Final Environmental Report To Electrify Caltrain Receives Clearance

Source: Caltrain (Press Release)

The plan to electrify Caltrain will achieve a major milestone pending certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report and Project Adoption on April 1 by the Board of Directors.

Approval by the board completes the environmental process for the Caltrain Electrification Program, a major element of the plans to modernize the Peninsula rail system, and positions the railroad to seek federal and state funding.

“Electrification is the future of Caltrain,” said Caltrain Chair Sean Elsbernd, “and this puts us in an ideal position to pursue federal and state funding. This is a major step forward for our efforts.”

Caltrain prepared a combined environmental document for the electrification program: an Environmental Assessment/Final EIR. Approval of the Environmental Assessment and Certification of the Final EIR are critical steps in enabling Caltrain to compete for federal and state funds. Environmental clearance is a key criterion for funding investment decisions.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Transit Administration issued the Findings of No Significant Impact for the Environmental Assessment in 2009. The Final EIR is required by the state under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Public participation has been an important component of the complex project. To solicit input on the Environmental Assessment/Draft EIR, four formal public hearings were held in 2004 throughout the Caltrain service area and the meetings were widely publicized. Additionally, the Environmental Assessment/Draft EIR was available for public review and comment from April 12, 2004 through May 25, 2004. Staff also met with representatives from cities and other public agencies about the project. All of the comments received during this period have been included and addressed in the Environmental Assessment/Final EIR.

Last year, persons who submitted comments on the Environmental Assessment/Draft EIR, as well as elected officials and public agencies in the Caltrain service area, received a newsletter updating them on the status of the electrification program. Public agencies that commented on the Environmental Assessment/Draft EIR within the public review period have received copies of the Environmental Assessment/Final EIR.

The electrification program is the critical modernization program to ensure a vibrant future for Caltrain. It anticipates an electrified rail system from the San Francisco Caltrain Station to the Tamien station in San Jose. The system is powered by overhead wires and designed to minimize visual impact.

In addition, the electrification program calls for converting the Caltrain rolling stock from its current diesel locomotive-powered cars to Electric Multiple Units in use throughout the world. The EMUs feature greatly enhanced performance that will enable Caltrain to provide more service.

The electrification of Caltrain also will result in significant reductions in noise and air pollution. The Environmental Assessment/Final EIR concludes that the electrified system will be quieter than the current diesel equipment and will mean a 90 percent reduction in emissions.

Following the board action, the Final EIR will be filed with the State Clearinghouse. The public has 30 days to review the report.

The Environmental Assessment/Final EIR is posted on the Caltrain Web site: www.caltrain.com/caltrain2025.html. Questions can be directed to Stacy Cocke, senior planner at cockes@samtrans.com or 650.508.6207

See Also: Caltrain Addresses Recent Delays / Caltrain Holiday Train Collects More Than 4,000 Toys / Caltrain Beats Traffic To The KPFA Crafts & Music Fair / Live Entertainment Lights Up Caltrain Holiday Train / Caltrain Gears Up For A Busy Holiday Schedule

Union Pacific Railroad Invests $6 Million For Kansas Track Improvements

Source: Union Pacific (Press Release)

Union Pacific will improve part of Kansas' transportation infrastructure with a $6 million investment to its rail line that runs from Wichita to near Caldwell, Kan.

The project includes removing and installing more than 41,500 ties. Crews also will spread 33,500 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed and renew the roadway surfaces at 70 crossings. The tie replacement part of the project began March 1 and is scheduled to be completed April 5. The crossing surface renewal projects will be completed in mid-August.

Union Pacific plans to spend approximately $2.5 billion in 2010 to support America's current and future freight transportation needs and enhance the safety and efficiency of the railroad's 32,000-mile network. Investment in rail capacity benefits everyone. It allows freight rail service to grow, helping to build a cleaner environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, freight trains are nearly four times more fuel efficient than trucks. Motorists also benefit from reduced congestion on highways as a single Union Pacific train can remove up to 300 trucks off our roads.

