Class I railroad employment down in 2017 NEWSWIRE

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A Norfolk Southern conductor rides a tank car during a switching move at the CSX Transportation-NS interchange in Point Pleasant, W.Va., in September 2013. Chase Gunnoe WASHINGTON — There are 4,000 fewer Class I railroad employees than there were at this time last year, according to new data published this week by the Surface Transportation […]

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Big Boy braking power

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Ten hoppers coupled to the Big Boy consist in January 2014 were used for additional braking power. Steve Sweeney Q Why was there a string of hopper cars in the consist moving Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 from Pomona to West Colton, Calif., in January 2014? – David Tritenbach, Kerrville, Texas A Although Union […]

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Harrison says operations streamlining will continue; ‘I’m not a one-man crew advocate’ NEWSWIRE

CSX CEO E. Hunter Harrison Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — New CSX Transportation CEO E. Hunter Harrison gave some broad-brush outlines today on his plans to cut costs, streamline operations, and improve service. Wall Street analysts quizzed Harrison for nearly two hours during the railroad’s first-quarter earnings call this morning. While Harrison said many details […]

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Taking Care of Business: SMS Rail Lines

A green-paint switching locomotive in a rail yard.

To launch our all-new operation-oriented series, Charlie Conway captures a day in the life of a hardworking SMS Rail Lines crew in New Jersey. In this narrated show, you’ll discover useful modeling insights and prototype railroad information you can apply to your own layout operating sessions. You won’t want to miss any of the shortline […]

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Taking Care of Business: SMS Rail Lines

A green-paint switching locomotive in a rail yard.

To launch our all-new operation-oriented series, Charlie Conway captures a day in the life of a hardworking SMS Rail Lines crew in New Jersey. In this narrated show, you’ll discover useful modeling insights and prototype railroad information you can apply to your own layout operating sessions. You won’t want to miss any of the shortline […]

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An ancient scale test car

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Scale test cars are used to calibrate in-track scales that weigh freight cars. The car shown above was built in 1891 and served until the 1980s. Jim Battle Q The car in this picture was in the New York, Susquehanna & Western’s Little Ferry, N.J., yard in September 1978. Do you know if it is […]

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CSX runs test train on Clinchfield route NEWSWIRE

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Photographers caught CSX Transportation train K446-07 on April 8, led by two SD40-2’s, on a northbound trip on the Clinchfield Route. Here it is seen going through Dante, Va., by the old depot. Nick Dumas DANTE, Va. — Sources close to CSX Transportation say railroad managers are looking for alternative routes now that recent hump […]

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