Arizona man sentenced for phone threats to UP headquarters, other sites in Omaha

U.S. Department of Justice seal

OMAHA, Neb. — A 42-year-old Arizona man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for calling in threats to Union Pacific headquarters and other Omaha locations in April 2021. The Omaha World-Herald reports Andrew Isaac Abrams of Tucson was sentenced for transmitting threats through interstate commerce on Friday, Jan. 13, according to a […]

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EGR and SCR locomotive systems: What do they mean?

Blue and silver passenger locomotive

EGR and SCR locomotive systems EGR and SCR locomotive systems are just two ways locomotives meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emission regulations, specifically Tier 4, standards implemented for new locomotives built for service in the United States. The emission regulations are designed to reduce the amount of nitrous oxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide […]

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U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear case over UP employment in Palestine, Texas

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

PALESTINE, Texas — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a lower-court ruling that Union Pacific is no longer bound by an agreement requiring it to maintain a certain number of employees in the city of Palestine, which dates to an 1872 contract with one of the railroad’s predecessors. The railroad filed suit in […]

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Modeling Amtrak’s “rainbow” fleet

Red and yellow locomotives leading passenger train with cars of several colors.

What is Amtrak’s “rainbow” fleet? Amtrak began operations on May 1, 1971, and at the time had only one piece of equipment sporting Amtrak’s first logo, E8 No. 4316. This engine is currently offered by Rapido. All of the passenger equipment came from the railroads that joined to form Amtrak, including over 400 from the […]

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Union Pacific has lost its way: Analysis

Yellow locomotives on train of tank cars

It’s fitting that Union Pacific’s logo is a shield. The beleaguered railroad needs one given the barrage of arrows coming its way. UP has a long list of problems, many of them self-inflicted as a predictable result of its pursuit of a 55% operating ratio. There are so many issues confronting UP that it’s hard […]

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Appeals court hears UP engineer’s case regarding service dog

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

ST. LOUIS — A U.S. appeals court appears to have concerns about reviving an effort by a Union Pacific engineer to bring his service dog to work, Reuters reports. Perry Hopman originally won the right to bring the dog to work to help prevent migraines and anxiety caused by his military service in a jury […]

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Work begins on Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985

Diesel and two steam locomotives in large shop building

  SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America crews have taken the first steps toward returning Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 to operation this week by stripping parts off the 4-6-6-4. Today crews lifted the cab off the locomotive. “RRHMA crews have been making good progress all week striping down [No.] 3985,” says Steve […]

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Union Pacific continues to develop tie unloading system

Railroad ties are pushed out of freight car onto ground next to right-of-way

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Ties are a big topic at the annual NRC Conference — just about every railroad mentions how many ties it will replace in the coming year —so it makes sense that Shane Keller, Union Pacific’s vice president of engineering, wanted to highlight UP’s effort to improve the tie-replacement process. Keller was […]

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Railroads ask federal courts to toss new STB rules for settling rate disputes

WASHINGTON – Railroads have filed suit against the Surface Transportation Board’s new rules that are designed to streamline the settlement of rate disputes with shippers. Last month the STB established two new rate reasonableness procedures, including a voluntary arbitration program and a new process called Final Offer Rate Review. Shippers applauded the move, while the […]

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Union Pacific continues to embargo traffic in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific, citing ongoing harsh winter weather, is continuing an embargo it placed last week on all traffic to and from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. “A powerful storm system will swing through the Central U.S. early this week, bringing heavy snow, freezing rain and ice to Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. […]

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Schneider shifts its western intermodal business to Union Pacific from BNSF Railway

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Schneider says it has successfully shifted its intermodal traffic in the west from BNSF Railway to Union Pacific. Schneider began transferring some business to UP last year in anticipation of the full move on Jan. 1. “Schneider’s intermodal operations on Union Pacific transitioned seamlessly as the companies collaborated closely over the […]

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