See Also: Union Pacific Railroad's Legendary Steam Locomotive 844 To Visit South Texas On A Heritage Tour / The Union Pacific Invests $5.7 Million To Improve Washington State Trackage / Railroad Photography - Saturday Afternoon At Oro Grande / Union Pacific To Sink $29 Million Into Improving Houston Infrastructure / The Union Pacific Increases Speed Through Malvern, Arkansas With Grade Crossing Improvements / Union Pacific Railroad Sets Monthly Record Moving Loaded Agricultural Unit Trains / Union Pacific Railroad's Pipeline Express Service Reaches 25,000 Rail Car Milestone / Railroad Photo Gallery - Union Pacific GP40-2 1368 (Ex Rio Grande) / The Diesel Railroad Locomotive - From Box Cabs And The SD40 To The SD70 And Gensets / The Cajon Pass Railroad Museum - The Birth Of A Dream

See Union Pacific Model Trains: Proto 2000 Ho Scale Alco PA/PB Locomotive Set - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale C44-9W Locomotive - Union Pacific / Bachmann HO Scale Pacific Flyer Electric Train Set - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale GE AC4400 Locomotive - Union Pacific / Trainline HO Scale Alco FA-1 Locomotive - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 4-8-4 Nothern "800" Locomotive - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

BNSF Crew Haulers Honored At Summit

Source: BNSF (Press Release)

Crew hauler successes in 2009 and opportunities for 2010 were the focus of the recent Fifth Annual Crew Transportation Supplier Summit.

Held in Fort Worth, Texas, the summit helps improve alignment in safety, service and efficiencies. Participants included representatives of BNSF's primary contract crew haulers; Outsource Administrators Inc., the third-party company that manages the crew haulers; and BNSF.

Greg Fox, vice president, Transportation, and Paul Bischler, vice president and chief services officer, addressed the group as part of the summit.

The summit also celebrates the successes of the past year. Awards were given to the supplier with the best safety record and the BNSF divisions with the lowest incident ratio and most improved safety performances in 2009.

* Randall West, president and chief operating officer of RailCrew Xpress (RCX), was presented the Supplier Safety Performance Award for 2009.
* Stephen Dawson, UTU safety coordinator, accepted the award for the California Division for lowest incident ratio.
* Pat Engebrecht, UTU safety coordinator, received the most improved award for the Powder River Division.

See Also: Top-Scoring BNSF Locomotive Engineers Recognized With Top Gun Awards / BNSF Named Finalist As CivilianJobs.com Most Valuable Employer For Military / Railroad Photography - Saturday Afternoon At Oro Grande / BNSF Shareholders Approve Sale To Berkshire Hathaway / The BNSF Honors Three Shortline Railroads For Partnership Excellence / The Cajon Pass Railroad Museum - The Birth Of A Dream

HO Scale BNSF Items: Athearn HO Scale SD75M Locomotive - Santa Fe / BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Center Fow Hopper Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Sieco Box Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Iron Horse Express Electric Train Set - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern Santa Fe / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern / BNSF

CSX Highlights Company Achievements In 2009 Annual Report

Source: CSX (Press Release)

CSX Corporation (NYSE:CSX) today announced that proxy materials for its 2010 Annual Shareholders Meeting are now available to shareholders via the Internet under the Securities and Exchange Commission's Notice and Access rules. These materials, including the company's proxy statement and 2009 annual report, can be accessed on its website at http://investors.csx.com.

In his annual report message to shareholders, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Ward said that CSX positioned itself as a "stronger and more capable company" in a tumultuous 2009.

While a 15 percent volume decline led to a 22 percent reduction in earnings per share from continuing operations, the company set records in safety, lowered full-year operating costs by 20 percent and achieved a record 74.7 percent operating ratio. These achievements were made while delivering strong customer service and maintaining a healthy balance sheet with strong cash flows for future investment and value creation.

