NEW ORLEANS — Amtrak has cancelled all service in and out of New Orleans beginning early Saturday in advance of Hurricane Ida, which is expected to make landfall this Sunday. This is necessary so railroad flood gates adjacent to levees can be closed and sealed to prevent any possible storm surge from entering the city. […]
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic is celebrating its belated (by 1 year due to Covid-19) 50th anniverary with a great gathering of pre-1900 steam locomotives. The event began last weekend and continues through this coming Sunday. Here’s what Editor Jim Wrinn has seen so far. […]
In every issue News p. 4 STB head questions crew and locomotive readiness, the need for mergers; Amtrak issues with new rolling stock for California, the Midwest, and the Northeast Corridor Brian Solomon p. 8 The late, great Southern Pacific 25 years later Bill Stephens p. 9 Why the Pivot to Growth myth won’t happen […]
CHICAGO — The man killed by Amtrak police in a shootout at Chicago Union Station on Tuesday had allegedly shot and killed a man in Oakland just four days before. Jamar Jason Taylor, 33, of San Leandro, Calif., died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after being shot in an exchange of gunfire with police on a […]
FRISCO, Texas — A critical part in the restoration of Santa Fe Alco PA 59L at the Museum of the American Railroad has arrived in Texas. The cab roof and front windshield from a FP4A arrived Aug. 16 and was set down next to the legendary locomotive. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Ohio provided […]
In Europe, a widespread consensus has developed among politicians and national governments that climate change is a real and present danger, and that it is primarily caused by human activity, both historic and now. Addressing this concern could spell major changes for railway activity across the continent. While much of the historic climate damage from […]
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The National Transportation Safety Board is sending investigators to the site of a Wednesday collision involving Canadian Pacific, Union Pacific, and BNSF Railway trains. The Associated Press reports the accident occurred about 5 p.m. Wednesday, with a Canadian Pacific spokesman saying it led to the derailment of two CP locomotives, one […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has announced it will make available almost $362 million for rail projects through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements, or CRISI, grant program. The funding is for projects that reduce congestion, improve shortline and regional rail infrastructure, relocate rail lines or improve multi-modal coordination at locations such as […]
CARY, N.C. — A new unit of rail information technology firm Railinc offers railcar owners and users a new tool for predictive maintenance of wheelsets, determining their optimal time for replacement. The new TransmetriQ unit has launched Wheelset Intelligence, which predicts wheelset failures. The company says it will allow maximum mileage between repairs, minimize operational […]
CHICAGO — Infrastructure and supply-chain firm Savage has opened a new transload facility at Canadian Pacific’s Bensenville, Ill., yard. The CPT Chicago Transload facility offers direct access to rail lines and major highways including Interstates 290, 294, and 355, as well as State Route 390, the Elgin-O’Hare Tollway. “We’re excited to work with CP to […]
CHICAGO — The North American Rail Shippers Association has added an online participation option to its annual meeting, to be held in Chicago Sept. 7-9. “To make attending as convenient as possible we have added online options because we know there is still uncertainty about traveling due to COVID-19,” NARS President Tom Tisa said in a […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board should force CSX Transportation to sell its stake in Pan Am Southern as part of its proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways, the Justice Department said Thursday. The Pan Am Southern is the joint venture between Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern, which provides NS with […]
