Articles by Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Det. John Mumford has been selected as the Amtrak Police Department’s Officer of the Year 2007. Mumford has been chosen to receive this prestigious award in recognition of his many contributions to the safety and security of the Amtrak community. Mumford has displayed exemplary dedication in the performance of his duties, Amtrak officials said. Mumford began his career with the Amtrak Police Department in 1999, based out of San Jose. He has served in California for nine years. “Mumford was chosen Officer of the Year for his untiring efforts at making people feel safe and secure while riding the

WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern Railroad’s inadequate rail inspection and maintenance program resulted in a rail fracture from an undetected internal defect, which is to blame for an October 2006 derailment. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Railroad Administration’s inadequate oversight of the internal rail inspection process and its insufficient requirements for internal rail inspection. On Oct. 20, 2006, a Norfolk Southern freight train (68QB119), en route from the Chicago area to Sewaren, N.J., derailed while crossing the Beaver River railroad bridge in New Brighton, P.a. The train consisted of a three-unit locomotive pulling three empty freight cars and 83 tank

WASHINGTON — To raise awareness of the vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system, Amtrak is celebrating its first annual National Train Day, Saturday, May 10, 2008. The date of National Train Day, May 10, holds special meaning as it is the anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869. At Promontory Summit, the east coast and west coast were connected for the first time by rail. Amtrak is hosting events at four of its largest stations — Washington, DC, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Events will include train equipment