LECLAIRE, Iowa – Canadian Pacific has reopened its main line to Kansas City, Mo., following a derailment in LeClaire. However, cleanup at the scene is ongoing Monday. Spokesman Andy Cummings tells Trains News Wire that the railroad overnight on Jan. 3 after once all track repairs and safety inspections were complete. “CP is talking directly […]
Zone & Region: Midwest
Union Pacific shuts down Armourdale Yard in Kansas City, Kan. NEWSWIRE

Union Pacific OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific shut down Armourdale Yard in Kansas City, Kan., last week, shifting its switching work to the adjacent 18th Street Yard. The move, which union officials say affected 20 to 100 jobs, is UP’s latest in the Kansas City area. In October UP closed Neff Yard, its hump yard […]
For first time, Metra to offer free New Year’s Eve rides NEWSWIRE

An inbound Metra BNSF train meets Amtrak’s Southwest Chief at Naperville, Ill., on Jan. 1, 2018. Metra will offer free New Year’s Eve rides and discounted New Year’s Day tickets this year. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — For the first time, Metra will offer free rides on New Year’s Eve, along with discounted rides on […]
UP sues Metra over commuter operations

CHICAGO — Union Pacific’s desire to get out of the business of operating Metra commuter trains has landed in federal court. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that UP filed suit earlier this week. The exact nature of the dispute is unknown, since the filing is sealed at UP’s request, and neither side provided details in response […]
Family of police officer killed by train files lawsuit NEWSWIRE
CHICAGO — The family of a Chicago police officer killed when struck by a train while pursuing a suspect last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against parties including Metra and the South Shore Line. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the family of officer Eduardo Marmolejo filed the suit over the Dec. 17, 2018, […]
No. 261’s North Pole Express trips carry 10,000 passengers NEWSWIRE

Icicles form on the front of Milwaukee Road 4-84 operating in frigid temperatures at St. Paul Union Depot. Friends of the 261 ST. PAUL, Minn. – Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 pulled North Pole Express trips that carried 10,000 passengers this month, the nonprofit Friends of the 261 reports. While the first weekend at St. […]
Poster commemorates Chicago’s railroad history NEWSWIRE

This poster by Mitch Markovitz, commemorating Chicago Railroad History Month, is now on sale. Blackhawk Chapter, NRHS CHICAGO — Organizers of Chicago Railroad History Month have announced the release of a new poster that graphically commemorates the city’s 170-plus-year railroad past. The poster features several iconic Chicago railroad scenes, including the city’s lakefront skyline with […]
UP Minnesota branch loses major customer NEWSWIRE

UP’s local arrives at the old M&StL depot in New Prague on Sept. 4, 2012. Steve Glischinski NEW PRAGUE, Minn. – Employees at Miller Milling in New Prague got coal in their Christmas stocking this month when the company announced it was shutting down its mill in New Prague served by Union Pacific. The flour […]
Q3 4500 the first going through town

Q3 4500 special was the first Q3 delivered to the B&O on July 4th 1918, Scene 1 roaring through town, scene 2 slowing for a yellow board, scene 3 arriving at the destination. […]
Q3 4500 the first going through town

Q3 4500 special was the first Q3 delivered to the B&O on July 4th 1918, Scene 1 roaring through town, scene 2 slowing for a yellow board, scene 3 arriving at the destination. […]
Former Metra CEO Orseno joins agency’s board NEWSWIRE

Don Orseno receives a gift marking his retirement as Metra CEO during a Chicago Rail Superintendents Association event in November 2017. Behind him is current Metra CEO James Derwinski. Orseno was named to Metra’s board of directors on Wednesday. TRAINS: David Lassen This Metra locomotive was repainted in Rock Island colors and named for Don […]
Amtrak to close Kalamazoo ticket office NEWSWIRE

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo will become the latest Michigan city to lose a staffed ticket office at its Amtrak station, WWMT-TV reports. The TV station reports the ticket office will close “at the beginning of 2020.” It follows similar moves East Lansing, Niles, Jackson, and Flint, which saw their ticket offices close in 2018 [see […]