Wisconsin Great Northern acquires steam locomotive (updated)

Side view of steam locomotive inside display shed

TREGO, Wis. – The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad has added a steam locomotive to its expanding roster. Former Duluth & Northeastern 2-8-0 No. 27 will be moved from its display site at the Carlton County Fairgrounds in Barnum, Minn., where it has been displayed since 1968. Wisconsin Great Northern, known for its ongoing restoration of the […]

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Fan trip photo stop

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A Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville fan trip pauses in front of the Gloversville, N.Y., headquarters building. The fine October 1950 day made for great roster photos of S2 diesel No. 20 (Alco, 1945). Cabooses 1 and 2 and combine 21 made up the rest of the train. Edward Theisinger photo […]

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Railroads file suits to block two-person crew law

BNSF crew change

Four railroads have filed lawsuits in federal court to block the Federal Railroad Administration’s requirement for two-person crews for most freight trains, the Associated Press reports. Union Pacific, BNSF Railway, the Indiana Rail Road, and Florida East Coast Railway filed individual suits this week in different appellate courts, all saying the rule is arbitrary, capricious, […]

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Vermont Rail System to acquire New Hampshire Central

Map of short line with two disconnected segments

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Vermont Rail System has reached an agreement to purchase assets and operating rights of the New Hampshire Central Railroad to expand its operations in northern New Hampshire, the companies announced Tuesday. “VRS has a 60-year tradition of helping local businesses with efficient and reliable freight service,” Selden Houghton, Vermont Rail System president, […]

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Schulte named president of Anacostia’s Northern Lines Railway

Man in dark sweater, white shirt, and tie

CHICAGO — Quentin Schulte has been named president of Northern Lines Railway, Anacostia Rail Holdings has announced. Schulte has previously been the general manager of the 25-mile railroad that operates BNSF Railway trackage in the St. Cloud, Minn., area, handling more than 10,000 carloads annually. He joined the short line after 15 years with BNSF […]

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Saskatchewan short lines receive provincial grants

Green and yellow diesel locomotive

REGINA, Saskatchewan — Thirteen railroads will receive a total of C$530,000 in provincial funding under Saskatchewan’s Short Line Railway Improvement Program, as announced Friday by Highways Minister Lori Carr. “Short line railways play an important role in getting Saskatchewan’s food, fuel and fertilizer on their journeys to worldwide markets, which helps keep our export-based economy […]

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Indiana Rail Road executives Engle, Kaelin retire

INDIANAPOLIS — Michael D. Engel and Larry F. Kaelin, who played key roles in the success of the Indiana Rail Road during their tenure as executives, have retired, the railroad has announced. Both men retired as of March 31. Engel held the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer; Kaelin was vice president, […]

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Intramotev battery-electric hopper debuts on isolated Pennsylvania coal mine railroad

ST. LOUIS – Intramotev, which is converting standard freight cars into autonomous rail vehicles, says it has successfully deployed the world’s first self-propelled battery-electric railcar in a traditional freight train. In what Intramotev called a major step forward for sustainable freight transportation, the company’s ReVolt hopper has run more than 1,000 miles making trips between […]

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Design work under way on new Stuart bridge for Brightline, FEC

Passenger train on bridge

STUART, Fla. — Design work and other preparations for the new Florida East Coast/Brightline bridge over the St. Lucie River in Stuart are under way, the TC Palm newspaper reports, while FEC seeks a federal grant to address the $31.5 million grant to address the unfunded portion of the $218 million project. The current Stuart […]

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Norfolk Southern acquires Chicago transload and warehouse operation

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has acquired Great Lakes Reload’s Chicago transload warehouse facility, which handles inbound loads of steel and outbound loads of agricultural and construction equipment. NS said the deal, announced on Tuesday, advances its strategy to convert so-called flexible freight to rail. Flexible freight can move via truck or rail. “Transloading solutions play […]

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