Whistle signals

Whistles

Before radio communication came into wide use in the 1960s, a locomotive’s whistle was an important tool in conveying information to other employees, both on and off the train, and many signals were on the books. The General Code Of Operating Rules, used by many railroads, contains the following list of whistle signals and their […]

Read More…

Amtrak reaches settlement with freight customers on Harrisburg Line

Amtrak640

WASHINGTON – Amtrak has reached a settlement in principle with two freight customers in Pennsylvania who had asked federal regulators to prevent the loss of rail service during a six-week track project. Amtrak told federal regulators on May 10 that it had reached a confidential settlement with Esbenshade and the Wenger Group, which operate feed […]

Read More…

End-of-train devices replaced cabooses

An orange end of train device is seen atop the rear coupler of a passing train

End-of-train devices replaced cabooses that, not so long ago, train watchers almost everywhere could count on as a final point of interest at the end of each freight train. The distinctive little cars housed crew members who would observe the cars ahead for defects, process the train’s paperwork, operate track switches, monitor the air-brake system […]

Read More…

Railway Safety Act advances out of committee (second update)

Black locomotives lead train through curve

WASHINGTON — The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation  approved a significantly revised version of the Railway Safety Act today (Wednesday, May 10), advancing the bill to the full Senate. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the bill, introduced in the wake of the Feb. 3 East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, passed by a 16-11 margin, a […]

Read More…

Man arrested after derailment of tank cars in Tacoma, Wash.

Red and white locomotives lead freight train on long bridge

TACOMA, Wash. — A 65-year-old man was arrested Tuesday for tampering with railroad equipment, causing a derailment of tank cars carrying oil in Tacoma’s Tideflats industrial area. The Tacoma News Tribune, which reported the arrest, did not report the man’s name or any additional identifying details. The incident occurred about 7:55 a.m. Tuesday and involved […]

Read More…

Brightline introduces satellite-based internet service from Starlink

Yellow and white streamlined locomotive at station

MIAMI — Brightline passenger service is now featuring wi-fi service provided by Starlink, the satellite-based high speed broadband internet service engineered by SpaceX. It becomes the first rail operator to use the service, already used by some aviation and marine firms, as well as businesses and residences. “Brightline will be the first train sets in […]

Read More…

Amtrak station in Martinez, Calif., closed by mercury spill

Aerial view of train at station

MARTINEZ, Calif. — The Amtrak station in Martinez has been closed after a mercury spill was discovered in the station’s parking lot, Bay City News Service reports. Hazardous material teams responded to a reported spill at the station about 5:45 p.m. Monday evening, Contra Costa Health reported. The scene was eventually cleared, but the station […]

Read More…

Amtrak service halted between Seattle and Portland, Ore.

Train at station platform

PORTLAND, Ore. — Amtrak service between Seattle and Portland has been canceled through at least Wednesday after a landslide between Vancouver, Wash, and Kelso, Wash., on Monday. Amtrak announced the service disruption on Monday evening following the cancellation of the Seattle-Portland portion of several Cascades trains earlier in the day. The passenger operator cites a […]

Read More…

News report says Colorado Pacific has ended pursuit of Tennessee Pass line

Colorado Pacific logo

Colorado Pacific Railroad, the rail enterprise of Colorado billionaire Stefan Soloviev, is no longer pursuing purchase of the former Denver & Rio Grande Western Tennessee Pass line, according to the nonprofit website Colorado Newsline. The railroad’s general counsel, William Osborn, told the site Soloviev — a major New York developer and chairman of Crossroads Agriculture, […]

Read More…

Empire Builder adds cars following derailment

Passenger train emerges from tunnel at Chicago Union Station

CHICAGO — With horns blaring while track crews working in the tunnel at the scene of Sunday afternoon’s derailment stepped safely out of the way, the westbound Empire Builder emerged from the north side of Chicago Union Station this afternoon (Monday, May 8) with an extra coach and two additional sleeping cars compared to its […]

Read More…