E6 with L&N’s Humming Bird

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A single E6 diesel leads Louisville & Nashville’s Cincinnati–New Orleans Humming Bird through Turner, Ky., in 1948. A rebuilt heavyweight sleeper trails the original six lightweight cars of the streamliner. L&N photo […]

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UP Bailey Yard explosion appears to be accidental

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

OMAHA, Neb. — Investigators report the explosion that occurred in Union Pacific’s North Platte, Neb., Bailey Yard on Sept. 14, appears to be accidental, but it’s not yet clear what caused it, according to an AP news story. At the time of the explosion the car holding the container was not moving. It was located […]

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Burlington’s Galesburg station at night

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This 1940s night view of Galesburg shows the lineup of carts for hauling mail and express. Galesburg was on the CB&Q’s Chicago-to-Denver line, with additional lines heading north to the Twin Cities, southwest to Kansas City and St. Louis, and south toward Centralia, Ill. Henry J. McCord photo […]

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A smooth ride for Pere Marquette 1225

Steam locomotive lifted off its wheels

  When I began writing this Mileposts blog seven years ago, I told myself to avoid saying much about my favorite steam locomotive, Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225, which I worked on in college at Michigan State. The 1225 led me to a career, and I wrote a book about it. But there are plenty […]

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Atlantic on a local

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Chesapeake & Ohio 4-4-2 No. 281, stands at the Monon’s Hammond, Ind., station, ready for the 8:45 a.m. departure on Oct. 5, 1946, of the C&O’s local train to Cincinnati. L.B. Herrin photo […]

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CSX, NS cited for 99 bridge, property violations

Norfolk Southern train crossing lift bridge. CSX, NS cited for 99 bridge, property violations.

CLEVELAND – The city handed CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern 99 first-degree misdemeanor violations for falling concrete, high weeds, and graffiti issues on railroad-owned bridges and other property within the city, reports WEWS-TV. Cleveland residents have complained about the railroad property conditions previously to the point that Justin Bibb, Cleveland mayor, asked residents to report […]

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Chicago’s Red Line Extension receives $1.9 billion federal commitment

Logo of Chicago Transit Authority

CHICAGO – The Federal Transit Administration has committed $1.947 billion in federal funding for the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line Extension Project. The 5.6-mile extension of the CTA’s Red Line to Chicago’s southern border is the first rail transit extension since the Orange Line, running southwest to Midway International Airport from the Loop opened in […]

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