LOMBARD, Ill. — The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting is by no means focused on passenger railroading, but there were some notable comments about Amtrak over the course of the two-day event. Foremost among those, not surprisingly, were the thoughts of Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman, whose agency’s busy agenda touches […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway plans to spend $3.96 billion on capital investments in 2023, the railroad announced Thursday — an increase of more than $400 million from its plan in 2022. “Our capital plan reflects our growth mindset and commitment to having the capacity and equipment we need to support our customers,” Katie […]
CHICAGO – The Chicago area’s congressional delegation delivered for commuter rail agency Metra in 2022, helping secure $204.1 million in competitive federal grants for Metra projects – the most by far in Metra’s history. The amount includes the largest discretionary grant Metra ever received – $117 million for the next phase of the Union Pacific North […]
HONOLULU — Honolulu’s long-delayed, multi-billion dollar rail rapid transit project is expected to see its first riders this spring. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will hand over a 10.8-mile route from East Kapolei station to the Halawa/Aloha Stadium station to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services in March or April, […]
Snow-themed photo gallery Though the weather outside is frightful, these trains sure make it look delightful. This gallery of snow-covered trains and railroads are from all over the United States. Captured within the last decade or so, from winter storms to light dustings, these photos reveal the beauty of cold, winter days. While scrolling through […]
Cut-glass partitions with imagery representing the mining and timber industries decorate the interior of a 36-seat dining car built for Great Northern’s Empire Builder in 1950. Great Northern photo […]
Winter affects locomotives Diesel locomotives have many components and systems that can be negatively affected during periods of cold and snow if not maintained properly. From tap water to electrical systems, these features need to be able to handle the often-harsh conditions to which locomotives are assigned. Locomotives have traditionally idled year-round, and in the […]
Whether it’s a permanent layout or a temporary display, there are a variety of ways to add a touch of winter to any layout — without making a mess. Jim Forbes When you envision winter on a toy train layout, you most likely think of a display covered in a thick blanket of artificial snow. […]
WASHINGTON — Replacement of Amtrak’s long-distance passenger cars has been included in forward-looking fleet plans for more than a decade, but the company announced Thursday it contacted carbuilders in December as “a first formal step” to re-equip the 14 overnight routes of the long-distance network. The request for expressions of interest “was sent to potential […]
LOMBARD, Ill. — BNSF Railway’s plans for a major new facility in Barstow, Calif., represent the continuing evolution of the railroad’s efforts to improve the intermodal supply chain, says CEO Katie Farmer. The railroad’s plans for the Barstow International Gateway, a $1.5 billion, 4,500-acre terminal in Southern California, builds on the development of earlier Logistics […]
Watco summary Watco (WATX) is a transportation and supply chain service company operating multiple short line and regional railroads throughout North America and Australia. It’s owned by Rick Webb, the son of founders Charles R. “Dick” Webb and Kaye Lynne, who also serves as the company’s Executive Chairman. Headquartered out of Pittsburg, Kansas, Watco owns […]
Montana Rail Link summary Montana Rail Link (MRL) is a Class II regional railroad that operates over 900 miles of standard-gauge track in Montana and Idaho. It’s owned by Washington Companies, a transportation and industrial conglomerate under businessman Dennis Washington. Headquartered out of Missoula, Mont., the railroad leases the former Northern Pacific Railroad’s main line […]
