Ohio considers rejoining regional passenger rail group

Logo of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio legislators are preparing to introduce bills to rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, an organization the state left in 2013, Statehouse News Bureau reports. State Rep. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood) said the House version of the bill will be introduced in the next month or so, and several Republican legislators will sign […]

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One thousand ‘Trains’ Magazine covers down!

Trains Magazine covers Whether past or present — staff, correspondents, and contributors — were asked to submit one of their favorite covers since the magazine’s inception in November 1940 — 84 years of railroading history in the making. This is what they came up with and why. If there is a particular cover you like, […]

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TSB to investigate CPKC incident in Alberta

Transportation Safety Board of Canada logo

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is sending two investigators to the scene of a collision and derailment at CPKC’s Kipp Yard near Lethbridge, the agency said Sunday. Lethbridge News Now reports that CPKC officials said eight cars derailed Sunday while being moved at slow speed. There were no injuries or spills […]

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BNSF intermodal train derails in south central Kansas

Stacks of containers and cars from derailed intermodal train

HAZELTON, Kan. — Seventeen cars of a BNSF intermodal train derailed early this morning (Monday, Feb. 12) east of Hazelton on the railroad’s Southern Transcon, KWNS-TV reports. Officials from Barber County Emergency Management told the station no hazardous materials were involved. BNSF told KWNS in a statement that the crew was not injured in the […]

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The evolution of EMD’s GP60-series locomotives

orange BNSF locomotive hauling heavy-tonnage trains

GP60-series locomotives EMDs GP60 model was the last of a series of four-axle locomotives built with ever-increasing horsepower, designed to lead a railroad’s priority trains. Short, fast intermodal trains were perfect for a GP60s 3,800 horsepower V-16 to send 950 horsepower to each axle. Unfortunately, the double stack era was underway, with longer heavier trains […]

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Amtrak board still lacks geographically diverse nominees

Locomotive on passenger train carrying blue maintenance flags during station stop

WASHINGTON — After the U.S. Senate confirmed two new members for the Amtrak board of directors and reconfirmed Chairman Anthony Coscia last month, President Joe Biden has renominated a previous candidate without advancing anyone based outside the Northeast Corridor for the four remaining term-expired or vacant voting board positions. Nominated is Delaware River and Bay […]

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New proposal calls for ground-level light rail for eastern Montreal

Map of proposed light rail project for eastern Montreal

MONTREAL — The latest concept for light rail service for eastern Montreal involves a ground-level system which, in its initial phase, will serve 22 stations in 21 kilometers (13 miles) of track, the CBC reports. The proposal by transit agency Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, or ARTM, is estimated to cost C$10.4 billion. It follows […]

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UP coal train derails in Feather River Canyon

Derailed coal hoppers in canyon, some in river

BLAIRSDEN, Calif. — Fourteen cars of a Union Pacific train derailed this afternoon (Sunday, Feb. 11) in the Feather River Canyon, sending cars and coal into the Middle Fork of the Feather River, KOVR-TV reports. The California Office of Emergency Service’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response said it was assessing the environmental impact. Union […]

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