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Regarding Richard Nance's 'Gun Tech' column featuring the Viridian C5L Micro, I got to thinking about what I would prefer in the heat of the moment. I think I would [...]

The Port Terminal Railroad Association (PTRA) in Houston is responsible for managing carload traffic and ensuring smooth operations. The yardmaster, Jeremy Thomas, is constantly busy with coordinating trains and communicating with crews. PTRA is a crucial railroad in Houston, serving as a key player in the city's industries and marine terminals. The railroad maintains its tracks well and has an efficient locomotive fleet. It plays a vital role in transporting chemicals, petroleum, and other goods in the region. PTRA operates a complex network of yards and trackage, with the largest being North Yard. The railroad has implemented strategies to reduce congestion and is considering capacity expansion projects for future growth. PTRA takes pride in its operations and has a high customer satisfaction rate. [Extracted from the article]

The James E. Strates Shows carnival train, which has been operating since 1934, has been sidelined since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising rail rates. The train has historically transported midway attractions to fairs along the East Coast, but with smaller fairs and capacity limits, it has become more cost-effective to use trucks instead. The Strates family, who runs the company, is working to reach an agreement with CSX to transport the train to the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, New York for its 100th anniversary. However, the future of the carnival train remains uncertain. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the cooperation between Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railways in British Columbia's Directional Running Zone (DRZ). Despite being competitors, the two railways have been sharing tracks in the DRZ for 24 years, contributing to Canada's trade-based economy. The DRZ has become a high-capacity route that handles bulk and merchandise traffic, as well as international container business. The railways play a crucial role in transporting goods to and from the port of Vancouver, which is experiencing growth in trade with Asia. The article also mentions the challenges posed by Vancouver's rugged canyons, including slides, avalanches, wildfires, heavy rainfall, and flooding. Both CN and CP are taking proactive measures to prevent and respond to these challenges and increase their capacity to handle growing freight volumes. [Extracted from the article]

Three startup companies, Parallel Systems, Intramotev, and Glid, are working on developing autonomous, battery-electric, self-propelled freight cars to disrupt the rail industry. Their goal is to target short-haul freight where trucks dominate and railroads are not competitive. By adding autonomy to rail transportation, they hope to shift more freight from highways to zero-emissions rail service, benefiting the environment, traffic, and safety. While there are challenges and skeptics, such as technology, safety, regulations, labor unions, and public acceptance, the companies believe that their autonomous systems will ultimately lead to growth in rail employment. The article discusses the innovations of Damoa, Intramotev, and Parallel, highlighting their unique approaches and potential to improve efficiency in the rail industry. [Extracted from the article]

Wabtec, a company in the railroad industry, believes that hydrogen is the future fuel for locomotives due to its zero greenhouse gas emissions. Although currently more expensive than diesel fuel, the production of hydrogen is expected to increase, making it a viable alternative by 2030. Wabtec aims to match its hydrogen locomotive research with the planned pace of hydrogen production in North America, with hopes of fielding its first hydrogen prototype in 2027. The article discusses the need for a change in mindset and a focus on factors beyond locomotive power, such as triplets, trailing tonnage, and topography. It also highlights ongoing projects and partnerships, emphasizing the importance of investment, cooperation, and research and development to make hydrogen a safe and usable fuel for the industry. [Extracted from the article]

The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) railroad is an important asset for Canadian National (CN) in Chicago. CN's acquisition of the EJ&E in 2009 has allowed them to control their operations in the city and improve transit times for their freights. The EJ&E route, particularly the JB Tower in West Chicago, is crucial for CN's operations and has helped reduce congestion-related delays. CN now plans to fully utilize this advantage with their new cross-border intermodal service and interline service to and from Atlanta. This acquisition has positioned CN as a key player in cross-border intermodal service and has contributed to significant growth in traffic. [Extracted from the article]

