Challengers on Helmstetter’s Curve

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Western Maryland 4-6-6-4s up front and at mid-train lift a freight upgrade around Helmstetter’s Curve in the late 1940s or early ’50s. Today, Western Maryland Scenic Railway tourist trains still traverse this landmark a few miles west of Cumberland, Md. George C. Corey photo […]

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New power silences San Francisco Bay Alco NEWSWIRE

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Knoxville Locomotive Works SE10B No. 30 is new power for San Francisco Belt Railway. Doug Wooton Alco No. 23 loads cars with “dirty dirt” at the SFBR yard. Davis Strench No. 25’s engine will be removed, and the unit placed on display. Kyle Stockman SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Bay Railroad is in the […]

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Canadian National’s chief transportation officer leaves railroad NEWSWIRE

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John Orr Canadian National website MONTREAL — Canadian National’s chief transportation officer, who was responsible for day-to-day operations on the 19,600-mile system, has left the railway. John Orr, who joined CN in 1985 as a conductor and rose through the ranks, was named senior vice president and chief transportation officer in August 2018 as one […]

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UPDATE: Metra board approves locomotive purchase; SD70MACH models to come out of EMD NEWSWIRE

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An artist’s rendition of new-to-Metra SD70MACH locomotives. Metra, via Facebook CHICAGO — Metra on Wednesday approved a $71 million contract to purchase 15 remanufactured locomotives from Progress Rail Locomotives with options to buy up to 27 additional locomotives if more funding becomes available. According to a Metra announcement, Progress Rail will take existing EMD SD70MAC freight […]

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Chicago’s Metra battles ‘tracks-on-fire’ myth about flaming switch heaters NEWSWIRE

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A screen image capture from a Metra video of natural gas-fired switch heaters. Media outlets covering the late January freeze in the Midwest have reported that Chicago’s Metra sets its tracks on fire. METRA CHICAGO — From ABC to the British Broadcasting Corp. with Stephen Colbert in between, the national and international media is obsessed […]

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Minnesota short line revives Burlington Northern’s Cascade green NEWSWIRE

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No. 422 rests at Kansas City, Mo., prior to shipment. The unit is expected to receive a larger logo upon delivery to the railroad in Minnesota. Zack Pumphery ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Burlington Northern’s Cascade green paint scheme was consigned to history with BN’s merger with Santa Fe in 1995, but the colors are making […]

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Service restored to Illinois short line after tow boat strikes bridge NEWSWIRE

PEORIA, Ill. — Traffic is moving over a shortline’s bridge after a river tow boat struck it Sunday evening. The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Illinois River lift bridge, which links Peoria and East Peoria Illinois with its Illinois River crossing was struck by a towboat and closed to rail traffic Monday. The towboat was shoving […]

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Jim Vena: Union Pacific’s $9 billion-man NEWSWIRE

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Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Operating Officer Canadian National OMAHA, Neb. — Jim Vena is Union Pacific’s $9 billion man. No, that’s not how much Vena will earn as the railroad’s new chief operating officer. Under the terms of his contract, he’ll earn a base salary of $600,000 and will be eligible for an annual […]

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