Jim Creel, a third-generation railroader, works out of Bailey Yard in North Platte, Nebraska.
Commentary

‘Always Positive’ Creel Enjoys 50-Plus Years of Locomotive Cab Views (Updated)

After more than 50 years, Conductor Jim Creel still enjoys seeing different towns, landscapes and seasons through the black-framed windshield of a Union Pacific locomotive.

Three Class I Railroads Named to Forbes’ Net Zero Leaders List

Three of the six Class I railroads have been named among the top 100 U.S. companies in Forbes’ first-ever sustainability ranking, with CSX placing in the top 10.

(Photograph Courtesy of UP, via Twitter)

UP, SMART-TD Ratify Agreement

Union Pacific (UP) and General 953, part of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), have ratified a crew-consist agreement, maintaining two-person crews, SMART-TD reported May 31.

STB Issues Draft EA for UP’s Proposed Arizona Line

The Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) on May 31 released a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Union Pacific’s (UP) proposed new six-mile single-track rail line in Mesa, Ariz. It analyzes the potential environmental and historic impacts of the line, which would link UP’s Phoenix Subdivision main line to industrial properties southeast of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

UP is introducing service between the Barbours Cut Container Terminal at Port Houston and five metropolitan areas on its rail network. “Ocean carriers and Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCO) will have more options to move their containers inland to Union Pacific-served markets,” according to the Class I railroad.

UP Expanding Port Houston Intermodal Service

Union Pacific (UP) on June 1 will launch a new on-dock service at Barbours Cut Container Terminal at Port Houston, Tex., providing international shippers of consumer goods with direct rail access to Denver, Colo.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Oakland and Los Angeles, Calif.; and El Paso, Tex.

(Union Pacific Photograph, via Twitter)

UP, BLET Reach Tentative Agreement on Work Schedules, Time Off

Union Pacific (UP) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) on May 24 reported reaching a tentative agreement to provide engineers with a “more predictable” work schedule that will also enable the Class I railroad “to better manage staffing levels, which supports more consistent and reliable service.”

Lister followed his childhood dream of becoming a locomotive engineer.
Commentary

Lister Passionate About Railroad Industry Since Childhood

Ellis Lister Jr. has been living out his childhood dream as a railroader for nearly 51 years.

Exemplary Executives

RAILWAY AGE, MAY 2023 ISSUE: Railway Age’s 2023 honorees—selected by our subscribers—approach their roles with an entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to service, safety and sustainability.

UP'S Big Boy No. 4014 will return to the rails on June 7.

Class I Briefs: UP, CSX

Union Pacific’s (UP) famed steam locomotive, “Big Boy No. 4014”, returns to the rails on June 7. Also, 30 tons of ammonium nitrate being transported by UP that went missing on a rail shipment from Wyoming to California in April has still not been found, according to a New York Times report; and CSX is recognized as the “top-performing railroad in North America” by the Journal of Commerce.

Nicholas J. Randall, COO, FreightCar America (left); and Rahul Jalali, Executive Vice President, UP (right).

People News: FreightCar America, UP

FreightCar America, Inc. (FreightCar America) appoints Nicholas J. Randall as Chief Operating Officer. Also, Union Pacific (UP) promotes Chief Information Officer Rahul Jalali to Executive Vice President.

LOAD MORE