Union Pacific Big Boy type steam locomotive No. 4011 ross west at Granite, Wyoming, in 1956. Jim Ehernberger 4-8-8-4 •YEARS BUILT: 1941 to 1944 •MANUFACTURER: Alco •OPERATED ON: Union Pacific •NAME: Big Boy •QUANTITY: 25 •BOILER PRESSURE: 300 psi •KNOWN FOR: Among the heaviest and most powerful reciprocating-piston steam locomotives ever built •STATUS: Eight preserved: […]
The left operator’s screen displays brake pressure, power consumption, and other information. The temporary wi-fi antenna above the screen facilitated transmission of data from sensors during the train’s trip to Colorado. Bob Johnston The screen shown above is to the left of the operator’s seat, which is centered in the cab interior. TRAINS: David Lassen […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads on Wednesday reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 15, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 479,137 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.6% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Feb. 15 […]
VIA Rail Canada has laid off 1,000 workers as a result of the blockades of rail lines at locations across Canada, joining about 450 Canadian National workers laid off earlier this week. Some of the Canadian passenger carrier’s plans to partially restore service were thwarted Wednesday as new blockades appeared. The blockades are part of […]
Thursday morning rail news: — The Colorado Department of Transportation and Union Pacific have reached agreement on sale of 59 acres of the former Burnham Yard, UP’s ex-Rio Grande facility in downtown Denver. Colorado Public Radio says the non-binding agreement sets a price of $50 million for the land, which could be used for a […]
More Thursday morning rail news: — U.S. Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) will introduce legislation to help fund completion of California’s high speed rail project at a Friday event in Madera, Calif. According to a press release, the High-Speed Rail Corridor Development Act of 2020 would provide $32 billion in funding for projects in federal designated […]
WALLAN, Australia — Two crew members are dead following the derailment of a Sydney-to-Melbourne passenger train today. The Age newspaper reports the XPT train derailed about 7:50 p.m. local time in Wallan, about 45 kilometers ( miles) north of Melbourne. The train, which was due in Melbourne at 6:30 p.m., was running about two hours […]
LISLE, Ill. – Amtrak’s next generation Acela Express equipment is continuing its journey west to Pueblo, Colo., for high-speed testing this week. Trains’ staff caught up with the train at Lisle on Tuesday evening after it departed Chicago Union Station. The prototype set is traveling from Buffalo, N.Y., to La Junta, Colo., on the route […]
Wednesday morning rail news: — Quebec has entered into an economic development agreement with the James Bay Cree that would see new rail lines and roads built in northern Quebec. Work on the C$4.7 billion dollar deal would take place in see phases and see roads and rail extended as far north as Whapmagoostui and […]
The eagerly anticipated warm-weather exploration of the rails in, around, and even under the Gateway to the West is set to rekindle Trackside Adventures! Catch up with host Drew Halverson, along with Kent Johnson, Charlie Conway, and Sherpa Allan Dahncke, as they make their way to ideal hotspots for capturing Amtrak, BNSF, NS, TRRA, UP, […]
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday his government remained focused on resolving the protests that have blocked rail lines “quickly and peacefully,” but Canadian National Railway’s frustration at the ongoing protests is continuing to grow. Sean Finn, CN’s senior vice president and chief legal officer told the Globe and Mail, “This has been long […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule, launching the Risk Reduction Program to support an increasing standard of safety for the nation’s freight railroads. “The Risk Reduction Program will improve safety in the nation’s freight rail system,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. The final […]
