News photo: Minnesota Commercial introduces America 250 locomotive

Red, white, and blue GE locomotive

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Commercial Railway has joined the growing number of railroads with locomotives commemorating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026, introducing B36-7 No. 76 in red, white, and blue paint on Thursday (Nov. 25). The locomotive was built by General Electric in 1985 for Seaboard System. Before coming to Minnesota […]

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Short line association to participate in STB review of UP-NS merger

American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association logo

WASHINGTON — The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has informed the Surface Transportation Board that it intends to participate in the review process of the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, although the organization has not indicated what position it might take. Short lines are individually and collectively are working to determine how the […]

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Vaughn to receive short line association’s top individual honor

Smiling white-haired man in coat and tie

WASHINGTON — Gary Vaughn, who championed safety during more than 20 years in the short line industry, has been named by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association as the recipient of its 2026 Schlosser Distinguished Service Award. Vaughn will be honored at the ASLRRA’s annual conference and exhibition, April 12-14, 2026, in Minneapolis, […]

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Chicago, railroads celebrate completion of Forest Hill Flyover

CSX Intermodal train led by single locomotive passes over Union Pacific and Metra locomotives on bridge

CHICAGO — Some projects of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency, or CREATE, program are begun and completed with relatively limited fanfare. That is certainly not the case with the Forest Hill Flyover, which carries the tracks of CSX Transportation over lines used by Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, the Belt Railway of Chicago, and […]

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News photos: Reading & Northern introduces Semiquincentennial unit

Overhead view of red, white, and blue locomotive

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad has repainted one of its locomotives to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. SD40-2 No. 3061, repainted and renumbered to No. 1776, was unveiled on Nov. 11, Veterans’ Day. The flag-based scheme, with its red-and-white striped long hood, blue cab, and 13 stars […]

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U.S. Sugar steam photo charter set for Jan. 17-18

CLEWISTON, Fla. — U.S. Sugar’s Sugar Express will host a two-day photo charter in January featuring steam locomotive No. 148 in a recreation of 1950s-era railroading. The event on Jan. 17-18, 2026, will feature No. 148 — the Alco 4-6-2 built for Florida East Coast in 1920 and sold to U.S. Sugar in 1952 — […]

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‘Cameron Christmas Train’ returns to Ohio, Indiana, Michigan

For the second consecutive year, Indiana Northeastern Railroad, Little River Railroad, and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society will play host to the Cameron Christmas Train, a three-day tour of northeastern Indiana, southeastern Michigan, and western Ohio set for Nov. 20-22 to mark the holiday season and deliver gifts to families along the route. The […]

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BNSF adds two railroads to its Shortline Select program

Two green diesel locomotives with freight train

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has added two new railroads — Northern Lines Railway and Columbia Basin Railroad — to its Shortline Select program. Shortline Select is designed to improve interchanges and service while deepening the commercial ties between the Class I and its short line connections. Northern Lines Railway, owned by Anacostia Rail […]

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