SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is seeking new partners in its ongoing effort to reopen the 70-mile former San Diego & Arizona Eastern line from Tecate, Mexico, to Plaster City, Calif., the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The agency has owned the line since 1979 and made several attempts to reopen the […]
Friends of the 261 acquires private car ‘Caritas’
MINNEAPOLIS – The Friends of the 261, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261, has purchased well-known private car Caritas, Friends of the 261 President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Sandberg tells Trains “News Wire.” Sandberg says the group acquired the car in a bankruptcy auction from the bankruptcy court […]
The Trains Interview: Western Maryland Scenic’s Wesley Heinz, Part II
Second of two parts CUMBERLAND, Md. — The conclusion of a Trains News Wire interview with with Wesley Heinz, executive director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Part I is available here. Q: Second to 1309, track infrastructure has been a recurring topic of discussion. How is the railroad addressing track needs to avoid another […]
First Stadler DMU for San Bernardino County departs factory
SALT LAKE CITY — The first of three diesel multiple-unit trainsets for use in Southern California has left Stadler’s Salt Lake City factory. The low-floor FLIRT trainsets for the San Bernardino County Transit Authority will run on a 9-mile line between the San Bernardino Transit Center and Redlands, Calif., providing a connection to existing Metrolink […]
HornBlasters to enter rail market, sell Leslie products
TAMPA, Fla. — HornBlasters, which sells train horns for automotive use, has announced it is entering the locomotive market after acquiring assets of the Air Whistles product line of Leslie Circor Leslie Controls. Leslie, founded in 1905, is the oldest locomotive horn manufacturer in the U.S. and one of only two in the country producing […]
Canadian National defends intermodal growth strategy
MONTREAL — Canadian National executives defended their intermodal growth strategy today, saying it’s the best way to compete with trucks and bring new profitable traffic to the railway over the next decade. Activist investor TCI Fund Management, which has launched a proxy fight to replace CEO JJ Ruest and four board members, has been critical […]
Trains photo charter in Oregon to feature Santa Maria Valley 2-6-2
LEBANON, Ore. — Santa Maria Valley No. 205, a recently restored 2-6-2 that had not steamed in 71 years, will make its photographer’s train debut in a Trains Magazine-sponsored event at the Albany & Eastern on March 18. The locomotive and two coaches will make multiple photo runbys on the railroad’s scenic Sweet Home Branch […]
The Trains Interview: Western Maryland Scenic’s Wesley Heinz, Part I
First of two parts CUMBERLAND, Md. – It’s been about five months since New England rail preservationist Wesley Heinz took the top spot as interim chief and then permanent executive director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland. Prior to migrating to Cumberland, Heinz was the executive director of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad […]
Rail service in British Columbia halted by flooding (updated)
HOPE, British Columbia — Flooding battering the province of British Columbia has disrupted rail service, as well as forcing evacuations and washing away highways. The CBC reports Canadian Pacific’s line through the Fraser River Canyon has been closed because of flood damage north of Hope, B.C., and that a Canadian National train derailed because of […]
CSX, CP named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index (updated)
CSX Transportation and Canadian Pacific Railway have been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America, reflecting the railroads’ strong scores in environmental, social, governance, and economic measures. For CSX, the only U.S.-based railroad on the index, it is the 11th consecutive year of being so honored. Canadian Pacific is on the list […]
STB proposes rules on small rate disputes
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has announced proposals on two rules to deal with small rate disputes. The first, responding to a petition by five Class I railroads, would create a new voluntary arbitration program for small disputes, which would function alongside the existing arbitration program. Details on that proposal are available in this […]
Union Pacific asks regulators to delay, extend review of CP-KCS merger
WASHINGTON – Union Pacific has asked federal regulators to delay and extend their review of the proposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern. UP wants the Surface Transportation Board to treat the CP-KCS merger application as if it were filed on Dec. 15, some 47 days after it was actually filed. UP contends […]
