Thinking about Appalachia’s railroaders: Commentary

CSX train passing through small town

ERWIN, Tenn. — Railroaders take pride in the work they do. They provide for their families. They play an irreplaceable role in the movement of goods in the U.S. economy and they re-invest their hard-earned wages into the communities they live and work — building homes, shopping local, and supporting small communities where railroads have […]

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Union requests conciliation in negotiations with Canadian National

Logo of Canadian union Unifor

MONTREAL — Unifor, the union representing about 3,600 Canadian National Railway mechanical, clerical, and intermodal employees in Canada, has filed a Notice of Dispute with the Canadian government regarding its negotiations with the railroad, CN has announced. The move on Friday, Sept. 27, came just three days after Unifor — Canada’s largest private-sector union, with […]

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Herrmann named as Amtrak’s general counsel

Man in suit with white shirt and tie

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has named Byl Herrmann as execute vice president and general counsel, responsible for the long-term priorities and annual operating plan for the company’s legal department. “Byl has helped guide the evolution of Amtrak’s Law department and corporate development over many decades and brings a comprehensive and deep knowledge of all facets of […]

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From the Cab: Amtrak calendar paintings

picture of calendar watercolor of train

Gil Reid’s prized Auto Train watercolor Wall calendars have always been an effective business advertising tool, and some of the most memorable and collectable have been products of the public relations departments of America’s railroads. Anxious to make establish the branding of its role as the newly formed National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak began producing […]

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Brian Barr named chief mechanical officer at Norfolk Southern

ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern yesterday named Brian Barr as its chief mechanical officer. Barr joins Norfolk Southern from Union Pacific, where he held the positions of general manager Great Lakes Services and senior vice president transportation. Barr started his career as a craft dispatcher in 1998 working at Conrail and, later, CSX. During his 26-year […]

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Mt. Rainier Scenic acquires cars from North Carolina museum

Side view of green heavyweight passenger car

ELBE, Wash. — The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has purchased three ex-Reading Co. passenger cars from the North Carolina Transportation for use in its steam heritage rail operations. Mt. Rainier Scenic said in a press release that the museum determined the cars, built between 1922 and 1927 by the Standard Steel Car Co. and Bethlehem […]

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Norfolk Southern offers alternative origins for West Coast intermodal ahead of coastal port strike

Intermodal train on bridge

ATLANTA — With longshoremen and port operators still unable to come to terms for a new labor agreement at East Coast ports, Norfolk Southern is recommending alternative origins for West Coast-destined international intermodal that normally flows into the eastern seaboard. NS outlined its recommended service Thursday, making use of its inland intermodal terminals to originate […]

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