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Pere Marquette No. 1225 stacking up miles in fall and winter operations

OWOSSO, Mich. — The norm for most operating steam locomotives around this time is to call it a season and begin receiving routine maintenance in preparation for the new year. For Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225, the Berkshire-type is still in the midst of its 2024 season, having completed fall excursions in late October and […]
What happened to the caboose?

What happened to the caboose? Many factors helped seal their fate, and the demise of the caboose has been mourned in many places, including in the pages of Trains, which bid farewell in a special issue in August 1990. But the caboose hasn’t disappeared. Even today, you can find a few cabooses still at work. […]
Rail industry bargaining group announces tentative agreements with two unions

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Carriers Conference Committee — the bargaining group for most U.S. Class I railroads — has reached tentative agreements with two unions, the organization has announced. The agreements with the Transportation Communications Union and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen are on behalf of NCCC railroads that had not already reached agreements with […]
Dirt: King of the Shop

“The legacy of Dirt the railroad cat continues,” is just one of many Dirt-related articles that highlights the importance of animals in railroading and how they can make an everlasting impact on those around them. Dirt, also known as Nevada Northern Railway’s Boss Shop Cat, died on Jan.10, 2023. With the anniversary of his […]
D.C. suburb settles with CSX over 2023 derailment

HYATTSVILLE, Md. — The city of Hyattsville and CSX have reached a $310,000 settlement agreement over costs stemming from a 2023 derailment that spilled plastic pellets in the community, the Hyattsville Life & Times reports. A locomotive and 16 cars derailed in the Sept. 23, 2023, incident near the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and […]
Amtrak service remains suspended between New York, New Haven

NEW YORK — Amtrak operations between New York’s Penn Station and New Haven, Conn., remains suspended to begin today (Wednesday, Nov. 13) as a result of Tuesday electrical fires in the Bronx. Service was suspended as of Tuesday afternoon because of a pair of fires, one involving a transformer fire at a warehouse and another […]
AAA members now get discounts on Metrolink tickets

LOS ANGELES — AAA members now have a new benefit in Southern California: discounts on Metrolink commuter rail tickets. As of Tuesday, Nov. 12, current members of the AAA Auto Club of Southern California will be eligible for a 20% discount on round-trip Metrolink tickets. Members will need to log into their AAA account to […]
MBTA work removes five Red Line speed restrictions

BOSTON — Five days of service suspensions for maintenance work on the Red Line have resulted in the removal of five speed restrictions, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced, leaving just four slow orders on the entire MBTA rail transit system. Service was shut down between Broadway and North Quincy Nov. 5-10, as well […]
FreightCar America reports higher revenue, deliveries in third quarter

CHICAGO — Railcar builder FreightCar America posted a loss of $107 million, or $3.57 per share, in the third quarter and revenue of $113.3 million on deliveries of 961 railcars, compared to revenue of $61.9 million on 503 railcar deliveries in the third quarter of 2023, up 83% and 91%, respectively. Shares of FCA fell […]
Fires knock out power on Amtrak route east of New York

NEW YORK — Amtrak service between New York and New Haven, Conn., has been suspended since midafternoon today (Tuesday, Nov. 12) and is to remain suspended the rest of the day because of a loss of power east of Penn Station, according to an advisory on the Amtrak website. WABC-TV reports there have been two […]
Ottawa puts end to lockouts at ports in British Columbia and Quebec

OTTAWA — Canada’s labor minister has ordered port employees back to work in British Columbia and Quebec after negotiations between unions and terminal operators reach an impasse. “I have directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order that all operations and duties at the ports resume and to assist the parties to settle their collective […]