Asplund joins Rail Development Corp. as executive vice president

Smiling man in suit

PITTSBURGH — Railroad Development Corp. has named Nathan M. (Nate) Asplund as executive vice president. In his new role, Asplund will be responsible for support and business development for RDC operations worldwide. Asplund will join RDC on March 1. Most recently, he was partner and president of Columbia Strategic Consulting Group, a Fort Worth, Texas-based […]

Read More…

St. Louis suburb approves facility to ship cars by rail despite objections

Map of planned auto transport facility

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — The city council of a St. Louis suburb on Thursday approved construction of a facility for shipping automobiles by rail, despite the decision of its planning commission not to recommend the project and the objections of residents in the community of Maryland Heights and a neighboring city. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch […]

Read More…

Local groups seek meetings with Watco on Algoma Central passenger service

Passenger train on trestle

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario — The chief of a First Nation group is planning a meeting with Watco management to discuss possible resurrection of passenger service on the transportation company’s newly acquired Algoma Central Railway. Missanabie Cree First Nation Chief Jason Gauthier tells the Sault Star newspaper that he is “confident” the new owner of […]

Read More…

News photo: Ontario Northland acquires locomotives

Black locomotives with Norfolk Southern logo crossed out

BURLINGTON, Ontario — The Ontario Northland Railway has acquired two locomotives currently en route to the Canadian railroad. A pair of former Norfolk Southern  SD70M units, Nos. 2631 and 2642, sold to PRLX (Progress Rail Leasing), are shown in transit on Canadian National train A422 in Burlington, Ont., on Feb. 15, 2022. They are destined […]

Read More…

Patriot Rail enters agreement to develop ‘rail district’ at central California freight hub

Patriot Rail logo

MERCED, Calif. — The Merced County Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement with Patriot Rail to develop a “rail district” at the Castle Commerce Center, a 1,912-acre freight transportation hub including an airport with 11,800 feet of runway, as well as rail and road access. The location in California’s Central Valley is approximately 125 […]

Read More…

Arizona museum acquires former Santa Fe U-boat rebuild

Train with three red locomotives as seen from high angle

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation in Williams, Ariz., has acquired the sole U.S. example of the SF30C rebuild program from Santa Fe’s Cleburne (Texas) Shops. No. 9501 was built as a U36C by General Electric in March 1973 as construction No. 3990 and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe No. 8728. It […]

Read More…

Pennsylvania rail authority acquires operating rights to NS line

Logo of SDA-COG Joint Rail Authority

LEWISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania rail authority which owns five short lines served by contract operators has acquired the operating rights to 9 miles of Norfolk Southern trackage in Snyder County, Pa. In its December meeting, the Susquehanna Economic Development Agency-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Joint Rail Authority agreed to purchase rail assets and a freight […]

Read More…

New grain shuttle loader to be served by Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad

MOULDRIGE, Kan. — Two farm cooperatives have announced plans to build a grain shuttle loader near Sterling, Kan., to be served by Watco’s Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad. It will be the third high-speed shuttle loading facility owned by CHS Inc. and Mid Kansas Cooperative (MKC). Operations are expected to begin by late 2023, although the […]

Read More…

CN asks regulators to resolve CP interchange dispute in Chicago

Black, gray, and yellow locomotives lined up in yard

WASHINGTON — The Canadian National-Canadian Pacific Chicago interchange dispute is back before the Surface Transportation Board. At issue: Whether CP should pick up the tab for Belt Railway of Chicago switching fees for CN-bound traffic interchanged at BRC’s Clearing Yard. The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in December vacated an October 2020 STB decision […]

Read More…

Sierra Railroad acquires former Fillmore & Western equipment

F unit and road-switchers parked next to station

FILLMORE, Calif. — Sierra Railroad of Davis, Calif., announced today it has purchased the majority of the remaining locomotives, rolling stock and other assets from the former Fillmore & Western Railroad operation in Ventura County. The Montalvo-to-Piru line, owned by the Ventura County Transportation Commission, has been operated by Sierra Railroad’s Sierra Northern Ventura Division […]

Read More…

How to rerail a freight car on a short line

Covered hopper wheel on top of wheel ramp

How to rerail a freight car: When things go bang that shouldn’t on the railroad, it usually means trouble and most likely a derailment. Derailments are a fact of life, and when one occurs on a main line of a Class I railroad, it usually results in many cars on the ground with extensive media […]

Read More…

Trains Magazine event features U.S. Sugar steam operation

Train with steam locomotive crosses wooden bridge

CLEWISTON, Fla. — Trains Magazine, U.S. Sugar, and FMW Solutions partnered Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 29-30, to provide an unforgettable experience for 60 enthusiasts who enjoyed the sights and sounds of U.S. Sugar’s restored 1920 Alco 4-6-2 No. 148 on both a replica cane train and a passenger train. The event was the second public […]

Read More…