A carman couples a red-and-orange Alco PA diesel to Southern Pacific’s Argonaut at the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal coach yard shortly after NOUPT opened in 1954. Photo by James G. LaVake […]
Coupling up at New Orleans
Zone & Region: Southeast
Grant from Norfolk Southern boosts efforts for Norfolk & Western No. 611
ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. has awarded a $40,000 grant to the Virginia Museum of Transportation as part of its Thriving Communities Grant Program, according to a July 23 post on the Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 social media pages. This funding will support the museum’s Rail Heritage Initiatives: Education, Engagement, and […]
Florida’s Tri-Rail says it could run out of money in two years
MIAMI — Commuter operator Tri-Rail could run out of money within two years — earlier than previously anticipated — because of cuts in funding approved by the state legislature in June, according to the executive director of the service’s parent agency. The Palm Beach Post reports David Dech, executive director of the South Florida Regional […]
NTSB issues preliminary report on rail death at Alabama steel plant
WASHINGTON — A Fairfield Southern Co. employee involved in remote-control switching died from injuries suffered when he struck a railcar on an adjacent track, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on the June 16, 2025, accident issued today (July 16, 2025). During switching work at the U.S. Steel Flintridge Yard in […]
CSX and BNSF team up on Florida National Guard’s biggest rail deployment since World War II
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX and BNSF Railway recently completed the Florida National Guard’s largest rail deployment since World War II. CSX originated 10 unit trains that carried 1,265 military vehicles, containers, and systems that were loaded at Fort Stewart, Ga., and transported to Birmingham, Ala., for interchange with BNSF, which then operated the trains to […]
Media report says Brightline death toll is higher than previously believed
MIAMI — Brightline trains have hit and killed more than 180 people since the passenger service began operation in South Florida — a higher toll than had been publicly recognized, the Miami Herald and public broadcaster WLRN report in a joint investigation that also looks at causes of the deaths and a lack of safeguards […]
NTSB issues final report on 2024 injury to Norfolk Southern conductor in Norfolk, Va.
WASHINGTON — A Norfolk Southern conductor suffered serious injuries in an accident in Norfolk, Va., when did not confirm that rolling stock was stationary before working in the path of a free-rolling car — and NS operating rules did not explicitly address the need to do so, the National Transportation Safety Board said in determining […]
Brightline seeks private activity bonds for Tampa extension: Analysis
ORLANDO, Fla. — Brightline has petitioned the Florida Development Finance Corp., seeking to have the state agency issue up to $400 million of private activity bond funding to advance design and planning for its long-sought extension to Tampa, as well as improvements to existing routes. The request for more debt financing comes as the company […]
SMART-TD considers strike against CPKC
The union representing Canadian Pacific Kansas City conductors is polling members on a possible strike, claiming the railroad took advantage of a service crisis to make workplace job changes on the former Kansas City Southern. The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) Local 457’s General Committee of Adjustment is […]
Glendora, Miss., residents concerned about health risks from derailment (updated)
GLENDORA, Miss. — Residents of the small town that was evacuated following a derailment and hazardous-materials fire last week are now expressing concern over health risks resulting from the incident. The non-profit news site Mississippi Today reports the derailment damaged the town’s water main, leading to a boil-water notice that has since been lifted, and […]
CSX says crew members were unhurt in Atlanta accident (updated)
SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — CSX says its crew members are uninjured following a grade-crossing collision and fire this afternoon near Atlanta — contrary to local news reports that said the crew members were among four people with significant injuries. A WAGA-TV report quoted local police as saying the collision between a train and tractor-trailer rig […]
Norfolk & Western No. 611 to return to Buckingham Branch Railroad for fall excursions
STAUNTON, Va. — Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 is poised to return to the Buckingham Branch Railroad this fall. Beginning on Sept. 26, 2025, the 4-8-4 will lead the Virginia Scenic Railway’s Shenandoah Valley Limited for five weekends. The locomotive operated these trips in 2023, but sat out for 2024 due to essential […]
