Just for fun: the restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 #1309
Much of the recent steam locomotive restoration news focuses on Union Pacific’s 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” #4014, which has been operating periodically for the past couple of years.
Safety
TriMet appoints Andrew Wilson as new Executive Director of Safety and Security
TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. has promoted Andrew Wilson to Executive Director of the Safety and Security Division.
Brightline investing millions of dollars in railroad safety and mental health awareness
Brightline is taking on the challenges of railroad safety and mental health.
Michigan DOT announces rail-highway grade crossing surface repair award recipients for 2022
As part of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) commitment to improving safety and the quality of Michigan’s transportation system, MDOT has announced the recipients for the sixth annual Local Grade Crossing Surface Program.
San Pedro train engineer pleads guilty to terrorism charge for intentionally derailing locomotive near U.S. Navy hospital ship
A train engineer at the Port of Los Angeles has pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge for running a locomotive at full speed off the end of railroad tracks near a United States Navy hospital ship that was deployed to provide medical relief during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government of Canada approves changes to improve railway track inspections
The Government of Canada is continuing to move ahead with concrete actions which improve railway track safety to better protect those living and working near Canada’s rail corridors.
MTA extends signal modernization
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the MTA Board approved the first of three contract awards that will extend signal modernization along the Queens Boulevard Line east of Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike station with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC).
HART will resolve electricity problems with special equipment
HART trains can have a negative impact on the Honolulu power grid.
Developing story: SEPTA trolley collides with CSX freight train
A SEPTA trolley and CSX freight train collided outside of Philadelphia this morning.
BART single-tracking in some areas to complete critical electrical work
BART has several projects underway to replace sections of its critical electrical network that powers their trains.
NTSB determines probable cause for 2019 SEPTA worker fatality
The National Transportation Safety Board has determined the probable cause of a SEPTA accident on July 8, 2019. Two excerpts from the press release are reproduced below, with a link to the full Accident Brief at the end.
Bossier City reconsiders action on grade crossing; Union Pacific ‘looks forward’ to continuing work
By a 5-2 vote, the Bossier (La.) City Council voted to permanently close Old Shed railroad crossing over Union Pacific tracks.
Union Pacific to city: Leave the crossing open and pay the price
Bossier City, La., is not the boss when dealing with railroad property, and Union Pacific let the city council know that earlier this week.
Chicago Transit Authority ridership nearly doubles since January
While medical scientists tell us that we’re nowhere near free of COVID, and there is always the threat of new variants and spiking cases, the recent improvement in the numbers of deaths, hospitalizations and cases has given some transit passengers an easier mind about returning to the rails.
Brightline strengthening safety infrastructure after train hits car on the railroad’s first day back in service
When COVID-19 appeared and began to spread in the United States, many passenger operations shut down, including Brightline, which suspended service in March 2020.
PHMSA & FRA want to temporarily suspend movement of LNG by rail
On November 8, the U.S. DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) published a notice of proposed rule making that would suspend the transportation of liquefied natural gas by rail until more research and testing can be done to ensure the safety of moving this commodity by rail.
Bells & Whistles—Texas Central wants billions from feds, but there is fear
The top news stories Railway Track & Structures was following this week.
Ontario government holding $60 million in funding for Ottawa’s LRT system
The problems with the Ottawa light-rail system now may carry over to the budget.
Shawn Vecellio joins TTCI as SAVP – operations and safety
Shawn Vecellio has joined TTCI as Senior Assistant Vice President–Operations & Safety. Shawn’s 26 years of experience in the rail industry provides a strong foundation to lead TTCI’s Operations and Safety teams.
Metrorail added more trains, improved service beginning Monday, Nov. 1
Metrorail customers saw improved service Monday morning (Nov. 1), including the extension of Silver Line service, as a result of around-the-clock efforts by rail maintenance teams to get more trains into service.