Arizona museum acquires former Santa Fe U-boat rebuild

Train with three red locomotives as seen from high angle

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation in Williams, Ariz., has acquired the sole U.S. example of the SF30C rebuild program from Santa Fe’s Cleburne (Texas) Shops. No. 9501 was built as a U36C by General Electric in March 1973 as construction No. 3990 and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe No. 8728. It […]

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Autonomous truck firm to move freight for Union Pacific

Semi truck on highway

SAN DIEGO — Autonomous-truck technology firm TuSimple will begin moving freight for Union Pacific between Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., on a fully automated route developed by TuSimple. Union Pacific’s wholly owned subsidiary, Loup Logistics, will coordinate movement between rail and truck when the program starts this spring. “Partnering with TuSimple allows us to extend our […]

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Director of Florida’s Tri-Rail to resign

MIAMI — The executive director of commuter operator Tri-Rail has said he will resign in the wake of criticism over the agency’s handling of problems with the platform at Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which is intended to also host Tri-Rail service. Steven Abrams announced his intent to resign at a board meeting last week, then told […]

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Santa Fe’s new and old bridges

Santa Fe Railroad

During 1942–44, the Santa Fe replaced its 1890 through-truss bridge over the Colorado River with a higher-level deck-truss span. Sets of FT diesels pose with west- and eastbound freights during the short time that both bridges were in service. Santa Fe photo […]

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BNSF may purchase 3,500 acres for Arizona industrial complex

BNSF Railway logo

PHOENIX — BNSF Railway is seeking to acquire more than 3,500 acres of state-owned land for an intermodal and industrial facility in the Phoenix area, according to a news report. The Phoenix Business Journal reports that state records show BNSF, through WittDev LLC, wants to bid on the land currently held by the Arizona State […]

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UP subsidiary Loup Logistics acquires Phoenix transload site

Aerial view of freight facility

OMAHA — Union Pacific on Tuesday announced its Loup Logistics subsidiary had acquired the Precision Components Inc. transload facility in Phoenix, a UP-served location that processes more than 8,000 railcars and 38,000 trucks annually. The facility in central Phoenix covers more than 100 acres, with 125,000 square feet of covered storage and 3 miles of […]

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First Siemens equipment enters Phoenix-area light rail service

Purple and silver light rail trainset

PHOENIX — The first three trainsets from an order for Siemens S700 light rail vehicles are entering service this week on the Valley Metro system, Siemens and the Phoenix-area transit system said on Monday. Seven of the 11 new trainsets have been delivered for the 28.2-mile, 38-station system serving Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe, Ariz. Manufacturing […]

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Meet the Modeler: Peter Atonna

A scene on Peter Atonna’s layout

    Hi-rail O gauge modeler Peter Atonna’s work last graced the cover of Classic Toy Trains in October 2017, but his relationship with the magazine goes back at least two layouts to the May 1997 issue. His current one, the detail-packed Seligman & Paulden Lines, showcases the best of long passenger and freight trains […]

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Phoenix gets funding for light rail extension

Purple and silver light rail train rounds 90-degree curve

PHOENIX — Phoenix officials were joined by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Friday in marking the approval of $158.1 million in federal funding for the latest extension to the area’s light rail system. The Arizona Republic reports the money will fund the $401.3 million, 1.6-mile extension of the northwest portion of the 28-mile Valley […]

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News Photos: Nevada Northern diesel begins journey

Orange locomotive above many-wheeled transport trailer

The return of Kennecott Copper RSD4 No. 201 to its former home at the Nevada Northern Railway has begun. On Nov. 4, the diesel was lifted onto heavy-duty transport equipment to begin the 900-mile, three-week journey from its longtime home at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Wash. The locomotive is scheduled to depart Snoqualmie […]

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