MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Counties in Washington state that rely on BNSF Railway trains to remove garbage have asked for congressional help in dealing with unreliable service from the railroad. The website GoSkagit.com reports that Skagit County Public Works Director Grace Kane says the county’s trash transfer station was last closed on July 11 because […]
MILWAUKIE, Ore. — Three people were injured Friday when a Tri-Met light rail train crashed into the end-of-track bumper at the Southeast Park Avenue station in Milwaukee. KATU-TV reports the train’s operator and two of the three passengers onboard were injured; the operator was transported to a nearby hospital. Tri-Met spokeswoman Tia York said the […]
CHICAGO — A line blockage earlier this week and equipment shortages have led to the cancellation of westbound Empire Builder departure from Chicago today (Wednesday, Aug. 3), as well as the eastbound Builder departures from Seattle and Portland on Friday, Aug. 5. The move comes after the Builder slated to arrive in Chicago on Tuesday, […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway and J.B. Hunt will begin serving a new intermodal terminal at the Port of Tacoma, Wash., next month. BNSF and the Northwest Seaport Alliance said the terminal will meet increased demand for intermodal service in the Seattle region. The new terminal, on 16 acres leased from the port authority, […]
SKAGWAY, Alaska — One berth at the White Pass & Yukon Railway’s cruise-ship dock in Skagway has been closed because of concerns over rockslide risk, forcing Princess Cruises to change plans for some scheduled visits by its ships. Travel Weekly reports the forward berth on the Railroad Dock has been closed following a report by […]
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Railroad Corp. has been authorized to sell up to $60 million in bonds to upgrade its cruise passenger dock and terminal in Seward, Alaska, following Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s signing of a bill earlier this month. Bond sales for the $80 million project will be underwritten by Bank of America Securities, […]
Shay No. 7 and the log operating train Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA Scale: G scale Theme: Tourist railroad with freight operations in the modern era. Title: The E.V. Wheeler Timber Company Description: “The E.V. Wheeler Timber Company” – EVWT Shay #7 and log train operating on […]
SEATTLE — Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver, British Columbia, is now set to resume in September, according to transportation officials in Washington state and Oregon. A post on the Amtrak Cascades Facebook page says “Amtrak was able to advance the schedule” from its most recent estimate of December 2022, and that the transportation departments in […]
CHEHALIS, Wash. — The Chehalis-Central Railroad and Museum remains unable to operate trains because of insurance issues, but it is finding ways to again hold events. The Centralia Chronicle reports the railroad is holding an “Escape Room Dinner Train” event on five dates beginning July 16, with two sessions each day. Reflecting the railroad’s lack […]
A switcher tacks a head-end car to a train consist in the wee hours at Seattle, Wash., in 1948. Union Pacific and Milwaukee Road used Union Station; Great Northern and Northern Pacific used King Street Station, just out of view to the left. Robert Gazay photo […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration could soon rule on a petition that would allow a pair of freight railroads to use wayside wheel temperature detectors for inspections currently performed by workers. But a union representing railroad employees says granting such a request would be dangerous. Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific jointly petitioned the FRA […]
SEATTLE — Julie Timm, currently CEO of the Greater Richmond (Va.) Transit Co., has been recommended by a selection committee for the CEO position of Sound Transit. The full Sound Transit board will vote on the nomination June 23, after the board’s committee made its recommendation last week. Timm was selected from a group of […]
