Chicago suburbs seek $9.5 billion to mitigate potential impact of CP-KCS merger (updated)

Locomotive next to wood station building

WASHINGTON — A coalition of Chicago suburbs says it would cost between $5.5 billion and $9.5 billion to mitigate the impact of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger on their communities. That’s more than the entire price tag of the CREATE program, which aims to spend $4.6 billion on 70 rail improvement projects across the […]

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Jacksonville Terminal Co. to produce HO scale intermodal containers

Photo of three HO scale 53-foot intermodal containers painted dark blue.

Jacksonville Terminal Co., a firm that’s quickly become well-known for its line of N scale intermodal containers, well cars, and details, announced that it is entering the HO scale market. “We will feature products that are not currently available, and/or are improved versions to meet modelers expectations,” the company said in a press release. “We […]

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Unions ask for end to mediation over national contract

Logos of 10 unions that make up the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition

  WASHINGTON — Two unions involved in the negotiations for a new national rail labor contract have asked to be released from mediation with the coalition representing railroads, instead requesting to move to arbitration. In a letter dated Feb. 23, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference, and the […]

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BNSF plans capital spending increase in 2022

Double-stack container train passing maintenance equipment

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF will increase capital spending to $3.55 billion in 2022, after a spend of $2.97 billion in 2021, the railroad reported in its fourth-quarter financial summary. Of that $3.55 billion, $2.71 billion is budgeted for maintenance and replacement, including 14,000 miles of track surfacing or undercutting; replacement of 381 miles of […]

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Canadian rail accidents showed slight increase in 2021

GATINEAU, Quebec — Rail accidents increased in Canada in 2021, while still remaining below the five-year average for such incidents, according to preliminary statistics released Monday by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Air transportation and pipelines also saw increases, while marine accidents decreased. The TSB suggested in a press release that the increases likely […]

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‘Tracks to the Future’ program for high school students accepting application

HOUGHTON, Mich. — Applications are now being accepted for the Tracks to the Future Summer Program, which offers high school students a chance to learn about rail transportation and engineering, and why it could be an inviting career choice. Michigan Tech University, Penn State-Altoona, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are combining for the […]

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Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad history remembered

Boxy diesel locomotive with passenger train on curve

Is there a more dignified railroad name than “Lackawanna?” Certainly, Lackawanna history evokes many images. In the days of steam, the name meant meticulous track supporting well-proportioned, dual-service “Pocono” 4-8-4s, hefty hogs in the form of three-cylinder 4-8-2s and ponderous 2-8-2s, speedy commuter 4-6-2s, and gorgeous 4-6-4s that even long-time Trains Editor David P. Morgan […]

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Athearn adds General Electric AC4400CW to Genesis 2.0 line

CSX no. 1, the Spirit of West Virginia, is based on one of the first six AC4400CWs built. Features on the model include a Holden K5H air horn, angled grab irons on top of the nose, and evenly sized radiator grills on the right side.

A General Electric AC4400CW diesel locomotive joins the rapidly growing Genesis 2.0 product line from Athearn Trains. The HO scale six-axle road unit is scheduled for release in April 2023. Road names in the first release will include The CIT Group (blue and white), Chicago & North Western (green and yellow with Operation Lifesaver logo), […]

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Atlas announces Trinity 3,230-cubic-foot capacity Pressure Differential covered hopper

Illustration of N scale Trinity 3230 Pressure Differential covered hopper painted gray with black, blue, and red graphics; yellow vertical conspicuity stripes; and do not hammer icons.

Following on the success of the HO scale version, Atlas is bringing the Trinity 3,230-cubic-foot capacity Pressure Differential covered hopper to N scale. The Master Line Plus model is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter this year. Chicago Freight Car, CIT Group, General American, Roanoke Cement, Trinity Industries Leasing, and TXI (with GBRX reporting […]

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