Bluebirds

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Two Boston & Maine “Bluebird” Geeps rest at Springfield, Mass., in August 1964. The railroad, which operated 2,077 route-miles in 1929, became part of Guilford Transportation Industries in 1983, by then down to about 1,500 miles. Ralph W. Bostian photo […]

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Dairyland toehold

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Grand Trunk Western owned and operated a small yard and ferry slip in Milwaukee into the 1970s. Here, 1926 Brill boxcab No. 73 works ferry Grand Rapids at Milwaukee in December 1955. Russ Porter photo […]

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Ask Trains: Why do EOTs only flash at night?

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

EOTs — end-of-train device Q: In track side watching and in videos, I note that end-of-train devices only flash at night. Why is this? — William Carpenter West Chester Township, Ohio The Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) rulebook used by most northeastern railroads states that each train occupying a main track or controlled siding […]

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Two intermodal trucking companies see revenue increases, but lower intermodal volumes NEWSWIRE

Hub Group is viewing its intermodal business as a glass half-full, while Schneider sees theirs as half-empty, based on second-quarter results the companies released last week and comments made in investors’ conference calls. Both companies provide services in intermodal, trucking, and supply chain management. Hub Group and Schneider saw intermodal revenue increases despite lower volumes. […]

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Trinity Industries releases new ‘hourglass’ autorack car NEWSWIRE

PhotofromTrinityRail

Hourglass autorack car from Trinity Industries Trinity Industries DALLAS — Trinity Industries has developed an auto rack it says is designed for safer and more efficient loading. Trinity, which is involved in the manufacturing, leasing, and maintaining of railcars, introduced the car earlier this year, according to CEO Tim Wallace. While Wallace says the move […]

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CP puts damper on plans for more ‘Hiawathas’

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MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s plans for increasing Chicago-Milwaukee Amtrak Hiawatha service may not be as close to fruition as state officials have believed. Canadian Pacific Railway, the host railroad for much of the Hiawatha route, has released a letter to the state’s rail program manager saying it will not support additional service without additional improvements […]

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CN, CP optimistic about prospects for more crude oil traffic NEWSWIRE

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Canadian National power leads a westbound empty oil unit train through River Forest, Ill., on the Union Pacific on Aug. 25, 2018. TRAINS: David Lassen Canadian National and Canadian Pacific are cautiously optimistic that Alberta crude oil shipments will rise significantly this year if production curtailments are eased and the province’s crude-by-rail contracts are shifted […]

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