NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Media outlets in western Nebraska report that more Union Pacific railroaders are out of work because of less traffic on the railroad. The North Platte Telegraph on Wednesday reported that an unknown number of railroaders are expected to be let go in the coming days, and that this would be the […]
Grand Trunk Western owned and operated a small yard and ferry slip in Milwaukee into the 1970s. Here, 1926 Brill boxcab No. 73 works ferry Grand Rapids at Milwaukee in December 1955. Russ Porter photo […]
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. The NOFO includes more than $244 million in grant funding. “The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements grant program is an important resource for railroads […]
North American intermodal volumes are expected to remain in the doldrums for the rest of the year amid a complicated brew of factors that will keep railroading’s growth engine stuck in low gear. That’s the view of a trio of TTX intermodal experts, who shared their outlooks during an Intermodal Association of North America webcast […]
Cincinnati Southern Railway website Q: The city of Cincinnati owns the CNO&TP line running from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, Tenn., which Norfolk Southern leases from the city. Does the city of Cincinnati also own and lease yards along the line to NS, or does NS own these yards outright? — Doug Lathrem, Bowling Green, Ky. A: […]
Various Santa Fe SF30C units are seen in storage at Argentine Yard, in Argentine, Kan., in 1983. Several of these locomotives have rotary or flashing beacons on their cab roofs for safety. TEH-14212-34 Ivan Abrams Q: Why did some railroads use flashing or rotary beacons atop their diesels? And do any railroads use them anymore? […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: Trains readers aren’t the only ones to wonder about happenings in the railroad world. Trains editors and friends recently shared an email discussion about why two Class I railroads near Trains’ headquarters removed a connection at a diamond crossover. Here’s a condensed, edited version of the best explanation we’ve seen: A: I would […]
EOTs — end-of-train device Q: In track side watching and in videos, I note that end-of-train devices only flash at night. Why is this? — William Carpenter West Chester Township, Ohio The Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) rulebook used by most northeastern railroads states that each train occupying a main track or controlled siding […]
CSX Transportation, from a service advisory NEW YORK CITY — Canadian National and CSX Transportation will launch joint intermodal service this fall linking Toronto and Montreal with New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. The service, announced on Thursday and set to begin in October, is unusual because it’s a short haul for both railroads, which […]
DARIEN, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming’s second quarter revenue and operating income declined, dragged down by slumping international operations that more than offset improved North American results. The shortline holding company’s operating income declined 9%, to $4.2 million, as revenue sank 4%, to $571.5 million, G&W said in a regulatory filing late Wednesday. Earnings per […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Aug. 3, as well as volumes for July 2019. U.S. railroads originated 1,264,100 carloads in July 2019, down 4.8%, or 64,406 carloads, from July 2018. U.S. railroads also originated 1,314,333 containers and trailers in July […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway reported higher second quarter profits on Friday despite a traffic slump and disruptive Midwestern flooding. BNSF’s pre-tax profit rose 7%, to $1.8 billion, as revenue rose 0.3%, to $5.9 billion, corporate parent Berkshire Hathaway reported in a regulatory filing. The railroad’s operating ratio improved 2.1 points to 65.4% for […]
