MADISON, Mo. – A truck driver was killed Sunday after he failed to stop at a crossing and struck a Norfolk Southern rock train, causing it to derail, KCRG News reported. Russell Minnis, 65, of Higbee, Mo., was killed after his semi-truck did not stop at the U.S. Route 24 crossing 2 miles east of […]
Section: News & Reviews
Minnesota legislature approves funding for Northern Lights Express passenger service
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Legislature has approved a transportation measure that includes nearly $195 million in funding for the Northern Light Express passenger rail service from the Twin Cities to Duluth, Minn. If implemented, it would be the first passenger service to Duluth since Amtrak’s North Star was dropped in 1985. The 152-mile […]
Rebuild of Metro-North New Canaan Branch set
NEW CANAAN, Conn. – The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) will begin track work on the Metro-North Railroad New Canaan Branch May 30. The electrified 8-mile single-track branch carries 41 trains each weekday. Service includes several New Canaan-Grand Central Terminal through trains; others include New Canaan-Stamford shuttles, connecting with New Haven Line trains. CDOT owns […]
BNSF and J.B. Hunt work on ways to improve service, convert loads off highway
Editor’s Note: This is an abridged version of a feature that will run in the October issue of Trains Magazine that will examine intermodal developments on both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific. It’s not easy for railroads’ domestic intermodal customers to jump ship, which is why their partnerships tend to endure for decades. Yet change […]
Owner of Beech Mountain Railroad prepares to close mine
ALEXANDER, W.Va. — The Carter-Roag Coal Co. plans to close its Morgan Camp mine, the last coal mine in Randolph County, W.Va., as well as the Star Bridge coal preparation plant, likely spelling the end of the company’s Beech Mountain Railroad. Local news reports say Carter-Roag, a subsidiary of United Coal Co., announced last week […]
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad to restore Southern No. 722 to operation
Southern No. 722 BRYSON CITY, N.C. — The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad has announced plans to restore operation Southern Railway No. 722, a 2-8-0 built by Baldwin in 1904. Plans are to convert the locomotive from coal to oil firing in a process estimated to be completed in 2026, the railroad said in a press […]
Maine legislature seeks to end confidentiality for rail shipment of hazardous materials
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that would repeal an earlier act that created confidentiality for information about hazardous material transported on railroads. LD1937, sponsored by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) and co-sponsored by Sen. Richard A. Bennett (R-Portland), would repeal the bill passed in 2015. The Bangor Daily News, […]
News photos: A PA arrives in Pa. (updated)
SCRANTON, Pa. — Alco PA Nickel Plate 190 has arrived at its new home. Completing its cross-country journey from Portland, Ore., the locomotive is now in Scranton, handed over to new owner Genesee Valley Transportation by Norfolk Southern this evening. GVT and the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad will restore the locomotive, which has an operable prime mover […]
Vintage railcar with Elvis connection at Pullman Railroad Days this weekend
CHICAGO —The Historic Pullman Foundation’s annual “Railroad Days” open house at Pullman National Historical Park on Saturday and Sunday will again host passenger cars that were built at the plant on Chicago’s South Side. Cars displayed this year, at Metra’s 111th Street station, date from 1923 to 1950. Heavyweight business car New York Central #3, […]
Union Pacific announces Big Boy trip to Omaha
Big Boy trip 2023 OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 will travel to Omaha, Neb., for 11 days of display during the NCAA College World Series baseball championship tournament, the railroad announced today. The locomotive and its train of heritage passenger cars will depart Cheyenne, Wyo., on the “Home Run Express Tour,” […]
Norfolk Southern debuts new emissions report tool for customers
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has launched a Rail Emissions Report tool that, in an industry first, uses fuel burn data directly from locomotives. “Fuel burn can be applied to each shipment based on the weight as it travels across the Norfolk Southern network,” a railroad spokeswoman says. “Combining fuel burn with other estimates for yard […]
UP promotes Jalali to executive vice president
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is promoting Chief Information Officer Rahul Jalali to executive vice president, effective June 1. He joined UP in 2020 and has most recently been a senior vice president and chief information office, and is credited by the railroad with a pivotal role in the company’s modernization efforts and leading development, […]
