity. The derailment also meant the vertical lift portion of the bridge could not be raised, impacting ship traffic on the Willamette River. “The issue […]

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BNSF line closed by washout in Kansas (updated)

BNSF Railway logo

PRESCOTT, Kan. — It’s been a rough few days for BNSF Railway. In the latest incident, the railroad advised customers today (Monday, April 29) of a washout that occurred Sunday afternoon near Prescott, Kan., on its Fort Scott Subdivision. In an updated report, BNSF announced the line had been reopened at 2:15 p.m. CT. Prescott […]

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Influential proxy advisory firm recommends that Norfolk Southern shareholders side with activist investor Ancora Holdings (updated)

Red, white, and black locomotives with train of equipment for training first responders

In a significant boost to activist investor Ancora Holdings, one of the two major proxy advisory firms has recommended that Norfolk Southern shareholders vote in favor of six of its seven dissident board candidates. Glass Lewis made the recommendation in a report issued on Sunday, which concludes that Ancora has made a compelling case that […]

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NS activist investor and engineers’ union reached agreement last week

Industry observers had wondered why the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen — which had vehemently opposed an activist investor’s plans to oust Norfolk Southern’s management team — flip-flopped on Friday and decided to support Ancora Holdings’ calls for change at the railroad. The reason became apparent on Sunday, when the SMART-TD union that represents […]

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Crew members injured as UP train derails in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — The engineer and conductor of a Union Pacific train were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following a derailment early this morning, the Lee’s Summit Fire Department reports. The fire department responded to a call at approximately 12:45 a.m. of a derailment in the Unity Village area between Rhinehart […]

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