BLET members ratify Arizona Eastern contract

Logo of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified their first contract with the Arizona Eastern Railway, concluding a process that began in June 2024 when workers voted to join the BLET. The five-year agreement was ratified by a 22-0 vote, the union announced. The contract includes wages increases and […]

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Bourdon joins New York, Susquehanna & Western as general counsel

Head-and-shoulders image of woman with red hair in white blouse and black coat

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Katherine Bourdon has been appointed as general counsel for the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway, the railroad announced this week. The appointment was effective Aug. 20. Bourdon has more than 20 years of experience in railroads and transportation, including 15 years as an attorney. She will lead the railroad’s legal affairs, […]

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Lake State Railway unveils locomotive honoring Pere Marquette Railway

Dark blue, yellow, and white locomotive

SAGINAW, Mich. — Lake State Railway on Thursday (Aug. 21, 2025) unveiled a new heritage locomotive honoring the predecessor Pere Marquette Railway. Lake State Supervisor of Yard Operations Travis Vongrey, a second-generation railroader with the company, developed the concept and design for the “Spirit of Pere Marquette,” newly acquired SD70M No. 6437, one of eight […]

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Broyles named CEO of R.J. Corman Railroad Group

Head shot of man in suit and tie

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — R.J. Corman Railroad Group has named Justin Broyles as president and CEO, the company announced Tuesday (Aug. 19, 2025). Broyles had been named to the positions on an interim position in June [see “Broyles named interim CEO …,” Trains.com, June 27, 2025]. Broyles, formerly chief commercial officer at Patriot Rail, rejoined R.J. […]

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Western Maryland Scenic acquires former Conemaugh & Black Lick switcher

Three-quarters angle image of yellow end-cab switcher with black trim

CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has acquired former Conemaugh & Black Lick Railroad SW7 locomotive No. 111, a fully functional EMD end-cab switcher which the railroad plans to use on some of its seasonal excursion trains. The locomotive built in 1949 is the last of 25 such locomotives that served the railroad […]

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News photo: Caboose, remnant of Fillmore & Western, heads to new home

Crane lifting red caboose

FILLMORE, Calif. — A former Santa Fe caboose, one of the last pieces of equipment owned by the defunct tourist line Fillmore & Western that was still on successor Sierra Northern Railway in Fillmore, was moved last week to a new private owner in San Diego. The caboose, Santa Fe No. 999091, was built by […]

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Tickets for upcoming fall excursions behind N&W No. 611 now available

Streamlined steam locomotive running through the fall foliage.

STAUNTON, Va. — Tickets for the upcoming Shenandoah Valley Limited fall excursions behind Norfolk & Western No. 611 are now available for purchase, ranging from $128 to $318 per person. The J-class 4-8-4 is poised to return to the Buckingham Branch Railroad for the first time since 2023 [See “Norfolk & Western No. 611 to […]

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BLET ratifies contract extension with New York & Atlantic

Green and black locomotives with freight train

NEW YORK — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a two-year contract extension with the New York & Atlantic Railway, the union has announced. The agreement includes a $1 per hour pay increase to all pay grades effective June 1, 2025, as well as two raises totaling 8% through the […]

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Workaday Baldwins

Workaday Baldwins

Chesapeake Western, a 54-mile T-shaped west central Virginia road, employed three 1946 Baldwin DS-4-4-660s, two of which drill cars at Harrisonburg, site of the Southern Railway interchange, on November 5, 1958. CW, under Norfolk & Western control after 1954, also reached C&O at Staunton. Bob Krone photo […]

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Evett joins Patriot Rail as vice president of design and construction

Head shot of smiling man

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Patriot Rail has named Anthony Evett as vice president of design and construction. The appointment of Evett, who has more than two decades of experience in transportation, maritime, and freight infrastructure, was effective as of Monday (Aug. 11, 2025). “Tony Evett brings a rare combination of technical expertise, strategic vision, and collaborative […]

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Detouring CN train derailment involved misaligned track: NTSB preliminary report

Aerial view of derailed train

WASHINGTON — A Canadian National train detouring on the Grenada Railroad encountered misaligned track as it crossed a 130-foot bridge, leading to the derailment of 21 cars near Sardis, Miss., on July 6, 2025, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary investigation report released last week. Four cars of hazardous materials were among those […]

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MP15CC pressed into service on the Richmond Pacific

Blue and black, diesel-powered switcher

Richmond, CA — The Richmond Pacific Railroad, a division of Levin Richmond Terminal that serves the Port of Richmond and surrounding industries, announced that its active roster now meets full Tier IV emissions standards. This milestone in environmental compliance was achieved through the recent commission of a MP15CC that was repowered by Western Rail, Inc. […]

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