MERRILL, Ore. — What is perhaps the single largest private collection of steam locomotives, mostly from the western U.S., has been sold and will soon be dispersed following the death of its long-time owner. The Fred M. Kepner collection of 14 steam locomotives and other railroad equipment has been purchased by the Oregon Coast Scenic […]
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WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis has extended the public comment period for environmental impact statement of the Canadian Pacific to Jan. 3, 2022. Comments were originally due today (Dec. 17, 2021). The extension reflects requests for additional time to comment, the Office of Environmental Impact said in the notice issued […]
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Do railroad mergers live up to the hype? It’s a question that’s been rattling around in my head as federal regulators review the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, the first between Class I railroads in two decades. First, the projections. Within three years of the merger, Canadian Pacific Kansas City expects to gain 80,000 carloads […]
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OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF will pay a $1.5 million settlement to the Environmental Protection Agency over a 2018 derailment that led to an Iowa oil spill, the Associated Press reports. About 160,000 gallons of oil reached floodwaters near Doon, Iowa, in June 2018 after heavy rains washed out a BNSF line and flooded the Little […]
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WASHINGTON — When outgoing CEO William Flynn joined the company in March 2020, a direction for Amtrak that de-emphasized long distance trains and national network investment had already been established under Amtrak Board Chairman Anthony Coscia. Stephen Gardner, hired by then-President and CEO Joseph Boardman, has been the primary confidant on strategy for two other […]
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LOS ANGELES — The man who intentionally ran his train off the end of tracks in San Pedro, Calif., last year, claiming he was trying to draw attention to what he believed was a conspiracy involving a U.S. Navy hospital ship, has pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge resulting from the incident. Eduardo Moreno, 45, […]
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NEW YORK — A Long Island Rail Road dispatcher supervisor and dispatcher have been disciplined after being found asleep on the job by investigators from the Office of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Inspector General. A report by Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny says the office received a tip that overnight dispatchers were turning off the lights […]
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MERTZTOWN, Pa. — The Longswamp Township Historical Society has received a $75,000 grant for its project to relocate a circa-1875 railroad station in Mertztown. The funds from the Berks County Redevelopment Agency will go toward the Save Our Station-Mertztown Train Station Restoration Project. To date, more than $195,000 has been raised for the project, with […]
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OTTAWA — Transport Canada has announced changes to track inspection rules increasing the frequency of inspections in some areas, as well as rules governing use of automated track-inspection technology. The rules announced by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra will increase the frequency of track inspections in higher-risk areas where trains travel at greater speeds while carrying […]
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FILLMORE, Calif. —California short line operator Sierra Northern Railway will be the new operator of Ventura County’s Piru to Montalvo, Calif., rail line, the Ventura County Transportation Commission has decided. By a 13-1 vote, the commission approved the contract for operation of the 30-mile, county-owned former Southern Pacific branch, to be known as the Sierra […]
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ROSELLE, Ill. — Eight Chicago suburbs are forming a coalition to voice concerns over the potential increase in rail traffic through their communities if the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger is approved. The suburban Daily Herald reports Roselle, Elgin, Barlett, Hanover Park, Schaumburg, Itasca, Wood Dale and Bensenville are asking residents to submit comments to […]
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DAUPHIN, Pa. — A 27-year-old Kingsport, Tenn., man has been identified as the victim of a fatal accident on a Norfolk Southern project earlier this month. The Kingsport Times-News reports Kolton Parker Helbert, an employee of National Salvage & Service Corp., was killed in the Dec. 8 accident. National Salvage provides demolition and dismantlement services. […]
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