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern (NS) for allegedly violating federal rules that give passenger trains priority over freight traffic. The lawsuit claims that NS regularly fails to prioritize Amtrak's Crescent, resulting in delays and negative impacts on passengers and Amtrak's financial performance. Amtrak data shows that only 57% of Crescent passengers arrived on time last year, below the federal standard of 80%. Some industry observers speculate that politics may have played a role in singling out NS for the lawsuit. The lawsuit aims to enforce Amtrak's right of preference and improve on-time performance. [Extracted from the article]

Norfolk Southern has emerged victorious in a proxy battle against activist investor Ancora Holdings, with three of Ancora's seven director candidates being elected to the NS board. While shareholders expressed a desire for change, they also voted to give CEO Alan Shaw and his team more time to implement their "better way" strategy. The proxy battle highlighted concerns about NS's financial and operational performance, including its safety record and response to a hazardous materials derailment. NS has made commitments to improve its operating ratio and work with the new board members to deliver results. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the similarities between the concerns raised in a 1973 commentary by Editor David P. Morgan about the future of railroading and the challenges faced by Class I railroads today. The commentary highlighted issues such as onerous regulations, rail union featherbedding, and the lack of cost coverage for freight railroads by Amtrak. While there have been changes in the industry, such as deregulation, mergers, and technological advancements, the results in terms of taking freight off highways have been underwhelming. However, there is hope for better times ahead, including potential carload growth from a manufacturing renaissance and new traffic from shippers aiming to reduce carbon footprints. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the Norfolk Southern's Short Line Performance Project, which has resulted in significant growth in carload traffic. The project aims to address the problem of unpredictable interchange between short lines and Class I railroads, which often leads to delays and incorrect deliveries. The project utilizes a spreadsheet to track interchange performance and encourages communication between Norfolk Southern and participating short lines to quickly resolve service issues. The results have been impressive, with some short lines experiencing traffic growth of over 20%. Shortline executives from other companies have praised the program and suggest that other Class I railroads should adopt a similar approach. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the significance of named passenger trains and the nostalgia they evoke. The author highlights the comfort and cachet associated with boarding a train that carries a name, as opposed to trains identified only by numbers. The article also shares personal anecdotes and memories from various train trips, emphasizing the unique experiences and connections that named trains provide. Overall, the article celebrates the rich history and enduring appeal of named trains in the context of railroading. [Extracted from the article]

Norfolk Southern and its shortline connections have experienced significant growth in carload traffic through a program called the Short Line Performance Project. The program aims to improve interchange consistency and reliability, and has resulted in a 9% increase in interchange volume from March to May. This growth is attributed to improved service and communication between the railroads. Short lines are important to Norfolk Southern, with 40% of its carload traffic originating or terminating on a connecting short line. The program involves tracking interchange performance and establishing real-time communication channels to quickly address service problems. Shortline executives have praised the program as unique among Class I systems. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study published in the journal Risk Analysis suggests that longer freight trains have a higher risk of derailment compared to shorter trains. The study, conducted by researchers from Brigham Young University, Georgetown University, and Virginia Tech, analyzed rail accident data from 2013 to 2022. However, some experts question the methodology and conclusions of the study, arguing that it fails to consider other factors that contribute to derailments and that the statistical method used may not be valid for a network-wide analysis. The study's authors acknowledge the complexity of the issue and highlight the benefits of longer trains, such as fuel efficiency and lower operational costs. The Association of American Railroads and derailment investigator Gary Wolf also express concerns about the study's methodology and data. The president of the Transportation Trades Division of the AFL-CIO supports increased federal regulation of train length, weight, and composition to improve safety. [Extracted from the article]

The National Transportation Board (NTSB) has concluded that the release and burning of vinyl chloride from derailed tank cars in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023 was not necessary. The NTSB identified two factors that contributed to the severity of the hazardous materials release: the continued use of DOT-111 tank cars in hazmat service despite concerns over their tendency to breach during derailments, and the decision to vent and burn the tank cars carrying vinyl chloride monomer. The NTSB also criticized Norfolk Southern's response and made 31 new safety recommendations. The rail industry, lawmakers, and union leaders have responded to the report, with some implementing the recommendations and others calling for further action. [Extracted from the article]

