HERMISTON, Ore. — Union Pacific announced this week that would be laying off nearly 200 people at its Hinkle rail yard in Hermiston, the latest example of cost reductions brought on by Precision Scheduled Railroading. About 195 people will lose their jobs as UP closes its Hinkle locomotive shop and warehouse over the next two […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 18. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 536,358 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.8% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending May 18 were 267,006 […]
WASHINGTON — Talks between President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders on an infrastructure bill broke down on Wednesday, with each side blaming the other: The president he can’t work with Democrats while they investigate his administration, and Democrats responded the president was never serious about an infrastructure program. Trump had met with House Speaker […]
A train-view of a flyover at Zoo Interlocking in Philadelphia. Brian Solomon Question: Where are some other mainline flyovers in the U.S.? — Frank Klos, San Diego, Calif. Answer: A flyover is grade-separated track arrangement used to keep busy lines fluid by avoiding the need for conflicting crossover movements, often built in conjunction with junctions […]
MONTREAL — Rob Reilly, a 30-year veteran of the rail industry with Santa Fe and BNSF, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer at Canadian National, effective July 1. The railroad also announced the promotion of Michael Foster to executive vice president and chief information and technology officer, effective June 3. Reilly, […]
Classification lights on Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern SD40-2 No. 6090. David C. Schauer Question: When a train displays color flags on the engine indicating “Extra” or “Second” section, how is that information used in the operation of the railroad? — Robert Miller, Hernando, Fla. Answer: A complete answer is available in Trains’ online “ABCs of […]
BNSF Railway ES44C4 No. 8338 works at the lead of a freight train. The locomotive’s C4 trucks have only two powered axles in the three-axle trucks arranged in a powered-unpowered-powered arrangement known as A-1-A. Tom Danneman Question: What is the purpose of the A-1-A C4 truck on the BNSF Railway Evolution Series diesels, and how […]
What appears to be an Omaha Orange and Pullman Green Great Northern Railway EMD SD9 in 2017 actually is a BNSF Railway unit that had been built in 1959 for Chicago, Burlintgon & Quincy subsidiary Colorado & Southern. For several years, BNSF has assigned Great Northern “GN” reporting marks to some older diesels generally assigned […]
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Surface Transportation Board Vice Chairman Patrick Fuchs says the independent agency is ready to tackle several issues that have been languishing for years, including how reasonable rates are determined and shipper requests for reciprocal switching. The board also is closely watching Class I railroad transitions to Precision Scheduled Railroading and wants […]
BNSF Railway CEO Carl Ice Bill Stephens SAN ANTONIO, Texas — BNSF Railway CEO Carl Ice refused to criticize Precision Scheduled Railroading at a shipper conference on Thursday, saying it inevitably leads to the misperception that his railroad doesn’t care about efficiency. “That’s not true. We do,” Ice says. “And our history shows we care […]
Union Pacific BOSTON — Union Pacific Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena wants to reset the discussion about hump yards and Precision Scheduled Railroading. Converting hump yards to flat-switching facilities was a key element of E. Hunter Harrison’s PSR strategy at Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and CSX Transportation. And at CSX, where Harrison idled eight of […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 11, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 529,263 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.7% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending May 11 […]