"Our 30,000 employees didn't just let the economy happen "to" us. When the downturn began, we moved quickly to respond," said Ward. "Many of the operational changes we made are systemic and permanent." Ward reiterated the company's plans to invest $1.7 billion in its train network in 2010 and to continue to offer value to communities as well as customers. "We are holding ourselves even more accountable for tackling important issues for our nation, including the environment, traffic congestion and fuel dependency," he said.

CSX will mail printed copies of its proxy materials only by shareholder request. The company adopted this practice last year, reducing printing by 25 million pages, and expects a similar result this year. The company employed eco-friendly printing processes certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

CSX's 2010 Annual Shareholders Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at The Rittenhouse Hotel, 210 West Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia.

See Also: CSX Transportation Announces 2009 Chemical Safety Excellence Award Winners / Why Is The CSX Intermodel Yard In Atlanta Named 'Hulsey'?......And Does Anybody Know? / CSX Names David Brown Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer / CSX Transportation Brings Cleaner Air To Indiana

CSX HO Scale locomotives: Athearn HO Scale C449W Locomotive - CSX

MTH HO Scale 4-6-4 Hudson Locomotive - Streamlined NYC Empire State

HO RTR 4-6-4 with PS3, NYC/Empire State #1



Written By:
Ken Hulsey
Source: Steamlocomotives


MTH has released, what might be, one of the finest examples of the famed New York Central's 4-6-4 streamlined, 'Hudsons', in HO gauge. This locomotive is painted in the railroad's 'Empire State' paint scheme, and is a must have for all railroad modelers and enthusiasts.



In total 275 of these powerful passenger locomotives were built for the NYC by the American Locomotive Company between 1926 and 1938. Of these engines, 13 were streamlined in the now infamous, "bathtub" casing that was designed by the Case School of Science in Cleveland, OH.

NYC locomotive 5344 was the first to receive the streamline treatment, in fact, it was the first American steamer to ever be streamlined, having its shroud installed in 1934.

In 1935 No. 5344 was assigned to the New York Central's premiere passenger train, the 20th Century Limited, which ran between Toledo and Chicago. This locomotive would remain on the head end of the 'Limited' until 1945, when a collision with a truck at a grade crossing, would cause the engine to have to have it's streamlining removed.

Locomotives 5426 and 5429, were streamlined with a stainless steel cowling to match the "Empire State Express" train. Both locomotives would wear this cowling until 1950.

Ten 'Hudsons' , numbers 5445 through 5454, were graced with the famed streamline design created by Henry Dreyfuss that matched the new cars of the New York to Chicago "Twentieth Century Limited" which was one of America's most famous luxury trains.

UNM Student Maggie Ryan Is The Rail Runner's Three Millionth Passenger

Source: New Mexico Rail Runner Express (Press Release)

This morning (Monday) following the arrival of the 8:34 southbound Rail Runner train at the Downtown Albuquerque Station, commuter Maggie Ryan became the three millionth passenger to ride the New Mexico Rail Runner Express! The University of New Mexico graduate student says she boards the train at the Santa Fe Depot Station two to four times a week, and takes it into Downtown Albuquerque where she connects to the Rapid Ride to get to UNM.

“I love that I can get all my work done on the train, so it’s a very productive ride,” said Maggie. “Since I started taking the Rail Runner, I’ve saved thousands of dollars. In fact, I sold my car last November because I just didn’t need it anymore.”

The Santa Fe resident says she’s been taking the train to school since the Rail Runner extended service to Santa Fe in December 2008. Ryan says prior to hopping on the Rail Runner, she drove her car into Albuquerque everyday. She says now she doesn’t have to worry about the crowded morning commute – she arrives to school relaxed with a her work done instead of being stressed.

“Maggie is a shining example of how commuters in our region can save money and help our environment by using public transportation,” said Transportation Secretary Gary L. J. Girón. “She is just one of many New Mexicans who has realized the convenience and economic benefits of the Rail Runner.”

The Rail Runner, which has become the fastest start-up of a commuter rail train in the country in the past 20 years, currently carries a daily average of approximately 4,500 commuters between the City of Santa Fe and the City of Belen.

