Scientists now say that noisy freight trains could be used to help predict future earthquakes. According to information published by Physicsworld.com scientists from France, Belgium, and the U.S., say they’ve shown that the noise of a freight train — thrumming motors, squeaks, squeals, and other rolling noises — is sufficient to measure the condition of underlying […]
Type of Train: Freight
Rail traffic at risk as U.S-China trade war continues to build NEWSWIRE
A BNSF Railway intermodal train heads east through Lisle, Ill., in June 2019. Continuing escalation of the U.S.-China trade war puts more forms of rail cargo at risk. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Large-volume customers that U.S. and Canadian railroads count on are increasingly being hit by the escalating China trade war. Agriculture and automobiles are […]
Alaska Railroad freight, passenger service halted for fire, washout near Denali National Park NEWSWIRE
An Alaska Railroad freight makes it way through Healy Canyon, near Garner., where a retaining wall failed Aug. 17. The wall is just south of the bridge, five cars ahead of the distributed power, near the center of the photograph. Frank Keller ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Summer 2019 has been unusual for Alaska with record breaking […]
Rescued!
As a streetcar rolls by, Missouri Pacific 0-8-0 9721 and caboose have tied on to stalled 2-10-2 helper 1716 and 4-8-4 road engine 2111. Soon the three engines begin to march up Missouri’s Kirkwood Hill in March 1946. Joe Collias photo […]
Taking a spin
A headache for trailer-on-flatcar ramp operations happened when flatcars arrived facing the wrong direction. This Milwaukee Road car goes for a spin on a turntable in 1969. Gerald R. Rademacher photo […]
Extra 6311 East
Southern Pacific Extra 6311 East climbs fog-shrouded Donner Pass in October 1957. This view from the caboose shows a four-unit F7 helper set 18 cars ahead. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Bluebirds
Two Boston & Maine “Bluebird” Geeps rest at Springfield, Mass., in August 1964. The railroad, which operated 2,077 route-miles in 1929, became part of Guilford Transportation Industries in 1983, by then down to about 1,500 miles. Ralph W. Bostian photo […]
Dairyland toehold
Grand Trunk Western owned and operated a small yard and ferry slip in Milwaukee into the 1970s. Here, 1926 Brill boxcab No. 73 works ferry Grand Rapids at Milwaukee in December 1955. Russ Porter photo […]
Ask Trains: Why do EOTs only flash at night?
EOTs — end-of-train device Q: In track side watching and in videos, I note that end-of-train devices only flash at night. Why is this? — William Carpenter West Chester Township, Ohio The Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) rulebook used by most northeastern railroads states that each train occupying a main track or controlled siding […]
Water by unit train may expand beyond mines in Australia NEWSWIRE
CHARBON, Australia — The Southern Shorthaul Railway has begun moving unit trains of water between two coal mines in the western region of New South Wales to keep one mine from shutting down and saving 140 jobs. The area is suffering from a prolonged drought, and government officials are watching the trains, with the thought […]
Two intermodal trucking companies see revenue increases, but lower intermodal volumes NEWSWIRE
Hub Group is viewing its intermodal business as a glass half-full, while Schneider sees theirs as half-empty, based on second-quarter results the companies released last week and comments made in investors’ conference calls. Both companies provide services in intermodal, trucking, and supply chain management. Hub Group and Schneider saw intermodal revenue increases despite lower volumes. […]
Coal exports decline, railroad impacts starting to surface NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK CITY — Considered a stopgap a few years ago for declining U.S. coal production and its effects on transportation providers, the export market — especially that in Europe — is fading. Lower natural gas prices are hastening European conversion of power generation away from coal, says an analysis released by investment bank Morgan […]
