BNSF, J.B. Hunt participate in wreath-laying event in Southern California

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — BNSF Railway and multimodal transportation company J.B. Hunt are transporting more than 6,400 wreaths to Riverside National Cemetery as part of their annual participation in the Wreaths Across America program. Today (Friday, Dec. 16), at 7 a.m. PST, a J.B. Hunt truck accompanied by a Patriot Guard motorcycle escort will move the […]

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Class I railroads split on taking conductors out of the locomotive cab

Intermodal train passes between two stopped trains

The big six Class I railroads are not of one mind regarding taking conductors out of the locomotive cab and redeploying them to pickup trucks. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern told the Federal Railroad Administration this week that they are negotiating with unions about testing the concept, which would involve having conductors assist trains in […]

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BNSF gets state permit for Bismarck bridge project

BNSF train crossing river bridge in winter

BISMARCK, N.D. — BNSF Railway’s plans to replace a more than century-old bridge across the Missouri River took another step forward Monday, while a preservation group’s effort to stop the bridge project sustained another setback. The Bismarck Tribune reports the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality issued the water quality certification necessary for BNSF to […]

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BNSF Railway is banking that its BIG intermodal bet will pay off: Analysis

Can a railroad single-handedly preserve the intermodal dominance of North America’s biggest port complex? BNSF Railway is making a $1.5 billion bet that the answer is yes. The railroad announced on Oct. 1 that it will build a massive new intermodal facility in Barstow, Calif., to expedite the handling of freight imported and exported through […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Powder River Basin Coal Trains

There may be no better place than Logan Hill to highlight hard-working, heavy-haulin’ railroads in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. In this exploration of BSIR, Tom documents the parade of trains along the impressive, shared BNSF/Union Pacific four-track mainline through Thunder Basin National Grassland. While this territory is often maligned as “fly-over country”, Tom’s […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Intermodal Trains

With its fast-moving, extensive-length, and often technicolor appearance, intermodal freight transportation along the rails of North America is interesting to view anywhere! But when set amongst a dramatic backdrop of the Mountain West region, you’ll find it hard not to be completely captivated by the magical culmination of engineered efficiency and striking natural beauty. That’s […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Powder River Basin Coal Trains

There may be no better place than Logan Hill to highlight hard-working, heavy-haulin’ railroads in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. In this exploration of BSIR, Tom documents the parade of trains along the impressive, shared BNSF/Union Pacific four-track mainline through Thunder Basin National Grassland. While this territory is often maligned as “fly-over country”, Tom’s […]

Read More…

Big Skies & Iron Rails, Intermodal Trains

With its fast-moving, extensive-length, and often technicolor appearance, intermodal freight transportation along the rails of North America is interesting to view anywhere! But when set amongst a dramatic backdrop of the Mountain West region, you’ll find it hard not to be completely captivated by the magical culmination of engineered efficiency and striking natural beauty. That’s […]

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Preservation group seeks hearing on BNSF effort to build new Bismarck-Mandan bridge

Steam-powered passenger train on large truss bridge over water

BISMARCK, N.D. — The preservation group seeking to prevent BNSF Railway from replacing its more than century-old bridge over the Missouri River is asking two North Dakota agencies to hold a hearing on permits needed to build a new bridge. The Friends of the Rail Bridge, which wants the current Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge — parts […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Powder River Basin Coal Trains

There may be no better place than Logan Hill to highlight hard-working, heavy-haulin’ railroads in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. In this exploration of BSIR, Tom documents the parade of trains along the impressive, shared BNSF/Union Pacific four-track mainline through Thunder Basin National Grassland. While this territory is often maligned as “fly-over country”, Tom’s […]

Read More…

Big Skies & Iron Rails, Intermodal Trains

With its fast-moving, extensive-length, and often technicolor appearance, intermodal freight transportation along the rails of North America is interesting to view anywhere! But when set amongst a dramatic backdrop of the Mountain West region, you’ll find it hard not to be completely captivated by the magical culmination of engineered efficiency and striking natural beauty. That’s […]

Read More…

Montana Rail Link Requiem

Montana Rail Link, for all intents and purposes, is over. Simply awaiting STB approval before the final chapter is written and the company fades into the history books. The story began in 1987, when a new company was formed to lease the former Northern Pacific mainline, then owned by Burlington Northern, from Sandpoint, Idaho, to […]

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