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August freight by the numbers
Oil remains the stand-alone star for railcar loadings, according to monthly figures released Friday by the Association of American Railroads.At 54,755 total U.S. carloads in August, shipments of...
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Railfanning at 30,000 feet
I am on the way to the world’s largest railroad trade and technology show, InnoTrans, held every other year in Berlin. I am taking the long way to the show, via one of Europe’s most spectacular...
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Original Glacier Express route keeps steaming in Switzerland
]Workers repair a wood passenger car at the Furka Pass shop in Aarau, Switzerland. Jim Wrinn photoThe boilers and frames for the Furka Pass 0-8-0s rest in the shop at Chur. Jim Wrinn photoThe boilers...
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At InnoTrans, it’s fun to go to the press briefing … and stick around late!
Here's a unique rail vehicle on display at InnoTrans, a portable work station, where the rolling stock moves into place, opens up like a camper, and the track crew can work in a sheltered environment...
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Out of 115 pieces of rolling stock at InnoTrans, two favorites emerge: A...
We’re looking at the seating area of a former German railways dome car under restoration by RailAdventure, a Munich-based company. Jim Wrinn photoRailAdventure, a Munich, Germany-based company, is...
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Part volksmarch, part theme park, part party city, all business: It’s InnoTrans
Like ants flocking to their hill, visitors to InnoTrans flood into the fairgrounds at Berlin for the world's largest railway trade and technology show. Photo by Jim WrinnHere's a typical exhibit booth...
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As InnoTrans 2012 winds down, a look at the odd, the quirky and how North...
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September freight numbers roll in
The Association of American Railroads’ Rail Time Indicators August reporting period includes five weeks and September only four. That means total car loadings on categories that were rising will appear...
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South of the border, the railroading isn’t much different
[caption image="/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-07-48/2541.DSC_5F00_3218.jpg" position="right"]This lineup greets visitors to the Mexican National Railroad...
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Pullman: Though the factory is gone, the community remains
A Southwest Airlines 737 takes off from Chicago's Midway Airport, flying over the remains of the Pullman plant. Jim Wrinn photoCHICAGO – I visited the fabled Pullman Palace Car plant on the south side...
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Looking for a future for the past with tourist railways and museums
MONTREAL — I’m in Montreal this week for the annual joint conference of the Association of Railway Museums and Tourist Railway Association. It is a meeting that I always enjoy because of its seminars...
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Looking for railroad history in Canada’s capital
[caption image="/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-07-48/1680.DSC_5F00_0713.JPG" position="right"]Canadian Pacific 4-8-4 No. 3100. Photo by Jim...
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Train-watching at Missouri Valley
The town of Missouri Valley, Iowa, is 40 miles north of Omaha, Neb., on I-29. It's the site of some of the most concentrated and intense mainline freight action you'll ever see. And I make it a point...
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Just like old times
Cars from the Union Pacific business train fleet were on display in Sacramento for the 150th anniversary event. John P. Hankey photo. It was how things used to be, and may never be again. Over the last...
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Illuminating the dark side of steam
Editor Jim Wrinn interviews photographer Olaf Haensch in Wernigerode, Germany in September 2012. Olaf Haensch photo.Harz train steams by the Quedlinburg, Germany, railway station. Olaf Haensch photo.A...
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How the rain and fog can infuse your photos with mood
I am 17 years old, and I live in the remote and beautiful countryside of Southwest Virginia, in the small community of Indian Valley. My main interests are photography and railroads; both have...
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In search of steam (and vintage diesels) on a western road trip
My father, to whom I owe my interest in railroads, was a long-time subscriber to both Trains and Model Railroader. He and I made many trips during my childhood to watch trains at various places in...
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Chasing NS' Norfolk & Western heritage unit across home rails
Overview: With Norfolk Southern’s announcement of Norfolk its 20 “heritage fleet” of new diesels in March 2012, I immediately thought, "I have to catch the N&W engine (NS 8103) on former N&W...
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles: One reporter’s journey to Milwaukee and back
Chicago Union Station. Steve SweeneyFor a recent business trip to Milwaukee I had to fly to make connections, meet the bosses and get a good night’s sleep before the scheduled all-day meetings. On the...
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Inside the Barriger Library: When the government took over the TP&W
[caption image="http://cs.trains.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-07-48/3618.TPW-photo.jpg" position="right"]John Barriger’s World War II diary, his draft...
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