Cumberland Yard improvements help CSX reduce train starts

Intermodal train emerging from tunnel

NEW YORK — CSX is moving more tonnage on fewer trains this year as part of a significant reduction in the number of road train crew starts. The 10% decline in coal volume this year has contributed to the reduction, Chief Financial Officer Sean Pelkey told an investor conference today. “But there’s a significant amount […]

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Three injured as CSX train derailed in grade-crossing collision (corrected)

Derailed and overturned locomotive next to dump truck

FRIEDENS, Pa. — Two crew members and the truck driver were injured after a coal truck struck and derailed the locomotives of a CSX train sat a grade crossing in Somerset Township on Monday (March 10). WTAE-TV reports the truck caught fire following the collision. WTAJ reports a locomotive fuel tank was ruptured, leaking fuel […]

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Following court ruling, UP says it will close Palestine, Texas, shop

Aerial view of rail yard and shop buildings

PALESTINE, Texas — Union Pacific on Monday notified employees at its Palestine, Texas, car shop that their current jobs would be eliminated following the latest ruling in a long-running court battle over an agreement dating to 1872. The Dallas Morning News reports the railroad notified the 57 employees it would close the shop after the […]

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Metra considering renaming of commuter rail lines

Map of the Metra system with its current names and color-coding. Metra is considering renaming the lines to a more uniform system. Metra

CHICAGO — Metra has begun a rider survey over renaming its lines from their current names — which largely are derived from their historic operators — to one of two alphanumeric systems, one of which also uses color coding to a significant degree. The move is spurred by Metra’s upcoming operational takeover of the three […]

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News & Products for the week of March 10th 2025

A blue and white model lcocomotive

News & Products for the week of March 10th 2025   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 10th, […]

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Lionel City of Miami train set

yellow and green model train on track

The City of Miami was a vibrant orange and palm green streamliner of the Illinois Central Railroad. Operating between 1940 and 1971, the train provided service from Chicago to Miami, and was powered by a single EMD E6 diesel locomotive. The first jaw-dropping feature of Lionel’s latest rendition of the set isn’t the locomotive  itself, […]

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CSX Virginia terminal railroad antitrust complaints are a ‘ghost story,’ Norfolk Southern says

WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern has urged the Surface Transportation Board to continue a case of regulatory housekeeping involving control of Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line. Last month CSX told the STB that the Justice Department was probing its allegations about anticompetitive conduct involving NS and NPBL at a major Norfolk container terminal. […]

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Lionel’s 2024 Catalog Volume II honors the past and present

catalog page with three model engines

Lionel’s 2024 Catalog Volume II honors the past and present with some superb sets and locomotives operators and even collectors are sure to like. I discovered a number of impressive and desirable new models when I finally found the time to devote an entire evening to exploring the second and shorter catalog from 2024. By […]

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Goldbloom named VIA Rail Canada board chair (updated)

Head-and-sholders photo of man with glasses in dark suit

OTTAWA, Ontario — Jonathan Goldbloom, a member of the VIA Rail Canada board since 2017, has been named as VIA’s board chairman effective April 12, 2025. Goldbloom’s five-year appointment as chairman was announced on Saturday, March 8, by Minister of Transport at Internal Trade Anita Anand. Goldbloom, of Montreal, is a partner at Avenue Strategic […]

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Santa Clara VTA shut down by strike

Light rail train at station platform

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A strike by members of the Amalgamated Transit Union has shut down the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority as of 12:01 a.m. today (March 10). The union, which represents 1,500 VTA employees, including light rail and bus operators, dispatchers, and maintenance staff, had announced its intent to strike last week [see […]

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NJ Transit, engineers announce tentative agreement (updated)

Commuter trains on two tracks of three-track line at station

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have reached tentative agreement on a new contract for the transit agency’s engineers, which could end a long-running dispute and avert a potential strike later this month. NorthJersey.com reports the deal was reached on Thursday, March 6, but it was announced today […]

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