Chairman of House transportation committee urges STB to deny CN-KCS voting trust

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WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastruture has voiced his opposition to a voting trust while regulators consider the proposed merger of Canadian National and Kansas City Southern. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said in a Monday letter to the Surface Transportation Board that the trust would “reduce competition and prejudice […]

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Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific detail greenhouse gas plans

Norfolk Southern logo

Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific have released details of their plans to address greenhouse gas emissions, with NS aiming for a 42% reduction by 2034, while CP has set a goal of reducing locomotive emissions by more than 38% by 2030, along with a reduction from non-locomotive operations by more than 27%. The NS figure […]

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News photo: UP fire train at Keddie Wye

Men spraying water off train on bridge under smoky skies

Union Pacific has posted photos to its Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts showing a firefighting train at work on the bridge at the famous Keddie Wye on its ex-Western Pacific Feather River Canyon route, with the message: “Thanks to our crews on our fire trains, working tirelessly to help control fires in northern […]

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Review: Amtrak reinvents ‘traditional’ dining car meals

Chef preparing food on a dining car's grill.

First of two parts ABOARD THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF — A month after Amtrak revamped dining-car menus on the five long-distance trains that serve the West Coast — replacing pre-packaged meals in a bowl with freshly-prepared breakfasts, lunches, and dinners — it’s clear the company is aiming for a higher standard than what it previously offered. […]

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Modeling train scenes from postcards

Black-and-white image of metal grain elevator with two grain storage tents and farm field in foreground.

Welcome to the final installment in our three-part series “Modeling from postcards.” This time, we’ll take a look at cards that show two of Crookston’s rail-served industries. Welcome to Wilds. In 1964, Cargill Inc. built a grain elevator at the south end of Crookston near the station sign Wilds. In addition to the main elevator, […]

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The Automatic Gateman

A trackside shed next to a railroad crossing sign.

Although Lionel has come out with a multitude of fantastic products over the years, one of the most amazing and important accessories that the popular manufacturer ever created was by far the Automatic Gateman. The Automatic Gateman is a structure that features a gateman emerging from his trackside shed to warn motorists of passing trains. […]

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Trains added to CTrail Hartford Line, Shore Line East schedules

CTrail_Wallingford_Lassen

NEWINGTON, Conn. — As of today (Monday, July 26), the Connecticut Department of Transportation is adding service on its CTrail Hartford Line and Shore Line East rail services. Seven round trips are being restored on the Hartford Line after being eliminated in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between Amtrak and CTrail service, there […]

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NS Sandusky drawbridge fails, stalls rail and marine traffic

In view from small boat, train crosses bridge

SANDUSKY, Ohio – A 3-hour-plus drawbridge failure on Sunday afternoon (July 25) halted movements on Norfolk Southern’s busy Chicago Line and stranded marine traffic on Lake Erie’s Sandusky Bay. The bridge, a 1929 double-track rolling Scherzer-type drawbridge at MP 248 between Toledo and Sandusky, Ohio, was initially stuck in an up position, observers reported. But […]

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Washout likely cause of CN derailment in Ontario

Canadian National logo

NAISCOOT, Ontario — Two crew members were reported to have suffered minor injuries when a Canadian National train derailed late Saturday, reportedly after hitting a washout. CBC News reports a CN spokesman said a locomotive and 24 empty intermodal cars derailed on Canadian Pacific’s Parry Sound Subdivision; a Transportation Safety Board of Canada representative told […]

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News photo: VIA stainless steel cars return

Silver and yellow locomotive followed by stainless steel cars

Two refurbished stainless steel business cars trail P42 locomotive No. 905 on VIA Rail Canada’s Ottawa-Quebec City train No. 28, on its way to Montreal’s Central Station on July 22. Absent from the Quebec-Windsor, Ontario corridor for more than a year during the reduced service of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cars are again in use […]

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California legislators seek change to power requirement for high speed rail

An illustration from the California High-Speed Rail Authority's new business plan shows a station for the high speed line. California High-Speed Rail Authority

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A group of California state legislators are asking the U.S. Department of Transportation to reconsider a requirement for catenary electrification for the state’s high speed rail system, seeking the option to use battery or fuel-cell power to avoid the expense of stringing overhead power lines. The Los Angeles Times reports state Assembly […]

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