WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board on Friday, March 13, approved Union Pacific’s plans to build 6 miles of new rail line in Maricopa County, Ariz., a project that had been delayed because of concerns over damage to archaeological sites along the right-of-way. The Pecos Industrial Rail Access and Train Extension project, or PIRATE, will […]
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Some 27 whistle stops are planned along with four public display days on the western tour of Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, which begins March 29 with departure from Cheyenne. UP today announced the full schedule for the western trip, the first part of a planned coast-to-coast journey, in an email […]
TOPPENISH, Wash. — Former Northern Pacific 4-6-0 No. 1364 moved under its own power for the first time in 73 years on Feb. 21, according to a Facebook post from the Northern Pacific Railway Museum. The initial run caps a decades-long restoration effort by museum volunteers. “This moment represents years of hard work by our volunteers, […]
ELY, Nev. — On the night of Feb. 3, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum successfully fired No. 81, a 1917 Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-8-0. The locomotive had not been fired for more than two years due to ongoing repairs. For the firing, 1,000 pounds of coal was placed in the 5-foot-by-9-foot firebox, which had been […]
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific’s Big Boy will return to California this spring in the first leg of its planned coast-to-coast trip for America’s 250th anniversary, the railroad has announced. The first segment of the trip will be a round trip from Cheyenne, Wyo., beginning March 29 and concluding April 24, with two major public […]
LAS VEGAS — The completion date for the Brightline West high-speed rail project has been pushed back again, this time to late 2029. The company informed KVVU-TV of that date last week, but not did elaborate on reasons for the new estimate. It did say the project is in the “civil construction” phase, preparing the […]
Four F7s take a train of refrigerator cars through a horseshoe curve near Gleed, Ariz., in the 1950s. A major line change in 1960 eliminated tough operating conditions like this for the Santa Fe across northern Arizona. Santa Fe photo […]
PHOENIX — A collision between a pickup truck and Valley Metro light rail vehicle has killed the driver of the truck and critically injured two people aboard the train. Four people aboard the train were hospitalized. The accident occurred about 5 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 30, 2025) at the intersection of Central Avenue and Indian School […]
Genesee & Wyoming continues to add to its series of locomotives marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, with the latest unit also honoring railroading’s place in U.S. history. Arizona Eastern Railway No. 4028, a B40-8, features an image of the Jupiter, the diamond-stacked Central Pacific 4-4-0 that took part in the Golden Spike ceremony […]
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Union Pacific has completed expansion of its Gasa Grande Yard, doubling capacity at the facility about 70 miles west of Tucson on the railroad’s Gila Subdivision. The project added four tracks and a new industrial lead, and included a powered switch, a new yard control point, and upgraded mainline signals. “The […]
PHOENIX — BNSF Railway has again asked the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to delay consideration of its planned logistics development in Wittmann, Ariz., this time until Feb. 26, 2026. The board had been scheduled to consider the matter — which faces significant opposition from nearby communities — at a meeting today (Nov. 5, 2025). […]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico Heritage Rail has announced two photo charters with Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 to be conducted by Lerro Photography on Oct. 23–25 and Oct. 30–Nov. 1, 2026. The events will take place on 40 miles of mainline track extending north and south of Albuquerque. Two events are scheduled due to […]
