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Class I Briefs: CSX, NS, UP, CPKC, CN, BNSF

CSX is honored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for “exceptional support” of military employees. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) highlights Thriving Communities grant recipient Citi Fields; Union Pacific (UP) releases a video of the Big Boy heading westward; Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is named the Most Sustainable Company in the Transportation Industry by World Finance; CN opens the protective enclosure for its 2747 locomotive in Rotary Park, Winnipeg, and congratulates its transportation service partner TransX Group of Companies for winning the 2023 Hershey Carrier Award; and BNSF celebrates its Montana employees and welcomes former Montana Rail Link employees with the Employee Appreciation (EAS) train ride.

(Photographs Courtesy of CN, left, and CPKC, right)

Canadian Class I’s, TCRC Bargaining Updates

Separate negotiations with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) have been under way at intervals for CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), with the assistance of federal conciliators.

CSX debuts its latest heritage locomotive honoring Georgia Railroad. (CSX Photograph, via LinkedIn)

Class I Briefs: CSX, CN (UPDATED With Video 6/28)

CSX adds the 16th locomotive to its heritage fleet, and CN inaugurates a new high-efficiency loading fuel terminal in the Greater Toronto Area. Both Class I railroads are ranked on Time magazine’s inaugural list of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies for 2024.

(FRA Logo)

CN Eyes Expansion of ‘In-Train Wheelset Replacement Program’

CN subsidiary Illinois Central (IC) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance to add a new location to its “in-train wheelset replacement program,” according to an FRA notice in the Federal Register’s June 25 edition. The program currently operates under a waiver at a facility in Fulton, Ky., and has been “a resounding success,” the railroad told FRA.

“The concentrated wind gusts at this location coming out of Abo Canyon [in New Mexico] have caused problems in the past,” reports Craig Rasmussen, BNSF Assistant Vice President of Engineering, Services and Structure. “Installing the wind screen will help by lowering the wind impact against the side of trains, which will help keep trains safely flowing through the area.” (BNSF Photograph)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, CN

BNSF crews install fencing at the Abo Canyon mountain pass to mitigate wind speed and boost safety. Also, CN Police signs the 30×30 Initiative pledge to add more women to the policing ranks.

NS recently unveiled this new locomotive paint scheme in Altoona, Pa., that pays tribute to its railroaders. (Alan Shaw Photograph)

Class I Briefs: NS, CPKC, CN (UPDATED 6/12)

Norfolk Southern (NS) celebrates its railroaders with a Thoroughbred Locomotive painted in a special scheme. Also, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) meets with officials in Toronto, Canada, and marks the completion of the Final Spike Steam Tour in Mexico; and CN continues its partnership with Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

(Top) Last year, members of UP’s Engineering Department met to discuss safety accomplishments and opportunities to continue reinforcing a “safety mindset.” The nearly 600-member group—including employees in Tucson, Ariz., (bottom left) and Tucumcari, N.Mex. (bottom right)—recently marked one year injury-free. (Caption and Photographs Courtesy of UP)

Class I Briefs: UP, CPKC, CN

Union Pacific’s (UP) Southwest Maintenance-of-Way team reaches a safety milestone. Also, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) distributes iPads to conductors; and CN celebrates Pride month (June) with specially designed containers.

RailState: ‘Container Volumes Drop on CPKC; Volumes on CN Continue Historic Levels’

Total container volume through the western Canada ports was 94,791 containers in May, down slightly from April’s nearly 97,000 containers, according to real-time network visibility provider RailState, which independently tracks all freight rail movements across Canada. April’s totals were the highest ever recorded by RailState, which was established in 2021. The declines all came on CPKC, which moved 15.3% less container volume than in April, and was down 2.9% from May 2023.

Class I Briefs: CSX, CN

CSX honors Signal Inspector David Hogarth for achieving 45 years at the Class I. Also, CN partners with Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in support of Indigenous athletes and their stories.

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