“It’s amazing that in less than four years, we’ve carried 3-million passengers to their destinations,” said Dewey Cave, Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments. “That translates to more than 100 million vehicle miles taken off our roadways.”

For the distinction of three millionth passenger, Ryan was rewarded with a basket of Rail Runner items, including a pass to ride the train free for one year, a Three Millionth Passenger certificate and a gift bag that included Rail Runner pins, t-shirts, hats and other train merchandise.

See Also: New Mexico Rail Runner Express Announces Schedule & Fare Adjustments / New Mexico Rail Runner Express Featured On The Santa Fe TV Show / Santa Claus Rides The New Mexico Rail Runner Express! / The New Mexico Rail Runner Express Fits Into A New Vision For Bernalillo County - Mass Transit Magazine Feature

AAR Reports A Slight Shift In Carload Declines During February

Source: BNSF (Press Release)

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is reporting that U.S. freight railroads saw a 1.5 percent decline in carloads compared with the same month last year and a decline of 15.6 percent compared with the same month in 2008.

However, according to the March AAR Rail Time Indicators Report, 14 of the 19 major commodity categories that AAR tracks saw higher carloads in February compared with the same month in 2009. Carloads of coal, the single highest volume commodity carried by rail, were down. Excluding coal, U.S. rail carloads in February 2010 were up 7.2 percent compared with February 2009.

U.S. rail intermodal traffic, which covers the movement of truck trailers and shipping containers by rail, was up 10.1 percent in February compared with the same month last year, but down 10.6 percent for the same month in 2008.

"Rail traffic trends over the past few months, especially when you take out coal, are consistent with a slowly recovering economy," said John Gray, AAR's senior vice president of Policy and Economics. "Other economic indicators taken as a whole seem to be saying the same thing. Is a sustained recovery a sure thing? No, not yet, but prospects are certainly much brighter now than they were four or five months ago."

Record snowfalls on the East Coast last month made rail operations difficult and affected many rail customers' ability to originate or receive loads. The last week of February was the highest-volume week for U.S. rail carloads since December of 2008 - likely at least partly the result of "catch-up" traffic following the storms.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, U.S. rail carloads in February fell 0.1 percent compared with January 2010, while seasonally-adjusted U.S. intermodal traffic was down 3.6 percent in February compared to the prior month.

"Adjusting for seasonal issues that cause peaks or valleys in traffic - such as end of year holidays and the fall grain harvest - allows us to see more clearly the strength or weakness of the underlying demand for rail traffic," Gray said. "Over the past six months, the upward trend in seasonally adjusted rail traffic indicates an increase in underlying demand."

The Rail Time Indicators report, available at www.aar.org, comprises detailed monthly rail traffic data framed with other key economic indicators to show how freight rail ties into the broader U.S. economy.

See Also: Top-Scoring BNSF Locomotive Engineers Recognized With Top Gun Awards / BNSF Named Finalist As CivilianJobs.com Most Valuable Employer For Military / Railroad Photography - Saturday Afternoon At Oro Grande / BNSF Shareholders Approve Sale To Berkshire Hathaway / The BNSF Honors Three Shortline Railroads For Partnership Excellence / The Cajon Pass Railroad Museum - The Birth Of A Dream

HO Scale BNSF Items: Athearn HO Scale SD75M Locomotive - Santa Fe / BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Center Fow Hopper Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Sieco Box Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Iron Horse Express Electric Train Set - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern Santa Fe / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern / BNSF

Classic Railroad Photos - Rio Grande Steam In The 1940s

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Photos By: Lucius Beebe

Every railfan and railroad modeler know how important photographs from the 'golden age' of steam are. For the railfan, the images from a bye-gone age can help to keep the great history of railroading alive. To the railroad modeler, such images can be an invaluable tool. Allowing the craftsman to travel back in time, so that he can recreate such scenes on his own miniature main-line.

I don't think that will be necessary to sing the praises of one of the greatest railroad photographers of all time, Lucius Beebe, here. Just about everybody knows about his life-long dedication to preserving images of American trains on film for posterity.

