Build an HO scale weed sprayer for fun

Small model of a brown railroad car with large windows on mountain side railroad track.

Build an HO scale weed sprayer Building an HO scale weed sprayer car was not just enjoyable; it was downright fun! It all started when my friend Paul Weiss declared that he was going to run a weed sprayer maintenance-of-way train at an upcoming operating session on his Central Vermont Ry. (www.cvrailroad.com). Five days before […]

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EPA administrator tries to reassure residents during East Palestine visit

Men in high-visibility vests in front of fire-damaged tank car

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan tried to reassure residents during a Thursday visit to the area concerned about the aftereffects of the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train, saying he would feel comfortable returning to the area based on results of ongoing air and water testing. “I […]

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Amtrak named to Forbes list of America’s Best Large Employers

Passenger train on middle of three tracks during snowfall

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has been named as one of America’s Best Large Employers in a Forbes survey, which identifies the top 500 companies with 5,000 or more employees. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with 15,722 employees, topped the Forbes list. The ranking is based on a survey of about 45,000 workers at such companies, who […]

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TransmetriQ introduces Asset Manager software

Logos for Transmetric and parent company Railinc

CARY, N.C. — TransmetriQ, the rail software brand of data and information firm Railinc, has introduced Asset Manager, designed to provide railcar fleet owners with single-source information on location, status, and health of their equipment. “Asset Manager helps car owners get to the insights they need faster than any other product on the market,” TransmetriQ […]

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Intermodal, railroading’s growth engine, could use a tune-up: Analysis

Intermodal train snakes through curves

Intermodal has long been the rail industry’s growth engine. But it hasn’t been firing on all cylinders in recent years. Yes, 2018 was a record-setting year for volume, and 2021 was intermodal’s second-best year ever. That’s all well and good — except that intermodal hasn’t been keeping pace with economic growth and has lost market […]

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Public expresses frustration at East Palestine meeting

Aerial view of derailment cleanup and track work

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Large crowds, changes of format, and public frustration marked Wednesday night’s public meeting over the aftermath of the Feb. 3 derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine. The town hall meeting at the East Palestine High had been switched beforehand to an informational session featuring a series of tables with officials […]

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Sluggish intermodal traffic drags US rail volume lower

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — With a significant drop in intermodal traffic dragging down the overall number, U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 11 showed the biggest decline for any week so far this year, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. The overall traffic of 473,972 carloads and intermodal units represented a 6.2% […]

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Stadler, Utah research facility to bring battery-powered passenger train to North America

Blue battery-electric multiple-unit trainset uner construction

BUSSNANG, Switzerland — Rail equipment manufacturer Stadler, Utah State University, and the ASPIRE Engineering Center have signed a contract to develop and test a battery-powered passenger train, the first such multiple-unit train in North America. The project will develop a two-car train based on Stadler’s FLIRT Akku train tailored for the American market. Stadler has […]

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Ohio governor calls for Congress to act on movement of hazardous materials by rail

Workers and equipment around burned out tank cars

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called for congressional action requiring railroads to provide notification when they are transporting hazardous materials through states in the wake of the Feb. 3 derailment and fire of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch reports that in a Tuesday press conference, DeWine […]

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Reading & Northern to launch Pittston-Jim Thorpe excursions

Green and yellow diesel next to tower in mountains

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern will expand its passenger excursion operations in May, launching regular weekend operations between the new Wilkes Barre-Scranton Regional Station in Pittston, Pa., and Jim Thorpe, Pa. The all-day, round-trip excursions will depart Pittston at 9 a.m., making intermediate stops at Penobscot (Mountain Top) and White Haven en route […]

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Mobile port’s intermodal facility to receive $60 million upgrade

Lifting equipment moves containers

MOBILE, Ala. — The operator of the intermodal facility at the Port of Mobile announced plans Tuesday for a $60 million upgrade that will help the effort to more than double the port’s container capacity. Al.com reports that APM Terminals Mobile will double the amount of track at the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility to 12,000 […]

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STB denies California poultry producer’s request for emergency service order

Train rounds curve in late afternoon sunlight

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators today officially rejected as moot a California poultry producer’s request for an emergency service order that would cover corn deliveries from Union Pacific. But the Surface Transportation Board ordered UP to continue to provide the board with weekly updates regarding unit grain train deliveries to Foster Farms, which operates three rail-served […]

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