Rail brands deciphered
Jul 1, 2017·Ask Trains

Rail brands deciphered

This line of numbers and letters is a rail brand. Deciphered correctly, they show railroads the weight, maker, treatment, design,…

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Diesel locomotive pooling
Jun 15, 2017·Ask Trains

Diesel locomotive pooling

Two Canadian Pacific trains, with motive power from CP, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern, meet near Oconomowoc, Wis., in November…

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Cabooses, not cabeese
Jun 1, 2017·Ask Trains

Cabooses, not cabeese

Volunteers at the Whitewater Valley Railroad in Connersville, Ind., prepare a string of cabooses (not cabeese) for an excursion in…

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Montana Rail Link creation
May 15, 2017·Ask Trains

Montana Rail Link creation

On Sept. 26, 2013, Montana Rail Link’s eastbound Gas Local passes a westbound BNSF coal train in Plains, Mont., bound…

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Big Boy braking power
May 1, 2017·Ask Trains

Big Boy braking power

Ten hoppers coupled to the Big Boy consist in January 2014 were used for additional braking power. Steve Sweeney Q…

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An ancient scale test car
Apr 15, 2017·Ask Trains

An ancient scale test car

Scale test cars are used to calibrate in-track scales that weigh freight cars. The car shown above was built in…

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Running ‘backward’
Mar 15, 2017·Ask Trains

Running ‘backward’

A Montana Rail Link local with a GP35 running backward (long hood forward) rolls along the Jefferson River west of…

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Poling on railroads
Feb 15, 2017·Ask Trains

Poling on railroads

A Canadian National worker moves a car using a pole on the pilot of CN No. 6310 in 1958. Gordon…

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