Dow to sell rail operations to Watco: Digest

Still more Monday morning rail news: Dow to sell rail operations to Watco Dow Inc. will sell its rail infrastructure and operations at six sites to Watco for more than $310 million, the chemical giant announced today. The two companies will also enter long-term service agreements to continue to provide service to Dow businesses at […]

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U.S. Steel looks to sell remaining rail operations

United States Steel Corp., which is struggling amid the steep downturn in demand, is poised to sell the remaining railroads held by its Transtar subsidiary, Trains News Wire has learned. Multiple rail industry sources say the steelmaker plans to put the Transtar lines up for sale soon. A U.S. Steel spokeswoman said the company does […]

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East Broad Top to welcome guests back in mid-August

ORBISONIA, Pa. – For the first time since 2011, the narrow-gauge East Broad Top Railroad in central Pennsylvania will offer public passenger-train rides Aug. 13-15. The reopening of the National Historic Landmark coincides with the 260th anniversary of the founding of the town of Orbisonia and its twin borough, Rockhill Furnace, home to the company’s […]

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OmniTRAX names former UP executive as board chairman

Still more Tuesday morning rail news: OmniTRAX names Cameron Scott as board chairman Cameron Scott, a former executive vice president and chief operating officer at Union Pacific, has been named chairman of the board of directors for short line holding company OmniTRAX. Scott held that position from 2014 until his retirement in 2019, after previously […]

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Florida East Coast brings rocket boosters to NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For the first time in 10 years, Florida East Coast Railway has handled a train of NASA rocket boosters bound for Kennedy Space Center. Friday’s move of FEC’s “NASA-12” extra brought the Northrop Grumman solid rocket boosters for the Space Launch System Artemis 1, the first of an estimated nine such […]

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Benjamin Tarbutton Jr., veteran Georgia shortline executive, dies

  Longtime Georgia short line executive Benjamin Tarbutton Jr. dies Benjamin Tarbutton Jr., who spent 65 years at his family’s short line, the Sandersville Railroad Co. in Sandersville, Ga., has died at the age of 90. Tarbutton, a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean War, served at president, vice president, and director during […]

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Utah railroad project seeks clearance to start construction in 2021

Surface Transportation Board logo

More Monday morning rail news: Uinta Basin project aims to start construction in 2021 The company seeking to build the Uinta Basin Railway in Utah has filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board seeking an exemption that would allow it to begin construction of the line in 2021. Board approval is typically required for […]

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Port Harbor Railroad unveils units honoring first responders, veterans NEWSWIRE

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The Port Harbor Railroad in Granite City, Ill., has unveiled units honoring first responders and veterans. Steve Smedley Port Harbor’s Dominic Montero, left, designed the paint schemes for the two locomotives. He was joined at the unveiling by his father, Mario, of the St. Louis Fire Department. Steve Smedley GRANITE CITY, Ill. — The Port Harbor […]

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U.S. Sugar steam locomotive powers cane train NEWSWIRE

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U.S. Sugar used its restored ex-Florida East Coast locomotive on a cane train this week to mark the end of the harvest season. U.S. Sugar More Friday morning rail news in brief: U.S. Sugar uses steam locomotive on cane train, announces plans for ‘Sugar Express’ Restored U.S. Sugar 4-6-2 No. 148, a former Florida East […]

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Protests shut down Twin Cities light rail line (updated) NEWSWIRE

MinneapolisMetro

Thursday midday rail news in brief: Metro Transit shuts down all light rail, bus service After initially halting service on its light rail Blue Line, Minneapolis/St. Paul’s Metro Transit will shut down all bus and light rail service as of 4 p.m. for at least the rest of the day, with a decision about tomorrow […]

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Wisconsin Great Northern uses track project to fight impact of virus NEWSWIRE

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Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad president Greg Vreeland uses hand signals after attaching track tongs to a 200-foot section of 100-pound rail held by a contractor’s excavator on May 11, 2020. The rail is being moved into place on a new alignment while the excavator sits on what will be the new Wild Rivers Trail alignment […]

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Bay Area’s SMART may buy out Northwestern Pacific to gain control of route, freight service

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Wednesday morning rail news in brief: — Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit is preparing to buy out Northwestern Pacific Railroad, the freight hauler that shares its tracks, giving it full control of its right-of-way and facing a decision whether to operate freight service itself or find a contract operator. The Santa Rosa Press Democrats reports the […]

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