Regulators ask for more information on UP-NS merger

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific locomotives

WASHINGTON — While Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern prepare to file a revised merger application in late April, federal regulators are requesting specific data related to their proposal to create the first U.S. transcontinental railroad. The request for documents to be submitted prior to the revised application likely could include highly sensitive data related to […]

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Norfolk Southern: Rising energy costs are a double-edged sword for freight traffic

WASHINGTON — The spike in energy prices since the start of the Iran conflict could be a blessing or a curse, Norfolk Southern executives say. It’s clear that the dramatic increase in fuel prices will increase the railroad’s first-quarter costs by $20 million to $30 million — and that the NS fuel surcharge program will […]

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STB denies UP and NS requests to probe CPKC service on the Meridian Speedway

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators on Friday denied requests from Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific to open an investigation into Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s handling of UP-NS interline intermodal trains on the Meridian Speedway. The Surface Transportation Board said there was no need to intervene because any service problems have been resolved. The board also said […]

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National Railroad Hall of Fame honors trio of execs with Norfolk Southern ties

ROANOKE, Va. — The National Railroad Hall of Fame inducted former Norfolk Southern CEO David Goode, the late Southern Railway President Bill Brosnan, and the late Jim McClellan, Norfolk Southern’s longtime head of strategic planning, during a Thursday evening ceremony in Roanoke. “David, having you as counsel has meant a great deal to me,” NS […]

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Atlas N scale EMD GP38-2 review

Color photo showing short hood and cab of N scale EMD hood unit painted blue and white with black and white graphics on scenicked base with a sky blue background.

An Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 has been added to the Master Line from Atlas Model Railroad Co. The N scale model, based on a Phase II prototype, uses former Walthers (and before that Life-Like) tooling that Atlas acquired back in 2018. Prototype history Electro-Motive Division produced the GP38-2 from January 1972 until July 1986. More than […]

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Farm Bureau says UP-NS merger will cost farmers, could lead to higher food prices

UP train on curve

WASHINGTON — A Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger would reduce shipping options for farmers and make them more vulnerable to price increases, economists for the American Farm Bureau said in an analysis released today (Wednesday, March 11). The long-term effect of the merger could be increased consumer prices for food as expenses rise throughout the food […]

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Opinion: Rail customers must make their voices heard

Trains Turntable: Commentary from CPKC CEO Keith Creel Over the last several months, the Class I railroads not named Union Pacific or Norfolk Southern have been accused of opposing the largest, most unnecessary proposed rail merger ever attempted because those railroads are afraid to compete or are selfishly afraid it will hurt their business. Those […]

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Progress Rail to convert 96 Norfolk Southern SD70Ms to AC-traction SD70ICCs

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern will continue to modernize its locomotive fleet in a deal announced on Monday with Progress Rail, which will convert 96 of the railroad’s SD70M-2 models to AC-traction SD70ICCs. Deliveries of the Tier 2 locomotives will start in 2027 and run through 2029. “By modernizing existing units, Norfolk Southern is taking a […]

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NS train derails near Horseshoe Curve

Norfolk Southern logo

LOGAN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Two locomotives and 17 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed today (Saturday, March 7) in Logan Township near Horseshoe Curve, WJAC-TV reports. NS told the station that the derailment occurred about 12:03 a.m. and that no crew members were injured. The derailment has led to the cancellation of both directions […]

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Rapido Trains HO Greenbrier coil gondola review

Color photo showing modern coil car with hood placed next to car on white background. The model is painted blue with yellow and white graphics and dark gray bunk liners.

Looking to add a model of one of the newest freight cars on the rails to your HO layout? Then you’ll want to check out the Greenbrier 5-trough transverse coil gondola from Rapido Trains. The model, based on a prototype introduced in 2021, features plastic and die-cast metal construction, 36″ metal wheelsets, and metal semi-scale […]

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Norfolk Southern extends Georgia Tech sustainability tech partnership

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern will continue backing sustainability-focused technology startups through an expanded partnership with Georgia Tech Advanced Technology Development Center, committing $250,000 annually for the next two years to support the center’s Sustainability Tech program. The investment extends a collaboration launched in 2023 that created a sustainability-focused program within the Georgia Tech incubator. Since […]

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Athearn HO scale EMD SD40-2 diesel locomotive

In this product review video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno examines the Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD40-2. Cody begins with the prototype history, noting that EMD produced more than 3,900 units between January 1972 and February 1986. These six-axle units were rated at 3,000 horsepower and featured a 16-cylinder 645E3C diesel engine. The […]

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