GE 44-tonners to be preserved by organizations in New Jersey, New York

Green and yellow locomotive running in middle of street

The New Jersey-based Tri-State Railway Historical Society and Operation Toy Train of New York have partnered to acquire two General Electric 44-ton diesel-electric switchers for preservation, and launched a joint campaign to cover transportation and restoration costs. Former Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad locomotive No. 700 and Middletown & New Jersey Railroad locomotive No. 2 are the […]

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Construction contract for South Shore double track project approved

A silver passenger train operates in the middle of a street.

CHESTERTON, Ind. — After its first effort to find a contractor was halted because bids far exceeded expectations, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District board of directors has approved a contract for construction of the South Shore Double Track project, which will add a second main line between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. The Times […]

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Orders at Clare

An engineer receives paper orders from a hoop in a red-painted locomotive leading a freight train.

Orders at Clare At the joint Chesapeake & Ohio-Ann Arbor depot in Clare, Mich., the engineer on Toledo–Frankfort freight TF-1, behind two GP35s, reaches to pick up orders in May 1966. John S. Ingles photo, Brian Schmidt collection […]

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Train crew shortage spreads to short lines

Orange and black locomotives pass color position signal

NEW YORK — Train crew shortages that have affected service on Class I railroads this year also have cropped up on short lines, as rail workers seek greener pastures and new hires are hard to find. Genesee & Wyoming, the largest shortline holding company, saw the number of employees leaving the railroad double in the third […]

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Excursions to begin on New Mexico short line

Locomotive with elaborate purple dragon paint scheme

SANTA FE, N.M. — A group of entrepreneurs who purchased the old Santa Fe Southern Railway in 2020 plan to begin offering excursions Dec. 3. “Every train ride will be embedded in entertainment,” Sky Railway co-owner Bill Banowsky told the Santa Fe New Mexican in announcing plans for the new attraction. Santa will be aboard […]

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Ohio short line gets funding for rail project

black and yellow locomotive at crossing on fall, gray day

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Ohio Rail Development Commission has approved a grant of up to $687,622.50 to replace rail on a portion of Pioneer Lines Napoleon Defiance & Western Railway’s line east of Defiance, Ohio. NDW’s line runs from Woodburn, Ind., to Napoleon, Ohio, with interchanges with Norfolk Southern in Woodburn and CSX in Defiance. […]

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Jaguar Transport to operate Oklahoma Central Rail Park

EL RENO, Okla. — Jaguar Transport Holdings has entered into an agreement with Haskell Lemon Construction to operate the Oklahoma Central Rail Park in El Reno, Okla. The 200-acre facility just west of Oklahoma City will be fully operational on Jan. 1, 2022. Less than 2 miles from I-40, the Rail Park connects with the Union Pacific Railroad and […]

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FRA’s Bose tells short lines to make case on crew size

Man in suit at microphone

PHOENIX — Amit Bose, the Federal Railroad Administration’s Deputy Administrator, covered a great deal of ground in his keynote address Thursday to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association. Only once, however, did he display a degree of agitation about his subject matter: when discussing a forthcoming rule proposal on train crew size. The […]

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STB sets hearings on three major issues

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has scheduled hearings on three major issues: the CSX acquisition of Pan Am Railways; Amtrak’s bid to operate trains between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., and its reciprocal switching proposal. All three hearings will be held in the hearing room at the STB’s Washington headquarters, with additional specifics to […]

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Rail organizations applaud passage of infrastructure bill

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Major rail groups have applauded Friday’s passage of a major infrastructure bill by the U.S. House of Representatives which will include major funding for freight and passenger projects. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. The $1.2 trillion bill includes $550 billion in entirely new investments, the Washington Post […]

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Regional Rail to operate Port Manatee Railroad

Blue and yellow genset locomotive with freight cars

PALMETTO, Fla. — Pennsylvania-based Regional Rail LLC has signed an agreement to operate the short line at Port Manatee in Palmetto, Fla. The agreement runs through at least 2036 with options through 2051. The railroad, which began operation in 1970, includes more than 7 miles of track with a connection to CSX Transportation. It has […]

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