UP
The UP Engineering team at the Denver equipment shop recently rebuilt its 100th tamper, a Harsco unit. The milestone was a decade in the making, reflecting an “employee-led commitment to safety and extending the life of critical equipment—all while delivering reliable service for customers,” the railroad reported Aug. 4.
The journey began in 2015, when UP launched its automatic tamper switch rebuild program. That first year, the Denver team rebuilt two tampers. By 2017, they reached 12 annually, a pace they have maintained ever since, according to the railroad.
In December 2023, UP reported that it had rebuilt the first of 32 continuous action tamper machines. Work on the 09-16 Dynacat from Plasser American included a redesigned cab to improve ease of access, as well as visibility and air flow; relocation of valves, hoses, manifolds, electrical panels, and pumps for easier maintenance access; and replacement of the manually operated extension bar with a hydraulic telescoping boom for greater maneuverability.
“Our front-line team’s craftsmanship and dedication to quality drive our success,” UP Senior Manager-Maintenance-of-Way Shop, Engineering Casey Prewitt said. “They’ve streamlined everything from training to parts storage, helping maximize the value of every resource. I’m proud of the team. Safety is our foundation—we have a culture of doing things the right way the first time. That goes for workmanship, too. The data shows the equipment we rebuild is equal to or better than new machines.”
“No project is too big for this team,” added Russ Rohlfs, Vice President, Engineering at UP.
According to the railroad, the team is working on its second CAT tamper rebuild, and starting next year, will begin work on ballast regulators.
Further Reading:
- STB Receives Notice of Intent for Proposed UP-NS Merger
- Union Pacific + Norfolk Southern: It’s Official
- Amtrak, Union Pacific Settle Sunset Limited Dispute
CSX
CSX on Aug. 1 honored its Southeast Region Communications & Signals team via social media for achieving four years without a reportable injury under Federal Railroad Administration guidelines.
“Four years injury-free as a region, the amount of bonds that have been put on, the amount of miles of track that have been walked, [it’s] just a huge accomplishment that doesn’t happen without your commitment, your team’s commitment,” CSX Assistant Regional Engineer Scott Coster said in a special video the railroad released (watch above). All the Communications & Signals managers from across the Southeast met at Bennett Yard in Charleston, S.C., to mark the occasion, and the video covered job safety briefings and a 90-day/quarterly switch test and inspection.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville, Fla.-based CSX has teamed with Florida State College at Jacksonville to construct a hazmat training facility at FSCJ’s Fire Academy of the South. The partners on Aug. 4 held a groundbreaking ceremony (see video above) and are planning to launch the facility in early 2026.
The center will train first responders, emergency managers, and industry professionals to handle rail-related hazmat incidents through live exercises and classroom instruction, according to the railroad. Students will gain hands-on experience with containment, response, and coordination using general and pressure service tank cars, highway cargo tank trucks, simulators, a locomotive, and an augmented reality scenario program.
“This facility will be an invaluable resource for training first responders to handle hazardous materials incidents effectively,” said Joe Hinrichs, CSX President and CEO and Railway Age’s 2025 Railroader of the Year. “Our partnership with FSCJ reflects our broader commitment to delivering safe and reliable operations while creating value and opportunity in the communities in which we live and work.”
“FSCJ is proud to strengthen our ongoing partnership with CSX through the development of this state-of-the-art facility dedicated to railroad emergency response training,” added John Avendano, Ph.D., President of the College, which serves more than 45,000 students and awards nearly 4,000 degrees and certificates each year. “A recognized leader in the training of first responders, FSCJ is dedicated to supporting critical needs for advanced emergency management education, which we know contributes to our region’s vitality.”
