An Engineer’s Life: Cascade Tunnel adventure, part 2

Three men stand on the rear platform of a caboose stopped on a single track line inside a concrete lined tunnel

Well, I left everybody hanging with the end of my last story, the Cascade Tunnel adventure. The adventure continued even after my conductor, Chris, and I left our freight train inside the 7.9-mile-long Cascade Tunnel after the ventilation failed and hurried our light engines to daylight — and fresh air. Once outside, Chris and I […]

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UP intermodal train derails in eastern Oregon

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

LA GRANDE, Ore. — Eleven single-stack container cars of a Union Pacific train derailed west of La Grande on Thursday evening, Feb. 27, Union County Emergency Services reports. The derailment occurred about 9 p.m. No injuries were reported and Union Pacific confirmed no hazardous materials were involved. Two grade crossings — at Fire and Greenwood […]

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Sounder, Amtrak Cascades service disrupted by landslide

Sound Transit logo

SEATTLE — Sounder commuter rail service, already operating at a reduced level because of equipment issues, has been further disrupted today  (Feb. 25, 2025) by a landslide that has also halted Amtrak Cascades operations between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. The landslide west of Everett, Wash., has triggered a 48-hour moratorium on passenger moves that […]

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Equipment issues improve for Sounder commuter service

Commuter train climbing with city in background

SEATTLE — While schedule reductions for Sounder commuter trains continue, Sound Transit says Amtrak is working to accelerate the process a full restoration of service. In a Wednesday, Feb. 19, post on its information blog, The Platform, the agency says Amtrak has already completed more than half of the railcar work that was originally expected […]

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Floods halt Amtrak’s City of New Orleans (updated)

Passenger train on curve

CHICAGO — Flooding is disrupting operation of Amtrak’s City of New Orleans, while Empire Builder departures have been cancelled for a fourth straight day. Other Amtrak cancellations announced for today (Feb. 18) include both directions of the Borealis between St. Paul and Milwaukee and a Lincoln Service trip from St. Louis to Chicago, according to […]

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Reduced Sounder service to continue until further notice

Commuter train led by cab car on bridge

SEATTLE — Reduction of Sounder commuter rail service will continue until further notice, Sound Transit has announced. Two of the four round trips on the N Line between Seattle and Everett have been suspended, as have two of the 13 round trips on the S line between Seattle and Tacoma/Lakewood. The revised schedules are available […]

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Amtrak’s Empire Builder again cancelled

Amtrak logo.

CHICAGO — Departures of the Empire Builder have been cancelled in both directions today (Sunday, Feb. 16), for a second straight day, according to Amtrak’s website. No information on either cancellation was provided on the website or the Amtrak Alerts social media feed. However, the westbound Builder that was due in Portland at 11:17 a.m. […]

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