The Panama Canal Railway is experiencing increased container traffic due to drought conditions affecting the Panama Canal's water levels. The railway saw a 20% increase in container traffic last summer, and Maersk, its largest container shipper, announced that shipments to and from Australia and New Zealand would be diverted to the railway. Additionally, global conflict in the Middle East and attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have led some companies to seek rail alternatives for routes between Europe and Asia. These disruptions have caused temporary factory closures and increased shipping costs. [Extracted from the article]

J.B. Hunt and BNSF Railway have introduced a new premium domestic intermodal service called Quantum, aiming to attract highly service-sensitive freight that has never used rail transportation before. Quantum offers faster transit times, flexible pricing, and a focus on meeting customer-specific transit-time needs. The service has shown promising results so far, with a 95% on-time performance and a record of 99% on-time performance from door to door. J.B. Hunt and BNSF estimate that Quantum has the potential to convert 7 million to 11 million truckloads to intermodal, tapping into an untapped market. [Extracted from the article]

CSX has unveiled its first hydrogen fuel-cell locomotive, which was converted from a diesel unit using a kit supplied by Canadian Pacific Kansas City. The locomotive, GP38H2 No. 2100, was built at CSX's Huntington Locomotive Shop in West Virginia. CSX plans to test the locomotive's performance and operational feasibility in Huntington before further deployment. This collaboration between CSX and CPKC aims to advance hydrogen technology and promote sustainable solutions for the future. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the two-person crew rule implemented by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and its impact on Class I railroads. While the rule is framed as a safety measure, the author argues that removing conductors from the cab could lead to chaos and service disruptions. The author highlights the challenges faced by freight trains, such as brake issues and equipment failures, and emphasizes the importance of having conductors on board to address these problems. The article concludes that the two-person crew rule is a result of political processes rather than data-driven decision-making. [Extracted from the article]

Former CSX CEO Jim Foote, a third-generation railroader, passed away at the age of 70. Foote played a crucial role in transforming CSX from an industry laggard to a leader, achieving record operating and financial performance. He took over as CEO in 2017 after the death of E. Hunter Harrison and successfully implemented the low-cost Precision Scheduled Railroading operating model. Under Foote's leadership, CSX saw significant improvements in revenue, expenses, and operating ratio, making it one of the industry's top performers. Foote was praised for his stabilizing influence and is considered one of CSX's greatest CEOs. He also oversaw significant acquisitions, expanding CSX's reach and capabilities. Foote's career in the railroad industry began at a young age, and he worked his way up through various roles, demonstrating a strong work ethic and determination. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses a recent trend in which Class I railroads are acquiring short lines and regional railroads. Since 2020, there have been seven such deals, including Canadian National's proposed acquisition of the Iowa Northern Railway. Some of these acquisitions were made to correct previous spinoff mistakes. The article highlights the success of Canadian Pacific's acquisition of Central Maine & Quebec, which allowed them to gain international intermodal and automotive business. The article emphasizes the importance of providing reliable service and promoting growth in these acquisitions. [Extracted from the article]

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has had a significant impact on the port and rail service. The bridge collapse closed the port indefinitely, blocking the Patapsco River ship channel and preventing marine access to the Port of Baltimore's terminals. CSX and Norfolk Southern are working to help their customers find alternative ways to transport coal, automotive, and international intermodal shipments. The closure of the port facilities will also have a major impact on rail traffic for the Canton Railroad. [Extracted from the article]

Norfolk Southern (NS) and activist investor Ancora Holdings are engaged in a proxy fight over the future of the railroad. Ancora has criticized NS's financial and operational performance, as well as its response to a hazardous materials wreck. Ancora aims to gain control of the NS board and replace the CEO and COO with their own choices. They propose implementing a low-cost operating model to cut costs and improve profitability. NS has named John Orr as its new COO, who brings experience in the desired operating model. NS has also made changes to its intermodal network and executive compensation plans in an effort to gain investor support. Analysts expect a settlement to be reached before the annual meeting. [Extracted from the article]

