Trains

cswanson@kalmbach.com @TrainsMagazine @trains_magazine The derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, and ensuing chemical release is drawing regulatory attention — and not all of it aimed at addressing the accident’s cause. No one was injured in the accident, thought to have been caused by the failure of an overheated wheel bearing. No one has suggested the NS crew did anything wrong. Yet lawmakers are debating sweeping changes, including mandating the number of crew members, setting limits on train length and weight, and even regulating the amount of time trains can block grade crossings. Both the News and Commentary sections this month are devoted to making sense of these turbulent times. Trains.com facebook.com/TrainsMagazine twitter.com/TrainsMagazine @trains_magazine…

REACHING ITS ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, this video series is recorded live, unscripted, and on location. Associate Editor Bob Lettenberger hosts a casual, behind-the-scenes examination of topics ranging from cooking with dining car-inspired recipes to chasing the Big Boy to riding rail gliders. Each video segment is packed with entertaining content that will pull you right into the topic with him. So brace yourself for a fun ride as you travel to museums, trackside locations, and other railroad-related venues. You’ll find these videos under the Trains.com Video tab. Just scroll over to “Behind The Scenes,” and then down to Trains LIVE. Scan the QR code below to start your digital journey. Note: Trains.com Unlimited Membership required. A new episode goes live every other Wednesday at 2 p.m. CT.…

TRAINS.COM UNLIMITED MEMBERSHIP gives you access to everything digital for $6.99 a month, including digital issues from Trains and our sibling brands: Classic Trains, Classic Toy Trains, Garden Railways, and Model Railroader. From the complete issue archives to nonstop video content—this subscription has your back — literally, there’s a free T-shirt included. New feature articles from our editors and contributors, are posted weekly, along with your daily dose of industry news. Kent Johnson, Trains.com executive producer, says it’s rare when a product comes along that makes you stop to think, “What did I ever do without this?!” His casein-point, the cellular phone. As a life-long railroad enthusiast, he believes that Trains.com falls into the same category. “Under a single, readily accessible Trains.com domain, you can explore the latest industry bulletins…

TRAINS CORRESPONDENT BILL STEPHENS spoke with Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw after the railroad’s quarterly earnings call on April 26. This is an abridged version of their conversation; the full version is available on Trains News Wire at Trains.com. Shaw’s railroad and the industry in general have been under scrutiny since the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, and subsequent hazardous materials release. Q Has East Palestine changed the way the industry looks at safety? And if so, how? A We understand the role that we play in the U.S. economy. We take safety very seriously. All my colleagues and I at the CEO level are always looking to improve. You’ve seen improvements in our safety performance and the industry’s safety performance over time. What I…

IN ITS SECOND SAFETY ADVISORY in three weeks, the Federal Railroad Administration in April encouraged railroads to address the complexities of operating long trains. The non-binding advisory follows three recent derailments involving trains with more than 200 cars, length of 12,250 feet or more, and weight over 17,000 tons. The advisory said that “while research is ongoing related to operational aspects of long trains, including brake system performance, it is known that the in-train forces longer trains experience are generally stronger and more complex than those in shorter train consists.” It did not recommend a specific cap on train length or tonnage. The April 27 train-length advisory builds on an April 6 advisory on train makeup. Among its eight recommendations to address operations of long trains are: • A review and update of air…

AN INCREASING NUMBER of Siemens-built Venture passenger cars — delayed by a variety of production and acceptance issues — are now in service on Amtrak state-supported routes in the Midwest. That includes the first of the business/coach class cars, which at least initially are available to riders for no additional fare. Meanwhile, there is no firm date for introduction of California’s Venture equipment, although a spokesman for the state’s Department of Transportation said in April that it would come this summer. Siemens is building 137 cars for the two state-supported operations: 88 for Chicago-based services and 49 destined for California’s San Joaquins trains. In the Midwest, three Venture business/coach cars and 40 coaches were accepted and available for service as of the last week in March, according to Scott Speegle, Illinois Department…