Watco to convert two switchers to battery-electric power

Watco logo

SCOTTSVILLE, Texas — Add shortline company Watco to the list of those exploring battery-electric locomotive technology. Watco is teaming with Medha, an India-based manufacturer of locomotives and rail-related electronics, to convert two end-cab switchers into battery-electric units. The SW1200 and SW1500, based in Texas, had been out of service for repairs, according to an article […]

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Cleanup continues after Buffalo & Pittsburgh derailment

Logo of the Buffalo & Pittsburgh, a Genesee & Wyoming railroad

WEST MAHONING TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Cleanup continues after a locomotive and 17 cars of a Buffalo & Pittsburgh train derailed at midday Monday, WJAC-TV reports. No injuries were reported. The cars involved were reported to be empty or contained non-hazardous materials such as cardboard or scrap metal. A blocked grade crossing was expected to be […]

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Freight on the “WAG”

Wellsville, Addison & Galeton Railroad

Wellsville, Addison & Galeton GE center-cab diesel 1700 has a string of the colorful short line’s wood boxcars in tow at Ansonia, Pa., in March 1970. David H. Hamley photo […]

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Plans set for new Genesee & Wyoming dispatching center

Orange and yellow logo of Genesee & Wyoming

ST. ALBANS, Vt. — Work is set to begin in April on a new dispatching center for short line company Genesee & Wyoming near downtown St. Albans, the Valley News reports. The 10,000-square-foot building, on a long-vacant site, will replace an older facility in the building. St. Albans City Manager Dominic Cloud said the company […]

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CSX touts Pan Am merger as STB questions competitive aspects of deal

Side-by-side photos of less- and more-maintained yard tracks

WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation executives touted their proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways during a daylong Surface Transportation Board hearing Thursday, saying their deal to acquire the New England regional will significantly improve freight and passenger service. But board members questioned several aspects of the merger, including concerns surrounding the Pan Am Southern and CSX’s projections […]

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News photo: Locomotives head to Ventura County short line

Yellow diesel locomotives

OXNARD, Calif. — Two Sierra Northern genset locomotives near Oxnard, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 12, en route to their new home on the former Southern Pacific branch line that is now the Sierra Northern Ventura Division. The former Union Pacific locomotives were delivered dead-in-train by a Union Pacific local and were expected to be turned […]

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Reading & Northern touts freight, excursion growth in 2021

Green and yellow locomotives on train of hopper cars

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern set records for freight revenue, freight traffic, and excursion passenger ridership in 2021, the railroad reported. Freight revenues increased by 10% over 2020 and pre-pandemic levels, boosted by increased traffic and a traffic mix with more higher-revenue moves. The company also saw significant revenue from its warehouse and […]

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Montana Rail Link to end operations, with BNSF taking over

A blue Montana Rail Link train works alongside a river with mountains in the background.

[<Trains.com members> WATCH: BIG SKIES & IRON RAILS VIDEOS] MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Rail Link will end its long-term lease on BNSF Railway lines in its namesake state, Idaho, and Washington, with BNSF resuming operation of those routes, MRL President Derek Ollmann told employees in a memo today (Monday, Jan. 10). No timeline for the […]

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Short line companies outline capital plans

Orange and black locomotives pass color position signal

PHOENIX — Along with participation by six Class I railroads and a number of other entities, the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association Conference that concluded Saturday featured presentations from three major short line companies. Here’s an overview. Genesee & Wyoming The largest of the short line holding companies, with 116 properties in North America […]

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Alpenglow Rail to acquire Orange Rail

DENVER – Alpenglow Rail, a Denver-based firm specializing in investment, operating, and growing rail businesses, in partnership with Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure, will acquire Orange Rail Inc. from LJA Investments, Inc. Orange Rail is a newly constructed rail terminal in Orange, Texas, with access to Union Pacific and BNSF Railway. Orange Rail consists of a […]

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Amtrak, Massachusetts seek conditions on CSX-Pan Am merger

Commuter train at station

WASHINGTON – Amtrak and Massachusetts transportation officials have asked federal regulators to impose conditions that would protect current and future passenger and commuter service in the Bay State as part of CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways. Their comments were among those filed yesterday, the Surface Transportation Board’s deadline for receiving briefs regarding […]

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