CN posts slight quarterly traffic gain while other big systems see volume declines

Locomotive with red nose passes under signal bridge

Canadian National was the only one of the big six railroads to gain traffic in 2022’s second quarter. CN’s traffic was up 0.4%, essentially flat compared to last year’s second quarter. CSX Transportation was flat, too, but its volume was down 0.1%. Canadian Pacific’s traffic was down 1.5%. Union Pacific’s declined 2% for the quarter, […]

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Crew members injured as Norfolk Southern train derails in South Carolina

Locomotives on their sides at derailment

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two Norfolk Southern crew members were injured when their train derailed Monday morning, according to the Columbia Fire Department. WIS-TV reports the derailment occurred about 8:20 a.m. and involved three locomotives and three cars of a train en route from Atlanta to Charleston, S.C. Photos show a number of container cars involved. […]

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Vintage NYC subway cars make second summer excursion trip

Dark green vintage subway train in station

NEW YORK — Historic R-1 through R-9 subway cars built for the IND (Independent) line in the 1930s operated to Coney Island on Sunday in the second of three excursions planned for this summer using equipment from the New York Transit Museum. The R-1 through R-9 “City Cars” operated with in combination with the “Standards” […]

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Pullman-Standard PS-2CD 4,750-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper from Tangent Scale Models

yellow hopper

Pullman-Standard PS-2CD 4750 covered hoppers Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $52.95 Era: 1979 to 1997+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 6514, Asheville, NC 28816; 828-412-3886; tangentscalemodels.com Pullman-Standard PS-2CD 4750 covered hoppers features: Kadee scale couplers See-through etched metal running boards and crossover platforms Prototype-specific brake systems, outlet gates, roof hatches, […]

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Metra scales back level of delays anticipated from Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger

Commuter train arrives at two-story station

WASHINGTON — In March, Metra said it would oppose the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger because changes to freight operations in the Chicago area would increase commuter train delays by 400%. Last month, Metra’s more detailed analysis of the revised operating plan CP and KCS submitted to federal regulators showed the merger actually would increase […]

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68-foot Railgon gondola from Walthers

black with yellow gondola

68-foot Railgon gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.98 (undecorated, $29.98) Era: 2010 to present Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218, 414-527-0770, walthers.com 68-foot Railgon gondola features: See-through square load tie-downs along top chord 17-exterior post sidewalls Straight sill Detailed brake gear 100-ton trucks 36” turned-metal RP-25 wheels Proto-Max metal […]

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Deadline pushed back for strike against VIA Rail Canada

Train with new VIA Siemens equipment

MONTREAL — With negotiations progressing, the deadline for a strike against VIA Rail Canada by the 2,400 members of the Unifor union has been pushed back to 4 p.m. EDT today (Monday, July 11), VIA said this morning. The strike was originally set to begin at 12:01 a.m. EDT today. “We remain hopeful that a […]

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Latest suit from Chief derailment claims Amtrak, BNSF ‘placed profits over safety’

Aerial view of derailed train

CHICAGO — A trio of law firms have filed the latest suit on behalf of a passenger injured in the June 27 derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, with one of the firms saying “the ongoing carelessness” of Amtrak and BNSF is the cause of the accident. Passenger Marion Stephens will be represented in the suit […]

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New paint for Paducah & Louisville locomotives

Two green and black locomotives with white trim and lettering

PADUCAH, Ky. — Two Paducah & Louisville Railways locomotives have been repainted and numbered to reflect the 35th anniversary of the 280-mile short line, formed from former Illinois Central Gulf lines in 1986. The locomotives, seen on July 8, 2022, were repainted by Progress Rail in Mayfield, Ky., to reflect the original P&L paint scheme, […]

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Major expansion of Waterbury Branch service part of new Metro-North schedule (updated)

Locomotive and single car pass signals on ground

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A substantial increase in weekday service on Metro-North’s Waterbury Branch and new express trains between New Haven and New York’s Grand Central Terminal highlight new schedules that took effect Sunday, July 10. Reflecting recent infrastructure upgrades, the number of weekday trains on the Waterbury Branch will go from 15 to 22, a […]

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NJ Transit train crew members sue agency over abuse from passengers

NJTransit_Training_Lassen

NEWARK, N.J. — Fourteen NJ Transit rail employees have filed suit against the transit agency, saying it failed to protect them from assaults and other abuse from passengers. The non-profit news site New Jersey Monitor reports the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey contends the agency was aware of […]

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State grant will fund new Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit station

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit logo

PETALUMA, Calif. — Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit will build a second station in the city of Petaluma thanks to a $13 million state grant. KPIX-TV reports the funds from California’s State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program will go to construction of the Petaluma North station, 4.4 miles of pathway, and grade-crossing improvements. Petaluma Transit […]

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