Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
February 8, 2021
Restoration of historic Wabash caboose completed
The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc (FWRHS) has completed an extensive rebuild of its historic, century-old Wabash Railroad caboose no. 2534 – one of only two wooden Wabash cabooses in existence
February 8, 2021
Weekday Fitchburg Line Service to be Replaced with Bus Shuttles Between Littleton and Alewife
The MBTA today announced that train service on the Fitchburg Line of Commuter Rail will be replaced by bus service between Littleton and Alewife Stations beginning Monday, March 1 and running through Friday, May 2. This diversion is necessary to accommodate installation of Positive Train Control (PTC), a federally mandated anti-collision safety technology.
February 5, 2021
R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC Announces Appointment of Ronald Batory to the Board of Directors
R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC appoints former U.S. Department of Transportation FRA Administrator Ronald L. (Ron) Batory to its Board of Directors. Prior to his service in Washington D.C., Batory spent his entire 46-year career in the railroad industry, and he retired from Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) after more than 12 years as its President & Chief Operating Officer.
February 5, 2021
Discovery of Antique Explosives Prompts Cautious Disposal at Historic Railroad
During stabilization work this week on a historic East Broad Top Railroad building, EBT Foundation employees discovered five cases of an undetermined material labeled explosives. Work stopped immediately, and company officials conducted an initial investigation, which led to an in-depth analysis by Specialty Professional Services Incorporated (SPSI) of Washington, PA. It was determined that the material in question was probably decayed dynamite, estimated to be 100 years old. This evaluation also concluded that there was no imminent danger to employees or the surrounding community while further planning for its disposal commenced.
February 4, 2021
LIRR Crews to Perform Signal Testing as Part of Main Line Expansion Project
Long Island Rail Road crews will perform signal testing near Merillon Avenue as part of the Main Line Expansion Project during the weekends of Feb. 6-7 and 20-21. This critical infrastructure work will require both existing Main Line tracks to be taken out of service for 48 hours each weekend between Jamaica and Hicksville, resulting in service changes on the Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Branches and schedule adjustments on the LIRR’s other branches.
February 3, 2021
Rail Traffic for January and the Week Ending January 30, 2021
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 30, 2021, as well as volumes for January 2021. U.S. railroads originated 930,303 carloads in January 2021, down 2.1 percent, or 19,799 carloads, from January 2020. U.S. railroads also originated 1,173,220 containers and trailers in January 2021, up 12.1 percent, or 126,548 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in January 2021 were 2,103,523, up 5.3 percent, or 106,749 carloads and intermodal units from January 2020. In January 2021, 10 of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with January 2020. These included: grain, up 31,434 carloads or 40.0 percent; chemicals, up 5,717 carloads or 4.4 percent; and metallic ores, up 5,190 carloads or 28.7 percent. Commodities that saw declines in January 2021 from January 2020 included: coal, down 35,356 carloads or 12.7 percent; crushed stone, sand & gravel, down 14,097 carloads or 18.9 percent; and petroleum & petroleum products, down 6,529 carloads or 12.1 percent. Excluding coal, carloads were up 15,557 carloads, or 2.3 percent, in January 2021 from January 2020. Excluding coal and grain, carloads were down 15,877 carloads, or 2.7 percent.
February 1, 2021
Operation Toy Train Disposes Three Locomotives To Preservation Groups
After acquiring 13 pieces of railroad equipment in a September 2020 donation,
Operation Toy Train has ensured the future of three historic locomotives from the collection by
getting them into the hands of railroad preservationists and operators.
January 29, 2021
Norfolk Southern Supports Customer Growth and Local Economies in 2020
Norfolk Southern announced today that in 2020 the company assisted 86 businesses in locating new or expanded facilities on its freight rail network. The industries ranged from a medical products supplier and roofing shingle manufacturer to automakers and paper packaging producers. Across 18 states, Norfolk Southern customers invested $1.8 billion to open 70 new and 16 expanded rail-served facilities. The industrial development is expected to create more than 2,960 customer jobs and generate over 54,300 carloads of new rail volume annually for Norfolk Southern
January 28, 2021
CP Reports Record Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Results
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited announced its fourth-quarter results, including revenues of $2.01 billion, a record-low operating ratio (“OR”) of 53.9 percent, diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $5.95 and record adjusted diluted EPS of $5.06.
January 27, 2021
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending January 23, 2021
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 23, 2021. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 529,030 carloads and intermodal units, up 9 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending January 23 were 230,979 carloads, down 0.7 percent compared with the same week in 2020, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 298,051 containers and trailers, up 17.8 percent compared to 2020.
