NEWPORT, R.I. — Omya, a producer of calcium carbonate that’s an essential ingredient in paper manufacturing, had an expensive problem: It had to resort to using as many as 300 trucks per quarter to ship product from its Vermont plant to paper mills in Maine. The struggling mills, facing long-term declines in paper demand and […]
Ringling Bros. Blue Unit makes last revenue load out NEWSWIRE
Circus wagons are loaded onto flat cars in Charleston, W.Va., in preparation for the last circus train run to Uniondale, N.Y. Chase Gunnoe CSXT ET44AC No. 3333 will lead the last ‘Blue’ unit circus train to Uniondale, N.Y., form Charleston, W.Va. Here, Watco’s Kanawha River Railroad is switching the train in preparation for its outbound […]
Trains Presents: Ringling circus train to West Virginia
Join Trains and videographer Kevin Gilliam for a look at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Blue Unit circus train on its trek to Charleston, W.Va. You’ll see the train traverse West Virginia coal country, and on the new Kanawha River Railroad. […]
Passenger railroads in the U.S. and Canada
This special series offers an overview of intercity and passenger railroading in North America. Our free, 30-page PDF download includes the following features: Beech Grove to the Rescue An inside look at Amtrak’s rolling stock repair facility, where an injection of stimulus funding has been used to repair passenger cars and sidelined P40 locomotives. Taking […]
Amtrak begins new Thruway shuttle service to Phoenix NEWSWIRE
PHOENIX — Beginning May 1, Amtrak began operating a Thruway bus connecting service in Maricopa, Ariz., for passengers traveling on the tri-weekly Sunset Limited-Texas Eagle service wanting to travel to the Tempe and Phoenix areas. Stagecoach Express is operating the shuttle service on the days the Sunset Limited operates through Maricopa. Thruway stops include: • […]
Canadian National trains collide, explode in Mississippi NEWSWIRE
Money, Miss., is located approximately halfway between Jackson, Miss., and Memphis, Tenn., on CN’s ex-Illinois Central mainline. Google Maps MONEY, Miss. — Two Canadian National trains collided in Mississippi early Sunday morning resulting in an explosion and extensive delays to freight and passenger service. At least one of the trains was carrying crude oil, which […]
Canadian Pacific, Canadian retail company unveil 60-foot intermodal container
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific and retail giant Canadian Tire Corp., recently debuted North America’s first 60-foot intermodal container, according to a CP news release. The 60-foot container, which was developed by the Canadian Tire team in partnership with the railroad, provides an additional seven feet from the current 53-foot container standard. It will allow […]
Big Boy braking power
Ten hoppers coupled to the Big Boy consist in January 2014 were used for additional braking power. Steve Sweeney Q Why was there a string of hopper cars in the consist moving Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 from Pomona to West Colton, Calif., in January 2014? – David Tritenbach, Kerrville, Texas A Although Union […]
Lithium-ion batteries cause fire and explosion aboard UP train NEWSWIRE
HOUSTON — A 53-foot intermodal container aboard a Union Pacific train caught fire and exploded April 23 just north of downtown Houston. Local media reported that the container was carrying lithium-ion batteries in a train from the port of New Orleans to San Antonio, Texas. No one was injured, but the blast blew out windows […]
The ‘Texas’ returns! NEWSWIRE
The Western & Atlantic Railroad’s Texas locomotive on display in a new livery at the North Carolina Transportation Museum on Friday, April 28. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn SPENCER, N.C. — The locomotive part of the Texas weights less than 30 tons, but it is still big enough to cause a sizeable controversy. A crowd gathered Friday, […]
Locomotives
Locomotives are the power behind the rail industry, and capturing the perfect photo of a locomotive is no small feat. That’s why Trains magazine is offering this 40-page special download all about locomotives. This free PDF includes an in-depth guide to rail-fanning in Los Angeles, where there’s no shortage of activity from the likes of Union Pacific, […]
Western Maryland Scenic says funding delays will delay C&O 1309 restoration NEWSWIRE
Most of C&O No. 1309’s restoration is now complete, including a rebuilt cab and other major components. Jim Wrinn CUMBERLAND, Md. — Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is going to be late for its own debut. Railroad officials say funding issues mean the locomotive will not make a July 1 appearance under its own […]
