Black Hills Central Railroad steam powered double-header

Close view of steam locomotive emitting steam.

The Black Hills Central tourist railroad operated a doubleheader with its two Baldwin tank engines in October 2020. This was the first time these 1920s brutes joined forces to pull a train on this mountainous railroad. Join us for a look trackside and a ride along. […]

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Digest: Federal grant gives KC Streetcar extension full funding

Kansas City Streetcar logo

KC Streetcar gets $174 million federal grant, fully funding Main Street Extension The Kansas City Streetcar Authority has received a $174 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, giving the agency full funding for its Main Street Extension project. KMBC-TV reports the grant is covers half the cost of the 3½-mile extension, which will […]

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Digest: Burlington, Iowa, council to help fund short line relocation project

Burlington_Junction

Still more Thursday morning rail news: City council to help fund Burlington Junction line relocation The Burlington, Iowa, city council will pay $170,000 to help fund a Burlington Junction Railway project to relocate part of its line, helping the city save on the cost of a floodwall project. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports the railroad will move […]

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Digest: Report says New York MTA will propose budget with drastic cuts

MTA logo

Wednesday morning rail news: Report: MTA will present budget with dramatic service cuts, almost 10,000 layoffs A report says New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will present a budget to its board of directors Wednesday (today) calling for dramatic subway and bus service cuts, as well as the layoff of almost 10,000 workers. NY1.com reports sources […]

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UP temporarily activates idled eastbound hump in North Platte, Neb.

Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard

MAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has temporarily resumed operations over the idled east hump at Bailey Yard in North Platte, Neb., while it makes improvements that will make switching more efficient. The hump — one of two at the world’s largest classification yard — was idled in September. “We’ve temporarily backed off having the one hump […]

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Digest: Evacuation area reduced around KCS wreck; schools remain closed

More Friday morning rail news: Evacuation area reduced around KCS wreck; schools stay closed, power restored The evacuation area around Thursday’s Kansas City Southern derailment in Mauriceville, Texas, was reduced Thursday night, although some residents remained out of their homes because of five tank cars that were breached in the accident. The Beaumont Enterprise reports that four […]

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News Photo: KCS derailment in Texas

Schools and residents within a 1-mile radius have been evacuated after a Kansas City Southern train derailed this morning near Mauriceville, Texas. The Beaumont Enterprise reports hazardous materials teams along with officers from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Public Safety. No injuries have been reported. The derailment was first reported about 10 a.m. […]

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Photo of the Day

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Train time at Chadron, Nebr. Way out on Chicago & North Western’s lonely “Cowboy Line,” 4-6-2 No. 1588 arrives Chadron, Nebr., with daily-except-Sunday train 13 from Omaha, 447 miles to the east. The train is bound for Rapid City, S.Dak., 104 miles west. Fred H. Ragsdale photo […]

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Kansas City Southern boosts outlook as traffic rebounds

Kansas City Southern logo

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern reinstated and boosted its outlook for the year as traffic volume has risen above pre-pandemic levels in recent weeks. The railway, which reported improved earnings on Friday morning, says it now expects slightly higher earnings per share this year and its operating ratio to should improve to around […]

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Digest: Port of Brownsville gets grant for grain project including rail improvements

More Thursday midday rail news: Brownville port receives grant for grain project; rail improvements included The Port of Brownsville, Texas, has received a $14.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration to upgrade its grain storage and loading facilities, the latest in a series of grants that will fund upgrades to port […]

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