United Taconite’s first train of “mustang” pellets on May 19. David Schauer FORBES, Minn. — Northern Minnesota railroaders are used to the “boom or bust” cycle of the iron ore business on the Mesabi Range. But in a sign of confidence in the region’s mining future, Cliff Natural Resources began shipping new “Mustang” flux taconite […]
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern will do away with its hump yard operations at its DeButts yard in Chattanooga, the Times Free Press reports. The decision to close down its hump yard operations will result cut about 74 of the 495 jobs assigned to the facility. The job cuts affect 42 car repair employees, 23 […]
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Cumberland, Md. Google Maps CUMBERLAND, Md. — CSX Transportation this week converted its former Baltimore & Ohio hump yard in Cumberland, Md., to a flat-switching facility, the fifth such move since E. Hunter Harrison became the railroad’s CEO in March. Harrison’s view on yards is different than how CSX has historically viewed its terminals, Frank […]
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CSX CEO E. Hunter Harrison Associated Press BOSTON — E. Hunter Harrison has an undisclosed medical condition that has frequently forced the 72-year-old CSX Transportation chief executive to work from home, The Wall Street Journal reports. The disclosure could complicate the advisory vote on Harrison’s request to be reimbursed for $84 million in salary and […]
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LOS ANGELES — To the cry of “All Aboard!” you can add “Surf’s Up!” as Metrolink now accommodates surfboards on all of its trains. After yielding to public requests to change its policies, Metrolink modified its bicycle cars to include mesh-wrapped carriers that can handle up to five boards on a first-come, first-served basis. The […]
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OTTAWA, Ontario — Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau filed legislation on Monday that would mandate the installation of voice and video recorders in locomotive cabs. The recommendation is a response to the February 2012 fatal wreck of a Toronto-bound VIA Rail Canada train in Burlington, Ont. Train 92 was going four times the posted track […]
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A grain hopper on a unit grain train in Wisconsin. Brian Schmidt OTTAWA, Ontario – The Canadian government on Monday proposed updating regulations covering rail service, grain rates, and interswitching. The Transportation Modernization Act will promote transparency and balance the competing needs of shippers and railroads, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said in announcing the legislation. […]
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CSX yard jobs serve Selkirk’s east end departure yard tracks in this May 7, 2017 view of Selkirk Yard. Gary R. Schermerhorn SELKIRK, N.Y. — CSX Transportation may be in the earliest stages of converting its Selkirk hump yard to a flat switching facility. Labor groups representing local train service workers sent out notices to […]
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UP has created this new 150th anniversary logo celebrating the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869. Union Pacific OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is launching a two-year-long celebration commemorating the great race to complete the Transcontinental Railroad nearly 150 years ago. During the next two years, the railroad will host a traveling exhibit, […]
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Prior to departing Charleston, W.Va., on May 8, every car of the Ringling Bros. ‘Blue’ unit was switched in order of its upcoming setoff for disposition to private owners. Similar to the Red Unit, many of the Blue Unit cars will be setoff in Oak Island, N.J., after a series of performances end in Uniondale, […]
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NEW YORK — For the second time in a decade, the Florida East Coast Railway eluded the grasp of Genesee & Wyoming. Mexican mining company Grupo Mexico won the FEC in March with a $2.1 billion bid, a price that raised eyebrows in the industry. G&W’s bid for the FEC was “not competitive,” CEO Jack […]
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