PERTH, Australia — Officials with Australian mining corporation Rio Tinto say they’ve successfully operated a driverless train on a 60-mile stretch of tracks in western Australia. In previous tests, Rio Tinto locomotives operated across the route in “autopilot mode,” but with a crew still present in the cab. This is the first test in which […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Drone pilot weaves through freight train on video NEWSWIRE
RENO, Nev. — Flying low, through a truss bridge, under a Union Pacific train, and even in a boxcar are just a few of the stunts a drone pilot shows off in a YouTube video while a UP mixed freight is in motion. The video, embedded above, went live on Sept. 20 and has already […]
Forecast: Intermodal growth trend to continue next year NEWSWIRE
Crews work to place trailers on flatcars in Denver in March 2017. Trailers, or TOFC, made an unexpected rebound in volume so far in 2017. TRAINS: Steve Sweeney INDIANAPOLIS – Intermodal traffic, which has come back nicely after a rare down year in 2016, likely will continue to gain ground in 2018 as truck capacity […]
House arrest for man accused of using railroad radio frequencies NEWSWIRE
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A federal judge has ordered a man accused of making unauthorized transmissions on railroad radio frequencies to wear an ankle monitor and be confined to his home until his trial begins, according to The Gazette in Cedar Rapids. U.S. Chief Magistrate C.J. Williams made the decision Sept. 11 after the magistrate […]
FRA, trucking regulator, withdraw sleep apnea rules NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Two transportation agencies are withdrawing a proposed rule that would have been the first step in regulations that could lead to mandatory treatment of obstructive sleep apnea for railroad operating personnel and truck drivers. The timing of the withdrawal on Aug. 5 is consistent with the Trump administration’s initiative to reduce regulatory burden […]
Captive or forced switching leads list of suggested STB regulatory changes NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — No surprise, railroads and shippers are sharply divided on the issue of allowing railroad customers with connections to only one railroad to choose an alternative carrier. Shippers call it “captive switching.” “Forced switching” is the term the railroads uses. Both sides shared their views on July 25 before an informal Surface Transportation Board […]
CSX wants to end locomotive pusher operations NEWSWIRE
A Morley, Tenn., based pusher has just exited a helper pocket in Morley and will soon assist a 100-car train across Duff Mountain on CSX’s former L&N KD Subdivision in rural Tennessee. Chase Gunnoe JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation is in the early stages of getting rid of locomotive pusher operations systemwide. The news was […]
Frac (sand) is back NEWSWIRE
Canadian National unit sand train U75081-18 passes by the Metra station in Antioch, Ill. Powering the train is rebuilt AC44C6M No. 4016, formerly Norfolk Southern C40-9 No. 8849. Trailing the rebuilt locomotive is C44-9W No. 8276, and SD70M-2s Nos. 2661 and 8942. Video by Chris Guss TRAINS: Rick Johnson Railroads are enjoying a resurgence in […]
Wilmington port and CSX to offer direct daily intermodal service to Charlotte NEWSWIRE
An aerial view of the Port of Wilmington, N.C., which will begin rail-intermodal service to Charlotte, N.C., beginning July 28. North Carolina State Ports Authority WILMINGTON, N.C. — North Carolina port officials are enthusiastic about a new scheduled intermodal service between the port of Wilmington and Charlotte, N.C. CSX will begin the Queen City Express […]
Norfolk Southern to dissolve Central Division NEWSWIRE
Norfolk Southern plans to consolidate its Central Division operations into neighboring divisions, reducing its total operating territories from 10 divisions to nine. Norfolk Southern NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern will dissolve its Central Division operations into three surrounding divisions by early November, a railroad news release announced on Tuesday. The move will reduce NS’ operating […]
Bill would give yardmasters hours of service protection NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — A bill that would include yardmasters among railroad employees covered by the Hours of Service Act was recently filed in the U.S. House of Representatives. Yardmasters often work shifts as long as 16 hours, and more 24-hour shifts are on the rise, according to the bill’s sponsor, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn. Yardmasters […]
Locomotives’ minimum speed
An ammeter in a GP40-2 with the short-time rating plate below. Note the duplicate time chart listed on the gauge as well. Chris Guss Q Why is it that a D.C. traction locomotive can stay below its continuous full-power minimum speed limit for only 30 minutes while an A.C. traction unit can grind away in […]
