MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway and Canadian labor union Unifor have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract, the railroad has announced. CN said no details will be released publicly until the agreement is ratified. The union represents about 3,300 mechanical, clerical, and intermodal employees, CN said; Unifor recently placed the number about […]
It’s not uncommon for a trainee to become a trainer in the world of rail preservation. Tyler Chipman has taken on this path himself, beginning as a volunteer student conductor and engineer at Chattanooga’s Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Today, the 25-year-old is both training and educating others in his part-time role at the museum. How […]
Rail travel often involves changing trains. I’ve always delighted in the transition from one train to another. These can be great moments to observe the railroad in action, make photos, and perhaps chat with railroaders and fellow passengers. I’ve sometimes planned changes to include a short layover. For many travelers changing trains represents unwanted stress […]
BALTIMORE — The driver of an SUV was injured when the vehicle was hit by falling concrete from an Amtrak bridge today (Sunday, Dec. 8), WBAL-TV reports. First responders were called about 11:28 a.m. about the incident that saw debris fall from a bridge over North Point Road. Police said the driver — the only […]
SANTA PAULA, Calif. — Sierra Northern Railway, partnering with nonprofit Operation Toy Train, ran a pair of Santa trains Saturday, Dec. 7, on its Ventura Division between Ventura and Piru, about 30 miles. The first train, consisting of Genset locomotive No. 2666, an open-air car, and heavyweight business car No. 409, left Ventura at 10:30 […]
BAYTOWN, Texas — Approximately 12 cars derailed after one Union Pacific train rear-ended another on Friday night, sending two cars into a canal that feeds Houston’s water supply, KTRK-TV reports. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident about 8 p.m. on social media, and said no injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were […]
ACCOMACK, Va. — If you’ve ever given any thought to how much a Class I railroad pays in taxes, consider this: A single county in Virginia owes Norfolk Southern more than $158,000 for a relatively small taxation error. The Eastern Shore Post reports that Accomack County, Va., will be sending NS a $158,713 refund for […]
ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Carriers Conference Committee, the negotiating arm of the organization representing Class I railroads in labor matters, has reached a tentative agreement for a new contract with the American Train Dispatchers Association. It is the fifth such agreement reached by the national group since the latest round of national bargaining, building […]
Special Interest Tours and Trains Magazine bring you a one-time rail excursion tour. Get ready to travel around Great Britain celebrating the bicentennial of steam train travel and experiencing the best steam trains of the region from Sep. 23 to Oct. 2, 2025 with Trains Associate Editor Bob Lettenberger on this 10-days/9 nights adventure. Time […]
Illinois Central and the Bear In my years hanging around the North Cairo, Ill., depot — first Illinois Central, then Illinois Central Gulf — I had many cab-ride opportunities. My first was at age 3 on the GM&O, however. The station access was partially due to the family farm sitting 3 miles outside Cairo, but […]
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Rail Road Santa Train begins its annual journey across the railroad today (Friday, Dec. 6), with stops scheduled in 12 communities over a three-day period. The Santa Train, launched in 1989, is an all-volunteer event providing cold-weather gear to families in need. At all stops but today’s initial location, in Bargersville, […]
TORONTO — Phil Verster, CEO of Ontario provincial transportation agency Metrolinx since 2017, has resigned, the provincial government announced this week. The CBC reports that a memo to employees said Verster is departing for a rail industry job outside of Canada. He will depart as soon as Dec. 16. Michael Lindsay, currently head of Infrastructure […]
