News photo: Demolition of Deshler, Ohio, station begins

Heavy machinery knocking down brick building

DESHLER, Ohio — After years of neglect, the former Baltimore & Ohio railroad station in Deshler, the community known as “Crossroads of the B&O,” is coming down. The building last saw a passenger train in 1971, has been closed since the 1990s, and was damaged by a coal hopper in an April 2002 derailment. The […]

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Port Huron & Detroit Historical Society creates heritage fund to receive its assets

Logo of Port Huron & Detroit Historical Society

PORT HURON, Mich. — The Port Huron & Detroit Railroad Historical Society, which has dissolved its non-profit organization and is ending operations, has created a heritage organization to receive its remaining assets of more than $85,000. WGRT radio reports the society has created the Tunnel City Railway and Transportation Fund, a collaboration with the Community […]

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Busing plan changes for South Shore line construction

South Shore Line cars parked on railroad track

GARY, Ind. — South Shore Line commuter rail service has entered a new phase of busing as part of the continuing project to double track the main line between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. As of Saturday, Aug. 6, a bus bridge is operating between the Gary Metro station and Carroll Avenue station in Michigan […]

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News photos: Soo Line No. 1003 makes road trip to Chicago (updated)

Steam locomotive next to red, white, and blue diesel

HARTFORD, Wis.— Soo Line No. 1003, the 1913-vintage Alco 2-8-2 operated by the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, made a rare weekend trip to Chicago for a Metra Family Days event at the commuter operator’s Western Avenue yard. The locomotive and its short train headed south on Friday, April 5, beginning its trip in Metra territory […]

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Citing crew shortages, Amtrak cancels 2022 Polar Express trips in Chicago

Amtrak logo.

CHICAGO — Amtrak has canceled plans to offer Polar Express holiday rides from Chicago Union Station in 2022, citing ongoing staff shortages. A message on the Polar Express Union Station Facebook page cites “a system-wide shortage of railroad personnel” that means there are not enough crews to operate the trains. “We have enjoyed operating the […]

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Former mayor urges Davenport, Iowa, to turn down deal with CP (updated)

Freight train with red locomotives at grade crossing with river in background

DAVENPORT, Iowa — A former mayor of Davenport is urging the city to turn down its tentative $10 million agreement with Canadian Pacific and organize a regional effort to block the railroad’s proposed merger with Kansas City Southern. Meanwhile, the city of Muscatine, some 30 miles southwest along the Mississippi River, has approved a $3 […]

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BNSF set to reopen one line of Southern Transcon after derailment

Heavy machinery working to rebuild track at site of derailment

EAST GALESBURG, Ill. — BNSF Railway has told customers it expects to reopen one of two tracks this morning (Thursday, Aug. 4) on its Southern Transcon main line at the site of a Tuesday derailment in East Galesburg. In an advisory to customers Wednesday evening, the railroad estimated Track 1 would reopen at 8 a.m. […]

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BNSF train derails in East Galesburg, Ill.

BNSF Railway logo

EAST GALESBURG, Ill. — Some 30 to 40 cars of an eastbound BNSF Railway train derailed Tuesday night, according to East Galesburg’s mayor, blocking both tracks on the Chillicothe Subdivision of the railroad’s Southern Transcon mainline. The Galesburg Register-Mail reports the accident occurred about 9 p.m. Tuesday. Mayor Darrell Corbin said he was told no […]

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Davenport, Iowa, reaches agreement with CP on $10 million in merger mitigation

Train of tank cars curves under bridge in rainstorm

DAVENPORT, Iowa — The city of Davenport has reached an agreement with Canadian Pacific that will bring the Mississippi River community as much as $10 million to mitigate impacts of the proposed CP merger with Kansas City Southern. The Quad Cities Times reports Davenport’s aldermen will vote next week on the deal, which is contingent […]

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