Union Pacific “hospital” train detoured onto Iowa Interstate

gray steam locomotive

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The “hospital” train ferrying historic Union Pacific steam locomotives and other equipment to Silvis, Ill. was detoured onto the Iowa Interstate Railroad at Council Bluffs this morning. The train has been making a slow move across the UP main line since departing Cheyenne, Wyo. on Nov. 11. The slow speed of […]

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The four things railroads must do to win the battle with trucks

Freight cars near sunset

NEW YORK — Railroads will not regain market share lost to trucks unless they shift to traffic growth mode, transform their operations, and provide service that’s far more reliable than ever. That’s the view of Oliver Wyman partner Adriene Bailey, who this week outlined four big steps railroads must take in order to deliver the […]

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Union Pacific asks customers to meter traffic or face embargoes

Train passing under signal bridge

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific once again will meter traffic to limit congestion if certain customers don’t voluntarily reduce the number of private freight cars operating on the railroad. UP informed shippers last week, Trains News Wire has learned. “Union Pacific regularly reviews our network to monitor for elevated inventory,” UP spokeswoman Robynn Tysver says. […]

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Five details you can add to transition-era cabooses

Black-and-white photo of steel caboose with rooftop antenna

We’ll take a look at five details you can add to transition-era cabooses. Some details are railroad-specific, while others apply to many railroads. When in doubt, refer to prototype photos. The steam-to-diesel transition era, roughly 1940 to 1960, is the most popular modeling era. There are several reasons for this. Many people who model this […]

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Famed Texas Tower 55 being demolished

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

FORT WORTH, Texas – Union Pacific’s Tower 55 in Forth Worth, which once controlled the busiest railroad junction in Texas, is being demolished this week. Demolition work began Nov. 14. Originally a wood structure, it was replaced by a three-story brick structure in the 1930s. As railroads expanded in Texas, several railroads reached Forth Worth. […]

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Tours of Silvis shops offered after UP engines arrive

Black steam locomotive on turntable

  SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will offer one-hour tours of its Silvis shops, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, one day after several historic Union Pacific steam and diesel locomotives arrive on the property. RRHMA is billing the event as a “Walk Among the Giants” and will feature UP 4-6-6-4 No. 3985, 2-10-2 […]

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J.B. Hunt sees massive intermodal growth opportunity on BNSF Railway

Double-stack container train passing maintenance equipment

CHICAGO — J.B. Hunt executives see the potential for major growth with partner BNSF Railway next year thanks to rival Schneider shifting its intermodal business to Union Pacific. Schneider’s move to UP, effective Jan. 1, comes a year after another major truckload carrier, Knight-Swift, left BNSF for UP. “We have massive capacity becoming available to […]

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