Labor secretary expects Congress to block rail strike

Portrait of man in front of U.S. flag

NEW YORK — U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, credited by unions with a key role in the tentative agreement that averted a railroad strike in September, says he expects Congress will act to block a possible strike later this month. Walsh made his comments on Friday to CNN, prior to the latest vote ratifying […]

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Machinists narrowly ratify new deal with railroads

Logo of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

WASHINGTON — Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, who rejected an earlier agreement with railroads, have narrowly approved a new deal, the union announced Saturday. The union’s District 19, which represents 4,900 rail workers, said 52% of those voting approved the revised agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee. That deal […]

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CN, CP set single-month records for Canadian grain movement (updated)

Canadian National and Canadian Pacific logos

Canadian National set a single-month record for movement of Western Canadian grain in October, the company said, moving more than 3.23 million metric tons. Canadian Pacific also set a grain-movement record for the month, moving 3.14 metric tons. This surpassed its previous best month by 100,000 metric tons. CN’s figure exceeded its previous best month, […]

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BNSF near permission to replace Bismarck-Mandan bridge

BNSF train crossing river bridge in winter

BISMARCK, N.D. — BNSF Railway’s long-delayed effort to replace its aging bridge between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., is on the verge of getting federal and state approval — but the preservation group that wants to save the structure is considering mounting a legal effort to stop demolition of the existing structure. The Bismarck Tribune reports […]

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Canadian government, Lac-Mégantic agree on land acquisition

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — The Canadian government has reached an agreement in principle with the town of Lac-Mégantic on the purchase of land needed for construction of a rail bypass around the community, Transport Canada has announced. The agreement will allow both parties to prepare the deed of sale for the land owned by the town. […]

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Strasburg collision damages No. 475, no one hurt

Steam locomotive passes standing passenger cars

PARADISE, Pa. — Strasburg Rail Road’s 4-8-0 steam engine No. 475 collided with a tracked excavator or “trackhoe” parked on a spur Wednesday morning, Nov. 2, punching a hole in the engine’s smokebox. No injuries resulted and the engine, running light, remained on the track. A combination of a misaligned switch — apparently left open when […]

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