November 2013 – Railfanning.org

Breaking Down the Amtrak Long-Distance Consist

November 29, 2013 Todd DeFeo

Amtrak’s long-distance trains between New York and southern destinations more or less look like a compilation of the first dozen or so cars the railroad could find.

Last Traces of Staten Island’s South Beach Line

November 28, 2013 Todd DeFeo

It’s been more than 60 years since trains operated over the Staten Island Rapid Transit’s South Beach line, but a bridge pier at the intersection of Clayton Street and St. Johns Avenue is a reminder of the former line.

Willard Residents Allowed to Return Home

November 28, 2013 PRNewswire

Fire Chief Joe Reiderman today lifted the evacuation and allowed most residents to return to their homes following a derailment late Tuesday night.

Norfolk Southern to Use Proceeds from Sale of Painting to Fund Steam Locomotive Rehab

November 28, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

Norfolk Southern recently sold a well-known abstract expressionist painting and will use a portion of the proceeds to fund the restoration of a Class J steam locomotive. The railroad sold the untitled 1959 Mark Rothko painting through an auction in New York City. Norfolk Southern is directing $1.5 million of the proceeds to “Fire Up 611!,” the capital campaign. Once refurbished, No. 611, a Norfolk & Western Railway streamliner, will be used for passenger excursion service. “No. 611 is an American classic, a reflection of a time and a people who put the country on their backs and carried it

Miscellaneous

AXION Sells ECOTRAX Rail Ties to Major Australian Rail Line

November 28, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J. — AXION International Holdings has received a $170,000 purchase order from a major rail line in Australia for its ECOTRAX 100 percent recycled plastic rail ties. The rail line plans to install ECOTRAX in turnout applications in New South Wales for the spot replacement of wood. ECOTRAX ties will be inserted to replace wood ties, on an as needed basis, as the wood reaches the end of its useful life due to factors including rot and insect damage. This sale follows a favorable initial trail order and in-track testing. “We are pleased to announce yet another major

CSX

CSX And GE Transportation Partner To Pilot Liquefied Natural Gas Locomotives

November 28, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.– CSX Corp. and GE Transportation have agreed to explore emissions-cutting and efficiency breakthroughs in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) technology for locomotives beginning with a pilot program in 2014. “LNG technology has the potential to offer one of the most significant developments in railroading since the transition from steam to diesel in the 1950s,” said Oscar Munoz, executive vice president and chief operating officer, CSX Corporation. “That change took many years to complete and began with a lot of unknowns, and this one is no different. But aggressively exploring this technology is consistent with CSX’s focus on tomorrow, its

Report: Airport Rail Link Increases Hotel Room Revenue

November 27, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

Cities with direct rail access from the airport to and from downtown receive nearly 11 percent more revenue per room than hotels in cities without such a connection, according to a report from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the U.S. Travel Association. The study, A New Partnership: Rail Transit and Convention Growth, shows higher revenue per room translates to a potential $313 million in revenue per year for so-called “rail cities.” In the post-recession period, rail cities commanded 16 percent higher revenue per room than hotels in non-rail cities, the organizations said. “Clearly investment in local rail systems

With No Funding, No Rail Link to Orlando Airport, Newspaper Reports

November 27, 2013 Todd DeFeo

It will be at least five years before SunRail trains connect with Orlando International Airport because there is no source of funding for the estimated $100 million it will cost to build the connection, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper reported. Despite that, SunRail officials are looking at a Orlando Utilities Commission-owned spur, which runs alongside airport property and could be expanded to two tracks, as a possibility for a rail link between the airport and the commuter rail system, the newspaper reported. “This is a startup commuter-rail system. It’s going to evolve over time,” the newspaper quoted Steve Olson, a spokesman

CSX CTO: Customer Collaboration Helps Drive Service Improvements And Growth

November 22, 2013 PRNewswire

Cindy Sanborn, CSX (NYSE: CSX) vice president and chief transportation officer, today told the RailTrends annual conference in New York City that a stronger focus on customer collaboration and improved utilization of key resources such as locomotives and rail cars are contributing to the company’s ability to respond effectively to market changes.

Amtrak Train Gets Lost in Philadelphia Suburb

November 20, 2013 Todd DeFeo

Critics often lament Amtrak is on the wrong track, but this is ridiculous. A New York-bound Amtrak train, No. 644, last week ended up on a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) track, according to reports. The train, which just departed Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, stopped in Cynwyd Line, Pa., a suburb located about eight miles outside of Philadelphia, according to published reports. After the mishap, the train’s 130 passengers were put on another train and transported to New York. In a statement, according to Philly.com, Amtrak said an “investigation was launched and the crew has been held out of work