Wabash locomotives remembered

Man leans out window on blue-and-gray Wabash locomotives with passenger train

Wabash locomotives were distinctive in both steam and diesel eras.     After depending on more than 150 2-8-2s for freights that succeeded typical smaller types, Wabash in 1930 received 50 handsome 4-8-2s and 4-8-4s (25 each) from Baldwin. Perhaps more remembered were seven 4-6-4 Hudsons, rebuilt at Decatur from unsuccessful three-cylinder Mikados in the […]

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Two appointed to Canadian Transportation Agency

Logo of Canadian Transportation Agency

OTTAWA, Ontario — J. Mark MacKeigan has been reappointed to the Canadian Transportation Agency, while Marisa Eva Victor has been newly appointed to the regulatory body, Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced. MacKeigan was reappointed for a four-year term, effective Nov. 28, 2023. He rejoined the agency in 2018 after having previously served as a member […]

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STB seeks answers for delay on Gulf Coast settlement: Analysis

aerial view of land along railroad tracks near water

WASHINGTON —The Surface Transportation Board has called for Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Port of Mobile, Ala., to provide “detailed information regarding the status of the implementation of the settlement agreement” agreed to in November 2022 to allow Amtrak service to begin between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. — and scheduled a February hearing […]

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Florida East Coast Railway unveils multiple paint schemes

Repainted diesel locomotive sits outside of shops.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — The new year brings two new looks for the Florida East Coast Railway. A paint scheme unveiling for employees and invited guests took place at the Class II’s locomotive facility on Jan. 18, 2024. GE ES44C4 Nos. 816 and 820 debuted in what is to be the new official look […]

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G&W outlines locomotive rebuilding and fuel-conservation efforts

Three locomotives lead train reflected in water

DARIEN, Conn. – Genesee & Wyoming’s latest sustainability report outlines how locomotive modernizations and other fuel-saving efforts will help reduce the carbon footprint of its more than 100 short line railroads. “We are committed to upgrading our locomotives and improving the performance of our existing fleet to reduce carbon emissions,” says the report, which was […]

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Customers name CSX as top-performing intermodal railroad

CSX train with orange and blue intermodal containers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX is touting its top ranking in a recent survey of railroad intermodal customers. The railroad was named the intermodal service “top performer” in a survey by the Journal of Commerce. The survey, conducted between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, involved shippers and intermodal marketing companies. Among the four U.S. Class I […]

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U.S. carload volume sinks, intermodal grows in 2024’s second week

Association of American Railroads logo

WASHINGTON – Rail traffic declined 4.1% in the U.S. last week compared to the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported yesterday. Total carloads for the week ending Jan. 13 were down 10.2% compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was up 1.9% compared to 2023. Three […]

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Wabtec’s Trip Optimizer surpasses the billion-mile mark

PITTSBURGH – Wabtec’s Trip Optimizer has reached a new milestone: Railroads have racked up more than a billion miles using the locomotive smart cruise control system that was introduced in 2009. “This billion-mile accomplishment is a tribute to our customers and our team of innovators,” Nalin Jain, president of Wabtec Digital Intelligence, said in a […]

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CSX trained more than 6,000 first responders in 2023

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX trained more than 6,000 first responders in communities across its network last year. The railroad held more than 60 sessions covering hazardous materials handling and incident response tactics, ensuring that first responders, contractors, and local government officials are informed and prepared to handle potential emergencies on and around railroad property. “CSX […]

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JB Hunt elects former KCS President and CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer as new board member

Kansas City Southern CEO Patrick J. Ottensmeyer

LOWELL, Ark. — J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced the addition of Patrick Ottensmeyer to its board of directors. Effective Jan. 12, 2024, the former Kansas City Southern CEO will serve on the board’s Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee, according to a recent news release. Beginning in 2006, Ottensmeyer held multiple leadership roles […]

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Metra to launch Access Pilot Program, reducing fares systemwide for low-income riders

Commuter train crosses street as it leaves station

CHICAGO — Metra, the Regional Transportation Authority, and Cook County, Ill., on Tuesday announced the Access Pilot Program, which extends reduced fares for low-income riders across the entire six-county Metra system as of Feb. 1. The new program, an 18-month pilot program, is a successor to and expansion of the Fair Transit South Cook program, […]

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T-TRAK Project Part 4: Wiring for modules

Hand holding black and gray remote control with green lighted screen with blue and gray model train on silver, gray, and black model train track.

Modelers David Popp, Brian Schmidt, and Bryson Sleppy install the wiring power bus and Digital Command Control system on their modular T-TRAK N scale layout. T-TRAK is a modular N scale railroading system that uses foot-wide boxes plugged together to build tabletop layouts. In this fourth installment, the trio demonstrates how to build a portable […]

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