Locomotives

State government regulations are accelerating the shift from diesel to alternative traction in California. Kyle Gradinger, Division Chief of Rail and Mass Transportation at the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), explains the important role hydrogen is set to play in future intercity passenger operations to IRJ Editor-in-Chief Kevin Smith. California is one of the U.S. states feeling the effects of…

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE JUNE 2024 ISSUE: One would think California’s housing cost crisis, soaring energy prices, hundreds of companies relocating and a population exodus would induce greater regard for benefits and costs when formulating public policy. Not so the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that seeks to impose on railroads a regulatory burden whose CARB-estimated costs could exceed $13…

CSX recently revealed its latest heritage locomotive—a tribute to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (P&LE)—fresh out of the Class I railroad’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga.

Railway Age’s June 2024 issue is now available digitally. In addition to featuring the annual Equipment Leasing Guide, it includes Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono’s coverage of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City “Final Spike Steam Tour” and Genesee & Wyoming’s 125th anniversary.

In this video interview, we sit down with Jeremy Erickson, COO of Messiah Locomotive Services and RSI Board Member, to get some insight into his world. Jeremy shares how his company makes the most of tradeshow events, using them to build connections that drive their business forward. He also talks about the benefits of bringing the passenger and freight sides…

CSX recently revealed its latest heritage locomotive—a tribute to the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL)—fresh out of the Class I railroad’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga.

IntelliTrans hires Jim Bell as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Also, GATX Corporation (GATX) announces a transition plan for Vice President – Government and Industry Affairs at Rail North America; the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) appoints Ronald Wendel Jr. as Acting President and CEO of Port NOLA and Acting CEO of New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB); and STV…

Wabtec Corporation (Wabtec) on May 20 inaugurated its new manufacturing campus in Rohtak, India, an investment of $18 million (Rs. 150 crore).

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (Greenbrier) on May 21 announced that Michael J. Donfris has been named Chief Financial Officer (CFO) following a nationwide search.

Northumberland, Pa.-based North Shore Railroad Company & Affiliates (NSHR) on May 17 unveiled and dedicated the LVRR 9052 (Veterans Unit) and LVRR 9050 (Memorial Unit) to United States military service members—"past, present and fallen.”

Australia’s largest rail freight operator, Aurizon, will develop and test a 1.8MWh battery-electric tender (BET) to power a standard diesel-electric locomotive in a hybrid diesel-battery configuration. Project partner Alta Battery Technology will design and build the prototype BET, utilizing the company’s DC-to-DC converter to supply current to the locomotive’s traction motors. The federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will…

The first road locomotive in Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s employee-selected livery is Wabtec ES44AC No. 9375. She'll be displayed May 18 at Kansas City Union Station 4-6-4 No. 2816, The Empress, during CPKC’s transnational Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour. The livery resulted from the work of an internal design team, with direction and focus provided by CPKC President and CEO…

Rail continues to be a popular mode of travel and for good reason. Rail travel is convenient, fast, efficient for the movement of goods and offers a carbon footprint that has a positive impact on the environment. These and more make rail travel an essential part of transportation networks. Because its smooth operation is important to so many, ensuring safety…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) publishes a compliance guide to help organizations comply with its crew size rule. Also, the FRA publishes a two-part technical report describing researchers’ study of the tank car vent and burn process and publishes a sample template for its Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program.

More than 300 participants from Class I and short line freight railroads, along with representatives from suppliers and supporting associations, visited more than 270 bipartisan offices on May 8 for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill.

Report from California, courtesy of the Victorville Daily Press: “Barstow Leaders Rally Legislative Support to Save BNSF’s $1.5 Billion Railway Project,” the headline read. “Barstow city leaders traveled to Sacramento to gain legislative support for construction of BNSF’s Barstow International Gateway (BIG) project. Construction of the $1.5 billion state-of-the-art rail facility is in jeopardy of being halted by a state…

Wabtec Corporation (Wabtec) on May 6 announced that it has achieved the IEC 62443-4-1 certification, “a benchmark for cybersecurity development lifecycle processes used on industrial automation and control systems (IACS) products.”

In his commentary posted on May 1 and published in the May issue, Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono said what few others have been willing to say regarding the subject of how many bodies to assign to the locomotive cab. And he summed it up brilliantly with just two words: “It Depends.” Most of the controversy over crew size, especially when…

Railway Age’s second annual “Young Professionals” virtual conference will include concrete advice on how to expand your skills and grow your career in the freight and passenger rail industry. Our 25 Under 40 program judge Nick Little, who is Director of Railway Education at Michigan State U., will talk with Nii Attoh-Okine, Ph.D., P.E., F. ASCE, Professor & Chair, Civil…

RAILWAY AGE MAY 2024 ISSUE: Railinc’s analysis of the North American locomotive fleet reveals that the size of the total fleet decreased very slightly in 2023. Detailed analysis reveals these following trends: Rebuilding programs continue but new locomotives are still rare. At the end of 2023, the locomotive fleet totaled 37,559, down 145 units from 2022. That is up from…