EBT opens more trackage, returns steam locomotive No. 16 to service

Low-angle view of steam locomotive

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The East Broad Top Railroad celebrated two notable events on Friday (Aug. 8, 2025), returning 2-8-2 No. 16 to operation after it was sidelined for several months, with the locomotive bringing ta train to the campus of Southern Huntingdon County High School adjacent to the railroad. It is the first train […]

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Juveniles charged for stealing, derailing locomotive in South Carolina

Logo of the Laurens, S.C., police department

LAURENS, S.C. — Two juveniles have been detained and charged with a series of crimes after allegedly stealing and derailing a locomotive, the City of Laurens Police Department has announced. The police are investigating break-ins at CSX Transportation and Carolina Piedmont Railroad facilities on Saturday, Aug. 9. Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. the juveniles […]

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Cycle against Western Maryland Scenic Railroad No. 1309

With heavy smoke pouring from its stack, Western Maryland No. 1309 powers a freight train in Fall 2022

CUMBERLAND, Md. — In nearly 200 years of American railroad history, we have witnessed some unusual speed challenges — horse vs. steam locomotive, attempts at distance speed records, even, how much track can be laid in a day. Now it’s time to gear up for cyclists racing against Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-6-6-2 No. 1309. […]

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Rail intermodal boasts strong value proposition: SONAR

The SONAR data product offers numerous angles to get a read on the freight markets, primarily pertaining to the truckload, rail intermodal, and ocean sectors. One of the major trends in the data this year has been lackluster truckload demand, which SONAR measures as a volume of tenders, or electronically-submitted requests to move loads, directed […]

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BLET members at Union Pacific ratify interim raise

Freight train crossing diamond after crossing bridge

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a 3% interim raise while negotiations continue with Union Pacific on a new contract. The agreement covers about 6,000 BLET members at UP. It is effective Sept. 1, 2025, is temporary and will be replaced by wage increases agreed to in […]

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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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Zephyr, Builder routes playing catch-up; more equipment challenges

Passenger train passing commuter-train station

CHICAGO — California Zephyr passengers across the entire Chicago-Emeryville, Calif., route are suffering the lingering effects of downed power lines early Saturday (Aug. 9) on BNSF Railway tracks between Lincoln and Hastings, Nebraska. Elsewhere, the lack of available cars and locomotives continued to trigger lengthy delays and cancellations. Zephyrs chase each other west, one round […]

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Flooding closes CPKC main line in Wisconsin (updated)

WAUWATOSA, Wis. — CPKC’s main line across Wisconsin has reopened after being closed Satuday night by torrential rains, disrupting freight and Amtrak operations. Locations near Milwaukee reported as much as 14.5 inches of rain between Saturday evening and 2 p.m. on Sunday, according to WISN-TV. Wauwatosa, Wis., just west of Milwaukee, reported 7.15 inches; there, […]

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How would UP+NS and BNSF+CSX transcontinental systems compare?

Train rounding curve in mountains

Analysts widely expect that BNSF Railway and CSX will seek to merge in the wake of last month’s announcement that rivals Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would combine in an $85 billion deal to create the first U.S. transcontinental railroad. “The question around BNSF remains not if but when they will announce a deal to […]

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BNSF passes halfway mark with new Missouri River bridge in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. — BNSF Railway has passed the halfway point in construction of its new bridge across the Missouri River in the Bismarck-Mandan, N.D., area on its former Northern Pacific Jamestown Subdivision. The 1,554-foot-long single-track bridge is being built adjacent to the 140-year-old NP bridge that it will replace. The bridge will have generous clearances […]

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