Today, I have two fine examples of Beebe's work for you to enjoy. The first image (above) is of one of the Denver and Rio Grande Western's famed 4-8-4's on the head end of the lines No. 3 passenger train, the 'Westerner', on the out-skirts of Littleton, Colorado, circa 1940.

Locomotive No. 1705 is a prime example of the Grande's fleet of 4-8-4 'Northerns' that were kept polished and in perfect running condition at all times. Though these amazingly beautiful locomotives were the primary power for the lines top passenger trains, they were also often times used in freight service as well.

In our second photograph, Beebe was able to catch an interesting looking member of the Rio Grande's steam locomotive fleet, 4-6-2 light Pacific No. 802, barreling down the tracks between Colorado Springs and Denver.

To the observer, 802 would seem to have more than it's fair share of domes. Hey, in the varying grades of the Rocky Mountains, you can never have enough sand to improve traction.

Behind this interesting locomotive is the Grande's No. 10 passenger train, an unnamed local, consisting of a mail-storage car, two coaches, and a Pullman lounge.

Again, this image is circa 1940-1941.

Two classic images from the age of steam captured by the camera of Lucius Beebe.

More to come!

Norfolk Southern CEO Notes Positive Momentum In 2009 Annual Report Message To Stockholders

Source: Norfolk Southern (Press Release)

In his message to stockholders in the 2009 Annual Report, posted online today, Norfolk Southern Corporation CEO Wick Moorman (NYSE: NSC) says the company “withstood the economic shocks of 2009 to produce good economic results, and I go into 2010 with a sense of optimism for our future prospects.”

Compared to a year ago, Moorman said, “we have a much clearer picture of our own economic outlook and can act accordingly.” He cited the company’s strides in safety and service, along with disciplined cost control, continued investment in key projects, and aggressive pursuit of new business opportunities, as important indicators.

“Even in the face of the recession,” Moorman said, “we made significant gains in each of these areas, and these same strategies will drive our continuing success in 2010 and beyond. While the short-term economic outlook remains somewhat uncertain, the longer-term prospects for Norfolk Southern and the railroad industry remain very bright.

“We go into the new year with positive momentum. Our traffic levels increased sequentially in both the third and fourth quarters of 2009, and we’re confident many of the cost efficiencies we achieved in 2009 will remain in place as we see rail traffic continue to increase,” Moorman said.

The annual report is available on the company’s Web site at www.nscorp.com. Some 200,000 copies are distributed to stockholders, the financial community, news media, and libraries. Norfolk Southern’s annual report is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which promotes environmentally responsible printing standards. To request a copy, call 800-531-6757, e-mail annualreport@nscorp.com, or write to Norfolk Southern Corp., Corporate Communications Department, Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Va. 23510-9217.

See Also: Norfolk Southern Pumped $3.1 Billion Into Local Industries In 2009 / Norfolk Southern Joins U.S. Green Building Council / Norfolk Southern Launches Improved Investor Relations Site / Railroad Job Postings For December 2009

Top-Scoring BNSF Locomotive Engineers Recognized With Top Gun Awards

Source: BNSF (Press Release)

BNSF locomotive engineers who score in the top 5 percent of network simulator training are being honored with the Top Gun Award in recognition of their performance.

The Top Gun Program was started this year, said Shane Merritt, manager of locomotive engineer training and field simulation, Technical Training Center (TTC), in Overland Park, Kan. The award recognizes engineers who excel when they complete training on a BNSF network simulator (NetSim).

An estimated 4,000 Year "A" locomotive engineers will receive training on the simulators at about 80 locations in 2010. During NetSim training, engineers complete two 75-minute runs and one 20-minute "unusual conditions" training run. Based on the territories where they operate, engineers may complete runs that include non-mountain grade, mountain grade and/or distributed power and positive train control. Scores are based on individual train handling and rules compliance. Locomotive engineer instructors provide engineers with a briefing on the track chart, timetable and paperwork similar to the documents they receive in the field, such as Form As and Form Bs.

