General Electric’s U23B: Where are they now?

Two yellow locomotives leading freight train

General Electric’s U23B General Electric broke into the domestic road-switcher locomotive market over six decades ago with its U25B model in 1961. The U-series line would continue to evolve and grow, laying the foundation for the company’s ascent to becoming the No. 1 locomotive builder in North America in later decades. The U23B was essentially […]

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CRISI infrastructure grants make a big impact on small railroads

blue and silver locomotive

WASHINGTON — Short line railroads across the United States will be able to lay more welded rail, replace more crossties, add sidings and build bridges as a result of $2.4 billion in funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety (CRISI) grant program for fiscal years 2023-2024 [see “FRA awards $2.4 billion […]

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Kentucky awards $7.5 million for eight shortline rail projects

Line of people holding shovels

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Commonwealth of Kentucky is providing $7.5 million in grant funding for eight infrastructure projects on short lines, Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Thursday (Nov. 14). R.J. Corman Railroad Group, Transkentucky Transportation Railroad, and the Paducah & Louisville Railway each received funding for two projects, while the Tennken Railroad Co. and Louisville […]

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Secondhand 2-8-2 in West Virginia

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Mikado 482 was built by Alco’s Schenectady plant for the Mobile & Ohio in 1928. It went to West Virginia short line Cherry River Boom & Lumber after the GM&O merger. It’s resting at Jerryville, W.Va., southwest of Elkins, in May 1952. Ed Theisinger photo […]

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Reading & Northern promotes two in passenger department

Reading and Northern logo

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad has announced two promotions within its passenger department, with Jennifer Frederickson becoming director of passenger marketing, retail, and community development, and Meg Pursel named assistant vice president-passenger special projects, office car specials, and special excursions. Frederickson, who started with the railroad in 2018 as a mascot […]

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ASLRRA president discusses CRISI’s short line transformation

Green and yellow locomotive with short string of cars on straight track in snow.

WASHINGTON — Thousands of miles of railroad right-of-way have been upgraded, new rail has been built, and emerging technologies have been explored since the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant program began injecting federal dollars into the rail industry seven years ago. CRISI has awarded more than $5.2 billion to […]

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

Logo of Cameron Christmas Train

ANGOLA, Ind. — A three-day holiday train operation in northeast Indiana, southeastern Michigan, and western Ohio has been announced for next Monday through Wednesday. The Cameron Christmas Train, sponsored by Cameron Hospital, will be operated by the Indiana Northeastern Railroad, Little River Railroad, and Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Nov. 18-20. “As the region’s healthcare […]

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Soo Line No. 1003 attracts crowds for 2024 Santa Train

Steam locomotive in front of crowds of people

HARTFORD, Wis. — A bit too early to be kicking off the holiday season? That certainly wasn’t the case for Soo Line No. 1003, the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, and Downtown Hartford. The 2-8-2 was in steam on Nov. 9, 2024, for the annual Santa Train to precede the city’s Christmas Parade. Mike Raia, president […]

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RDC buys rail lines in Northern Germany

Railroad Development Corp.’s German subsidiary, RDC Deutschland, has bought two railway lines in northwestern Germany from the international freight business of French Railways (SNCF). Both lines, acquired in a transaction completed at the beginning of November, have regional passenger service, or will shortly. This makes them potentially attractive as an investment, as much of the […]

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