Railfanning.org News Wire

AAR: Rail Freight Traffic Down in March

April 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was down again during March, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported April 2. U.S. railroads originated 1,082,514 carloads of freight in March 2009, down 17.3 percent (226,279 carloads) from March 2008. U.S. intermodal rail traffic, which consists of trailers and containers on flat cars and is not included in carload figures, totaled 729,033 units in March 2009, down 14.9 percent (127,371 trailers and containers) compared to March 2008. For the first three months of 2009, total U.S. rail carloadings were down 16.3 percent (636,192 carloads) to 3,259,097 carloads, while intermodal traffic was

STB to Examine Uniform Railroad Costing System

April 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced today that it will hold a public hearing April 30 to examine issues related to the Uniform Railroad Costing System (URCS) used by the Board to determine a railroad’s variable costs in a variety of regulatory proceedings. URCS calculates system-average variable costs for each Class I railroad based on information annually reported to the Board. The Board believes it is time for a review of URCS to determine whether, and to what extent, modifications are needed to account for recent changes in agency procedures, to improve system outputs, and to further the national

Canadian Pacific Prepares for the Red River Flood

April 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

EMERSON, Alberta – Canadian Pacific has temporarily closed its rail line connecting Emerson and Winnipeg due to flooding on the Red River in southern Manitoba. Company officials will be available for comment on flood preparations in Emerson on Monday morning while flood management measures are put in place. CP has worked with emergency management officials, its customers and communities in preparation for the flood. Service on the rail line will be restored as soon as the flood threat passes, the track is inspected and it is safe to return the line to service, the railroad said.

Train Show Features Models, Memorabilia and More

April 4, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORCROSS, Ga. – The Great Train Expo hit town this weekend, offering everyone from avid railfans to first-timers the chance to peruse an assortment of railroad memorabilia, model trains and everything in between. Atlanta resident Ruth Mitcham attended her first train show. She enjoyed the show’s atmosphere, especially the model train layouts. “It’s just interesting to see this many people doing what they love,” she said as she watched a Florida East Coast locomotive pulling a mixed freight train on the Georgia Division of the Atlantic Coast S Gaugers’ layout. “Everybody seems to take such joy in it.” The Great

MTA LIRR Asks Public To Help Name Two Retired Locomotives As Part Of Its 175th Anniversary Celebration

April 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — The MTA Long Island Rail Road is launching a contest to name two retired LIRR locomotives – No. 397 and No. 398 – that are being loaned to the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum as part of the yearlong celebration of the LIRR’s 175th anniversary. The two mini locomotives were used as “switching locomotives” in the LIRR’s Morris Park diesel servicing and repair yard in Richmond Hill, Queens. These diminutive locomotives (150 horsepower) were used to “switch” or move passenger and freight locomotives throughout the diesel facility – especially when locomotives were unable to operate under their own

Service Along Amtrak’s Empire Corridor to be Affected by Metro-North Track Work Beginning April 5

April 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Customers who travel along Amtrak’s Empire Corridor will soon enjoy a smoother ride as Metro-North Railroad embarks on a major track work project, beginning April 5, 2009 and continuing through the summer. The work will take place on the Metro North’s Hudson Line between Beacon and Poughkeepsie, NY and will cause service adjustments to the schedules of trains that travel through the area, but in the end will result in a more reliable service. As a result of the track work, schedules for Amtrak’s Empire, Ethan Allen Express and Maple Leaf services will be adjusted at some

Powell Industries Receives $46 Million Contract for Phase One of the Dulles Airport Metrorail Extension

April 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

HOUSTON — Powell Industries Inc., a manufacturer of equipment and systems for the control, distribution and management of electrical and other dynamic processes, announced that it has received a $46 million contract to supply the packaged electrical power systems to distribute and control the power needs for Phase One of the Dulles Metrorail Project Silver Line extension. Federal funding for Phase One of the project was approved on Jan. 7. The total 23 mile extension will run from Northern Virginia to Dulles Airport and beyond. The first phase includes eleven new passenger stations and is approximately half of the total

April 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Acting Chairman Francis P. Mulvey announced his appointment of Rachel Danish Campbell as director of the STB’s Office of Proceedings. Campbell’s appointment is effective April 13. Since 2006, Campbell has served as Chief of Staff to former STB Chairman Charles D. Nottingham. Prior to that, Campbell served on the staff of the STB’s Office of the General Counsel, and as an attorney-advisor to then-Chairman Roger Nober. She has extensive litigation experience, and has represented the STB before U.S. Courts of Appeal and in numerous other forums and capacities. Prior to joining the agency, she was a partner at

Norfolk Southern Facilitates $2.2 Billion in Industrial Investment Along Rail Lines in 2008

April 2, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. participated in the location of 80 new industries and the expansion of 35 existing industries along its rail lines throughout 2008. New plants and expansions represented an investment of more than $2.2 billion by Norfolk Southern customers and are expected to create 3,623 jobs in the railroad’s territory and eventually generate more than 136,000 carloads of new rail traffic annually. Norfolk Southern assisted state and local government and economic development officials throughout 20 states in helping customers identify ideal locations for new and expanded facilities. “Renewable energy projects led the way across our service

Labor Department Orders Union Pacific to Reassign Worker to Former Position Following Whistleblower Investigation

April 2, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Union Pacific Railroad Co. to reassign a Beverly, Iowa, welder to his former position, reimburse him for travel expenses and pay compensatory damages associated with personal hardship following a whistleblower investigation. OSHA investigated the employee’s allegation that Union Pacific retaliated against him for requesting a lookout while performing work on adjacent railroad tracks and asking for tools to make the field weld process safer. The investigation found that the track maintenance manager illegally abolished the welder position in Beverly, forcing the worker to accept