This year, Merritt said, engineers' performances are being tracked against their peers' NetSim scores. Engineers who score in the top 5 percent receive a "Top Gun Award" certificate from the TTC, presented to the employee by his/her road foreman of engines.

"I believe we have the best engineers in the industry," Merritt said. "This is one way of acknowledging the best of the best."

See Also: BNSF Named Finalist As CivilianJobs.com Most Valuable Employer For Military / Railroad Photography - Saturday Afternoon At Oro Grande / BNSF Shareholders Approve Sale To Berkshire Hathaway / The BNSF Honors Three Shortline Railroads For Partnership Excellence / The Cajon Pass Railroad Museum - The Birth Of A Dream

HO Scale BNSF Items: Athearn HO Scale SD75M Locomotive - Santa Fe / BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Center Fow Hopper Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Sieco Box Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Iron Horse Express Electric Train Set - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern Santa Fe / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern / BNSF

CN Obtains Resolution Of Labour Issues With Locomotive Engineers In Canada

Source: CN (Press Release)

CN (TSX:CNR) (NYSE:CNI) announces that it received yesterday, and will begin implementing, Arbitrator Andrew Sims' arbitration ruling setting the terms and conditions of a new three-year collective agreement between CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), representing 1,700 locomotive engineers in Canada.

The decision, whose terms are retroactive to January 1, 2009, expires on Dec. 31, 2011. It provides a 1.8 per cent wage increase in 2009, 2.4 per cent in 2010, and 2.6 per cent in 2011, as well as dental plan benefit improvements that come into effect on April 1, 2010.

“With a secure labour agreement in place, we will now work to re-establish a positive dialogue with the TCRC, focusing on issues of common interest for the company, its employees and its customers,” said Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer.

Sims was appointed by the federal government in December 2009 to arbitrate the CN-TCRC contract dispute, after the company and union agreed to further negotiations and binding arbitration of wages and benefits if renewed talks failed. The parties' agreement ended a five-day strike by locomotive engineers.

See Also: CN Selects Children's Hospital Foundation Of Manitoba As Community Charity For 2010 CN Canadian Women's Open / CN Announces New $100-million Calgary Logistics Park / Arbitrator To Decide Wage And Benefit Issues For CN Locomotive Engineers / CN Signs Voluntary Mitigation Agreement With The Village Of Plainfield / CN Locomotive Engineers' Strike To End Immediately After Company And Union Reach Agreement / CN Makes New Offer To Locomotive Engineers' Union In An Effort To End The Strike In Canada / Talks Between CN And Locomotive Engineers' Union In Canada Break Off With No Settlement / CN Receives Strike Notice From Union Representing Locomotive Engineers In Canada / CN To Implement Wage Increase And Milage Cap For It's Canadian Engineers / CN Reaches 20th Voluntary Mitigation Agreement (VMA), Makes Substantial Strides In EJ&E Integration

Model Train Items: Trainline HO Scale EMD GP-9M Locomotive - Canadian National / Bachmann HO Scale 2-6-0 Mogul Locomotive - Canadian National

Union Pacific Railroad's Legendary Steam Locomotive 844 To Visit South Texas On A Heritage Tour

Source: Union Pacific (Press Release)

Union Pacific Railroad's historic steam locomotive, No. 844, will travel more than 3,500 miles from its base in Wyoming on a 28-day, eight-state tour to South Texas, to celebrate the railroad's history and heritage.

The "Valley Eagle Heritage Tour" will begin April 2 when No. 844 leaves Cheyenne, Wyo., and travels to North Platte, Neb. The locomotive will make overnight stops and be on display in the following cities before arriving back in Cheyenne April 29:


North Platte, Neb.;
Marysville, Parsons and Coffeyville, Kan.;
Kansas City, Mo.;
McAlester, Okla.;
Ft. Worth, Hearne, Houston, Bloomington, Raymondville, Harlingen, Palestine and Longview, Texas; and
North Little Rock and Van Buren, Ark.

