Reading & Northern names first VP for governmental affairs, EVP for strategic planning (updated)

Reading and Northern logo

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Matt Johnson has been appointed to Reading & Northern’s new position of vice president-governmental affairs, the railroad has announced. Also, Christina (Tina) Muller-Levan has been appointed executive vice president-strategic planning. Johnson has been with the railroad since 2005 in roles ranging from police officer to head of the R&N police force […]

Read More…

In Memoriam: Malcolm Furlow

Color photo of man on horseback

Malcolm Furlow, noted model railroader and artist, died in early March from the effects of long COVID. He was 77 years old. Though Malcolm had an American Flyer train set as a child, he didn’t become interested in model railroading until later in life. Malcolm attended the University of Texas to pursue an art degree. […]

Read More…

Install a Blunami Decoder in a LEGO locomotive

Model Railroader‘s Bryson Sleppy loves LEGO! And of course, he loves “digital” interests in model railroading too! So why not put the two together? That’s exactly what he’s done by adding a SoundTraxx Blunami decoder to control his LEGO 10219 Maersk Train Set locomotive fitted with a battery-powered, motorized truck part. Follow along, and you’ll […]

Read More…

BNSF main line reopens in Arizona

BNSF Railway logo

TOPOCK, Ariz. — BNSF Railway has reopened its Southern Transcon main line near the Arizona-California state line following a Wednesday derailment, the railroad said in a customer advisory today (Saturday, March 18). That derailment occurred about 7:40 p.m. Wednesday near Topock, about 11 miles southeast of Needles, Calif., on the Seligman Subdivision. It involved eight […]

Read More…

Cleanup of Glendale, Ky., derailment continues

Derailed auto rack

GLENDALE, Ky. — All 21 cars involved in the CSX Transportation derailment Thursday in Glendale were carrying automobiles, the railroad has confirmed. Cleanup continued today (March 17) from an incident that saw the occupant of one trackside vehicle suffer what have been described as “minor” injuries. One trackside building was damaged, along with some parked […]

Read More…

SEPTA ‘pauses’ work on King of Prussia rail project

Map showing proposed four-mile branch off SEPTA Norristown line to King of Prussia, Pa.

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has halted work on its plan to build a 4-mile spur of the Norristown High Speed Line to King of Prussia, Pa., after the project failed to receive funding from the Federal Transit Administration. SEPTA said in a press release that it was “pausing the King of Prussia […]

Read More…

CP, Canadian maintenance workers reach contract agreement

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific has reached a tentative agreement with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Maintenance-of-Way Employees Division, the railroad said today (March 17). The new contract will cover approximately 2,600 workers. Details will not be released until the agreement is ratified. “By working collaboratively with our valued union partners, we’ve reached another negotiated […]

Read More…

BNSF reaches paid sick days agreement with boilermakers union

Logo of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

FORT WORTH, Texas – BNSF Railway has reached a paid sick time agreement with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, the railroad announced today. BNSF said the deal was part of larger ongoing discussions about modernizing the work environment. Seven of BNSF’s 12 labor unions are now covered by paid sick leave agreements. Building upon existing […]

Read More…

Amtrak day trip to Detroit

Amtrak_Wolverine_Johnston

Amtrak day trip to Detroit: Amtrak’s portfolio of Michigan Services trains includes its three-times-a-day Wolverine linking Chicago Union Station with Pontiac, Mich., via Detroit. This day-trip option is a great addition to a Chicagoland visit. Wolverine trains depart Chicago Union Station, located at 225 South Canal Street, at 6:45 am, 2:15 pm, and 5:50 pm […]

Read More…

Rail safety bill introduced in U.S. House

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Two U.S. representatives from Ohio — Bill Johnson (R) and Emilia Sykes (D) — today introduced the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives Act, or RAIL Act, the latest legislative response to the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. The companion bill to the Rail Safety Act introduced earlier this month in the Senate [see “Senators propose […]

Read More…