Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 19 | Painting the backdrop – Part 2

Jay Smith, former illustrator (ret.) for Kalmbach Media, is back for more work on David’s painted backdrop of his On30 display layout. Although the painting won’t be completed here, Jay shows off his various techniques for adding more precision to the roughed-in mountains he crafted in the previous episode of this Olympia & Sand Creek […]

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NTSB identifies probable cause of close-clearance death of CSX conductor trainee

WASHINGTON – The probable cause of a fatal accident involving a conductor trainee in CSX’s yard in Cumberland, Md., last summer was the train’s movement through an unidentified and unmitigated close clearance location, the National Transportation Safety Board said today. During a shove move, the conductor trainee was caught between the side of the railcar […]

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Union urges Department of Transportation to bar federal grants to Brightline Florida

people serving food

WASHINGTON – The Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, has asked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to deny Brightline Florida any additional federal funding, arguing that the company has sought to block its employees from joining a union. The TWU, in a Sept. 19 letter to Buttigieg, noted that nearly 100 Brightline onboard service personnel are […]

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World’s largest rail exhibition returns: InnoTrans opens in Berlin

Aerial view of multiple tracks of rail equipment on public display

BERLIN — InnoTrans – the largest rail trade fair in the world, held every two years in the German capital city opened its doors for its 2024 edition on Sept. 24. Exhibitors number 2,940 representing 59 countries are occupying the entire exhibition grounds at the Berlin trade fair exhibition centre which is also equipped with […]

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Jay Leno puts Union Pacific Big Boy and steam program in the spotlight

Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014, the railroad’s heritage fleet, and steam program boss Ed Dickens are featured in the latest episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” the former “Tonight Show” host’s YouTube program. UP and the National Park Foundation welcomed Leno and his film crew on the Missouri Valley to Dennison, Iowa, portion of […]

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Railroads gear up for safety week activities across North America

Alt text yellow and black locomotive on tracks near station

WASHINGTON – The “See Tracks, Think Trains Week,” which kicks off today and runs through Sunday, aims to enhance public safety by raising awareness about the importance of staying safe around railroad tracks. More than 95% of all rail-related deaths involve drivers going through grade crossings or a person on the tracks, according to the […]

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Soybean processing plant opens on Watco’s South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad

CHERRYVALE, Kan. – Bartlett, a Savage Company, is beginning operations at its new soybean processing plant in Cherryvale, Kan., which is served by Watco’s 458.7-mile South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad. The plant will handle up to 49 million bushels of soybeans annually, providing sustainable soy feedstocks for refined vegetable oil, animal feed and renewable transportation […]

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Missouri’s Columbia Terminal to upgrade track in $4 million project

Blue and black logo of City of Columbia, Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Funding is secured for municipally owned Columbia Terminal to upgrade track following the securement of a $3.2 million federal grant, KOMU-TV reports. The city will also contribute $800,000 to bring the project total up to $4 million.   “We’re replacing some of the track into a heavier grade track that can carry […]

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UP explains absence from early contract agreements with organized labor

Two crew members stand next to their train as another train passes

DALLAS – As BNSF Railway, CSX, and Norfolk Southern continue to sign tentative contract agreements with their labor unions well in advance of the start of national negotiations, one U.S. Class I railroad has been conspicuously absent: Union Pacific. UP executives explained today that – unlike the other railroads – they’re seeking to modernize work […]

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Union Pacific outlines volume growth plans and sets three-year earnings target

Yellow locomotives leading train of double-stacked containers over bridge

DALLAS – Union Pacific executives today outlined a three-year growth plan that hinges on regaining market share in intermodal, carload, and bulk traffic in order to offset the continued steep decline of coal. Wall Street analysts have been skeptical of UP’s volume growth forecasts because the railroad has struggled to meet them in recent years. […]

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Intermodal continues hot streak in U.S. to post another weekly gain

WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads reported that U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Sept. 14 rose 6.8% compared with the same week last year. Carload traffic was flat for the week, but weekly intermodal volume was up 13% compared to 2023. Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared […]

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Short Line Safety Institute completes its first decade of operations

Three locomotives lead train reflected in water

This month, the Short Line Safety Institute enters its tenth year of operations, having marked 155 completed safety culture assessments, and numerous introductions of programs and resources to benefit the short line industry in continuously improving safety culture. Founded in response to the tragic 2013 Lac-Megantic rail accident in Quebec, Canada, on regional Montreal, Maine […]

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