Q I heard the term “nitrogen blanket” in reference to a tank car. Could you explain what this is and what types of tank cars have these nitrogen blankets? – Mike Riley, Manchester, Mo. A The term “nitrogen blanket” refers to a padding (or a layer) of nitrogen gas put into a tank car to: […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Canadian Pacific to re-open Chicago-area yard to intermodal traffic NEWSWIRE
CHICAGO — Rising intermodal volumes in Chicago have prompted Canadian Pacific to revive its Schiller Park intermodal terminal for inbound loads. CP consolidated its Chicago intermodal operations at its terminal at Bensenville Yard in 2012. The former Soo Line facility at Schiller Park remained in use as a container storage yard, spokesman Andy Cummings says, […]
Federal regulators ask Class I railroads to explain service issues amid network slowdown NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are becoming increasingly concerned about the widespread deterioration in railroad service metrics amid complaints from shipper groups, who say the industry is mired in a slowdown that is delaying shipments of goods from automobiles to grain. The Surface Transportation Board has asked Class I railroad chief executives to explain service problems, […]
Colored dots on freight cars
Dots painted on trilevel auto racks indicate clearance heights. Rob Burnet Q I have seen colored painted dots on freight cars, mostly multilevel auto rack cars. What do they signify? – Rob Burnet, Etobicoke, Ont., Canada A Colored marks on auto multi-levels are to designate slightly different deck height clearances on trilevels. Orange dots indicate […]
Canadian Pacific to drop Expressway short-haul intermodal service NEWSWIRE
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific will discontinue its pioneering Expressway short-haul intermodal service on June 1, ending a nearly two-decade experiment of luring trucks off Highway 401 between Toronto and Montreal. From its launch in May 1999 as the successor to the Iron Highway concept developed by CSX Intermodal, the Expressway roll-on, roll-off trailer-on-flatcar trains […]
BNSF Railway’s revenue, profit rise on traffic gains in 2017 NEWSWIRE
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway reported higher revenue and earnings for 2017 amid volume growth and pricing increases. The railroad’s pre-tax earnings rose 11.2 percent last year, to $6.3 billion, as revenue climbed 7.9 percent, to $21.4 billion, BNSF’s parent company, Berkshire Hathaway, reported on Saturday. BNSF’s operating ratio was 65.7 percent, an improvement […]
Helper locomotive crews
On Aug. 6, 2012, a single Illinois Central manned helper locomotive brings up the rear of a southbound Canadian National intermodal train working up Byron Hill on the Waukesha Subdivision near Byron, Wis. Tom Danneman Q How do locomotive engineers know they are doing equal work on trains equipped with manned helpers? – Robert A. […]
Senate confirms Batory as FRA head NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Media outlets report that Ron Batory is now confirmed as the Federal Railroad Administration’s administrator. Washington media outlets Politico and the Hill report that the U.S. Senate confirmed Batory, the former Conrail Shared Assets head, along with two other nominees. U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., had held Batory’s nomination as […]
CSX Transportation safety record comes under scrutiny as accident, injury rates rise NEWSWIRE
The remains of the lead locomotive of Amtrak’s Silver Star after it crashed into a CSX Transportation freight train on Feb. 4, 2018. Jonathan Hinely When a misaligned switch sent Amtrak’s Silver Star barreling into a parked CSX Transportation train in South Carolina last week, killing two Amtrak crewmen and injuring more than 100 passengers, […]
Loram and Georgetown Rail maintenance of way companies announce merger NEWSWIRE
MINNEAPOLIS — Loram Maintenance of Way Inc. based in Minneapolis and Georgetown Rail Equipment Co. based in Georgetown, Texas, today announced that they have completed a definitive merger agreement under which Loram will acquire all outstanding shares of GREX. “GREX and Loram share a passion for innovation and customer service. The combined strength of this […]
Ahead of the rest
A southbound ‘Acela’ races across a stretch of positive train control trackage on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor at Perryville, Md., on June 5, 2011. Michael T. Burkhart This story first appeared in the October 2011 issue of Trains Magazine. The Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System highlighted here was not active at the time of the of […]
Confidential Close Call reporting basics
Confidential Close Call reporting basics A New Jersey Transit train zips northward from Atlantic City to New York’s Penn Station on Jan. 23, 2010. If the crew were to err, they could report the close call and be part of a bigger program to improve safety, rather than be punished. Dennis A. Livesay photograph Confidential […]