J.B. Hunt and BNSF Railway have launched a new premium domestic intermodal service called Quantum, which aims to convert truckloads to rail. The service offers faster and more reliable schedules, with truck-like on-time performance. Quantum targets freight that has never been on rails before and aims to regain market share lost to the highway. The service involves a high level of coordination between J.B. Hunt, BNSF, and the customer, and offers transit-time customization based on each shipper's needs. The companies expect Quantum volume to ramp up quickly and believe there are between 7 million and 11 million loads that can move via intermodal on the BNSF network. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses a proxy battle between Ancora Holdings and Norfolk Southern (NS) and its implications for the future of the railroad industry. Ancora argues that NS should prioritize the efficiency and profitability of its carload and bulk business instead of intermodal growth. However, the article points out that carload business is shrinking, and relying solely on it is not a sustainable long-term strategy. NS CEO Alan Shaw's strategy focuses on maintaining consistent and reliable service to attract more traffic and increase revenue. The article also highlights concerns about the impact of short-term activists on the industry's long-term prospects. [Extracted from the article]

Activist investors are seeking to replace Norfolk Southern's CEO, Alan Shaw, due to concerns about the railroad's safety record and financial performance. Ancora Holdings, which holds a $1 billion stake in NS, has proposed a slate of eight new board members and a new CEO candidate, Jim Barber, a former UPS president. Shaw has defended the railroad's safety record and his strategy of not furloughing train crews during downturns. The outcome of the proxy battle will be determined at the annual shareholder meeting, the date of which has not yet been set. [Extracted from the article]

The merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern has had a significant impact on the railroad industry, despite initial skepticism. While the CPKC route may be longer and slower than its competitors, it offers shorter routes south of the border. Other railroads have responded to CPKC's Mexico Midwest Express intermodal trains with their own cross-border services, creating more competition. Additionally, CPKC and CSX have announced plans to acquire and operate the Genesee & Wyoming short line Meridian & Bigbee, creating a new interchange and interline service between the Southeast and Mexico. This merger has led to increased cooperation and competition among railroads. [Extracted from the article]

Canadian National (CN) has announced its acquisition of the Iowa Northern Railway, a 253-mile short line railroad. The Iowa Northern has experienced significant growth under its current ownership, increasing its annual car handling from 15,000 to over 60,000. The acquisition will allow the Iowa Northern's customers to benefit from single-line service to points on CN's extensive network, as well as maintain connections with other major railroads. This acquisition is part of a trend of Class I railroads acquiring smaller railroads in recent years. The deal is subject to approval by the Surface Transportation Board. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the issue of reliable service in the railroad industry and its impact on volume growth. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) argues that there are many factors outside of railroads' control that make it impossible to prevent service problems. The Surface Transportation Board proposed a rule that would allow shippers to seek access to a second railroad if the serving carrier fails to meet certain performance standards. The AAR believes that these standards should only apply to a small percentage of traffic and that railroads should not be held accountable for the service they provide. However, shippers have been shifting their business to trucks due to dissatisfaction with rail service. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the conflict between short-term and long-term strategies in the railroad industry. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw advocates for keeping train crews on the payroll during freight downturns, as this would enable the company to maintain service levels and eventually attract more traffic and higher revenue. However, Wall Street analysts criticized this approach when Norfolk Southern's operating ratio worsened in the third quarter. The article argues that short-term investor impatience threatens the industry's long-term future and emphasizes the importance of providing consistent and reliable service to attract more volume. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the challenges faced by the proposed Savage Tooele Railroad project in Utah due to cumbersome regulatory processes. The project aims to revive a 6-mile abandoned railroad track and build 5 miles of new track within a business park. However, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has required the project to undergo an environmental assessment and denied the request to issue a decision on the transportation merits while the assessment is underway. The article argues for streamlining the regulatory review process for rail projects and highlights the environmental advantages of rail over trucks. [Extracted from the article]