BNSF
BNSF and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. are getting ready for peak shipping season during the holidays. The Class I released a video via LinkedIn of Jon Gabriel, who will take over as BNSF’s Vice President of Consumer Products, starting Sept. 1, and Spencer Frazier, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for J.B. Hunt, talking about how the two companies are working together to deliver for their customers.
“Jon Gabriel and I are excited to showcase the efforts of our BNSF Railway and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. teams,” wrote Frazier in a LinkedIn post. “We have been working and investing to deliver the experience our customers expect this fall.”
The video is available to watch here.
UP
UP announced Aug. 12 that its famed Big Boy No. 4014 locomotive will stop in more than three dozen communities across 10 states during its fall tour, including four public display days in Houston, Fort Worth and the Chicago area.
As part of the tour, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum will be auctioning off four cab rides on Big Boy No. 4014, with proceeds going to two worthy causes: the Union Pacific Museum Association and Union Pacific’s Friend to Friend Network, a nonprofit that benefits railroad families in times of need, such as medical or natural disaster hardships. The auction starts Monday, Aug. 12 and ends Monday, Aug. 19. Details can be found here.
The 2024 Heartland of America Tour kicks off Aug. 28, from Cheyenne, Wyo. During the tour, Big Boy will pass through Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming.
As previously announced, the four display days are scheduled for:
- Sept 8 – Rochelle, Illinois (Chicago metro area)
- Oct. 6 – Houston, Texas
- Oct. 10 & 11 – Fort Worth, Texas
Whistle-stops and other viewing opportunities:
Nebraska
- Aug. 28 – Kimball
- Aug. 29 – Ogallala
- Sept. 1 – Overton
- Sept. 2 – Columbus and Omaha
Iowa
- Sept. 4 – Carroll
- Sept. 5 – Belle Plaine
- Sept. 6 – Grand Mound
Illinois
- Sept. 6 – Sterling
- Sept. 9 – Rochelle and Watseka
- Sept. 10 – Nokomis
Missouri
- Sept. 12 – De Soto and Ironton
- Oct. 15 & 16 – Kansas City
Arkansas
- Sept 13 – Piggott
- Sept 14 – Hickory Ridge, Brinkley and Pine Bluff
- Sept. 15 – North Little Rock
- Sept. 16 – Kingsland
Texas
- Sept. 17 – Big Sandy
- Sept. 19 – Mexia
- Oct. 4 – Navasota and Hempstead
- Oct. 7 – Spring and Navasota
- Oct. 8 – Bryan
- Oct. 9 – Marlin and West
Oklahoma
* Oct. 13 – Durant
Oct. 14 – Muskogee and Claremore
Kansas
- Oct. 15 – Osawatomie
- Oct. 17 – Topeka
- Oct. 18 – Salina
- Oct. 19 – Wilson
- Oct. 20 – Grainfield
Colorado
- Oct. 21 – Strasburg
- Oct. 23 – Greeley
CSX
CSX hosted a STEM Day this summer as part of the company’s “commitment to supporting its communities,” the Class I recently announced. The event was guided by the Service Operations and Reliability team at CSX Technology, under the leadership of Senior Technical Director Christina Stallings, senior technical director.
On June 21, the Technology team, including Ralph Atkins, Senior Lead Product Manager; Kristina Randolph, Manager of Service Desk; and Star Shephard, Systems Engineer, welcomed 50 Girl Scouts ranging from 4th to 8th grade to the River House on Jacksonville University’s campus. The day, CSX says, was well planned, “offering a blend of engaging and educational activities designed to both inspire and inform.”
The event kicked off with an engineering challenge, in which the scouts were divided into teams to design and build intermodal routes for trucks. This hands-on activity offered a fun introduction to the vital concepts of logistics and transportation. Through teamwork and problem-solving, the participants learned how to plan efficient routes and ensure the safe transport of goods, all while enjoying the process of constructing their projects, the Class I noted.
Following this, the scouts ventured into the realm of coding with a creative low-code session. Under the instruction of the skilled CSX team, they explored user-friendly tools to craft their own stories, games, and animations. “This activity not only sparked their creativity but also provided them with a firsthand experience of how technology can be used to bring ideas to life,” according to CSX.
“This was our fourth STEM Day event, and I am incredibly proud of our Technology team’s efforts,” said Stallings. “We are grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact. By providing the youth with a day of discovery and learning, we hope to ignite a passion for STEM that could shape their futures and empower them to reach new heights.”
CSX Inspires Future Innovators with Engaging STEM Day for Girl Scouts from CSX Transportation on Vimeo.
