NS customers invest $4.3 billion in rail-served projects in 2024

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern customers advanced projects representing $4.3 billion in industrial development along its lines or those of a shortline partner in 2024, the railroad said today (Jan. 22). The investments involved 149 projects, including 65 representing $1.2 billion in investment and 1,700 jobs that were completed and began shipping on the railroad. Overall, […]

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Piggyback publicity

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A driver backs a brand-new 40-foot Union Pacific trailer into position on a likewise-new 85-foot flatcar in a 1959 publicity shot. The trailer was one of 10 new insulated trailers from Utility, and the flatcars were among 100 new UP cars equipped with two ACF hitches. Union Pacific photo […]

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House bill would update tax credit for short lines

Blue and yellow locomotives switching

WASHINGTON — In a notably bipartisan move, the top Republican and Democrat on the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax have introduced a bill to update a tax credit that has been crucial to short line infrastructure investment. U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), chairman of the subcommittee, and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), the ranking member, […]

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News & Products for the week of January 21st 2025

News & Products for the week of January 21st 2025   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of January 21st, […]

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Reading & Northern achieves record freight revenues in 2024

Frieght train with two green and yello locomotives crosses river on steel girder bridge

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — With a change in traffic mix more than offsetting a decrease in carloads, the Reading & Northern achieved record freight revenues in 2024, the railroad has announced. The privately held railroad had previously announced record passenger ridership  [see “Reading & Northern marks record excursion ridership …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 8, […]

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Fuchs named Surface Transportation Board chairman (updated)

Man speaking at podium

WASHINGTON – Patrick Fuchs has been named chairman of the Surface Transportation Board. The appointment of Fuchs, a Republican, was announced Monday, Jan. 21. He was confirmed to his second five-year term on the board on May 14, 2024. Prior to his appointment to the STB in 2019, Fuchs was senior professional staff member working […]

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FRA approves first autonomous rail car test program

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will allow Parallel Systems to test its autonomous, self-propelled flatcar system on a pair of Genesee & Wyoming short lines in Georgia. The FRA last week approved the request from Parallel, Georgia Central Railway, and Heart of Georgia Railroad. In August 2023 the Los Angeles-based Parallel and the G&W […]

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Carload Considerations: The pivot to improvising

Coal train passes interlocking tower in snow

Developing and adhering to a structured operating plan gives railroads a step-by-step process to running their trains. The structure is required to drive long-term success. And whether it’s your daily routine or running a 23-state railroad network, having a plan is important. In recent years, it’s been a template of fewer but longer scheduled trains […]

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Joliet junket

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An eastbound Rock Island freight, led by a red-and-black F unit trio — FT A-B 99/99B plus an F2 — passes the Joliet (Ill.) Union Station platform, on which several passengers wait. The Will County courthouse rises above the train and station. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]

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Cleanup continuing after CSX derailment near Monon, Ind.

CSX logo

MONON, Ind. — Cleanup is continuing after 15 cars of a CSX train derailed near Monon on Saturday morning, disrupting operation of Amtrak’s Cardinal both into and out of Chicago. The derailment occurred about 7:10 a.m. at the West Pass siding northwest of Monon. As a result, the westbound Cardinal due to arrive in Chicago […]

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