"This will be the first time No. 844 has operated south of Houston and we look forward to bringing a piece of living history to this part of our rail network," said Joe Adams, vice president of public affairs for Union Pacific's Southern Region. "Our steam locomotives play a special role in our collection of historical railroad equipment, which is the largest of any U. S. railroad."

The tour was named after a Missouri Pacific Railroad passenger train that operated between Houston and Brownsville. The Valley Eagle began running in late-1948 until the train was discontinued in June 1962. Missouri Pacific merged with Union Pacific in 1982.

No. 844, also known as Union Pacific's "Living Legend," returned to service in 2005 after one of the most extensive steam locomotive overhauls in the United States since regular steam service ended. The work, which started in 2000, included overhauling the locomotive's running gear, pumps, piping, valves and springs, along with replacement of its firebox and extensive boiler work. The cab interior also was refurbished. No. 844 was the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad and was delivered in 1944. A passenger locomotive, it pulled such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.

When diesel-electric locomotives took over all passenger train duties, No. 844 was placed in freight service in Nebraska between 1957 and 1959. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and held for special service.

No. 844 has run hundreds of thousands of miles for UP's Heritage program. It has made appearances at Expo '74 in Spokane, the 1981 opening of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Los Angeles Union Station in 1989. During the 1990's No. 844 pulled several of the Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days specials and visited several Oklahoma cities during the Oklahoma Centennial in 2007.

A Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) transmitter was installed on one of the rail cars that will travel with No. 844. The GPS system has been integrated with a map on UP's Web site. Enter the word "Steam" in the search box on the homepage for a shortcut to the map.

Web site visitors will be able to access route maps with varying amounts of detail. The GPS system will update the map every five minutes showing No. 844's location. GPS updates are also available at http://twitter.com/UP_Steam.

During 2010, the Reed Jackson concession car displays a commemorative sign celebrating the National Model Railroad Association's 75 years of service to the model railroad community.

See Special: Athearn HO Scale 4-8-4 FEF-3 Locomotive - Union Pacific

See Also: The Union Pacific Invests $5.7 Million To Improve Washington State Trackage / Railroad Photography - Saturday Afternoon At Oro Grande / Union Pacific To Sink $29 Million Into Improving Houston Infrastructure / The Union Pacific Increases Speed Through Malvern, Arkansas With Grade Crossing Improvements / Union Pacific Railroad Sets Monthly Record Moving Loaded Agricultural Unit Trains / Union Pacific Railroad's Pipeline Express Service Reaches 25,000 Rail Car Milestone / Railroad Photo Gallery - Union Pacific GP40-2 1368 (Ex Rio Grande) / The Diesel Railroad Locomotive - From Box Cabs And The SD40 To The SD70 And Gensets / The Cajon Pass Railroad Museum - The Birth Of A Dream

See Union Pacific Model Trains: Proto 2000 Ho Scale Alco PA/PB Locomotive Set - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale C44-9W Locomotive - Union Pacific / Bachmann HO Scale Pacific Flyer Electric Train Set - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale GE AC4400 Locomotive - Union Pacific / Trainline HO Scale Alco FA-1 Locomotive - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 4-8-4 Nothern "800" Locomotive - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

BNSF Named Finalist As CivilianJobs.com Most Valuable Employer For Military

Source: BNSF (Press Release)

CivilianJobs.com helps veterans look for civilian employees. The MVE for Military helps military-experienced job seekers identify the top employers to target for civilian careers. MVEs are selected annually based on those employers whose recruiting, training and retention plans best serve military service members and veterans.

About 30 companies were named as finalists; CSX is the only other railroad named to the list. Other finalist companies include Amazon, Army Air Force Exchange Service, Chesapeake Energy, Con-Way Freight, General Electric, Northrup Grumman, USAA and Walmart.

"I would like to express my appreciation to all of the companies who submitted Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military 2010 surveys," said Bill Basnett, vice president, Operations, CivilianJobs.com. "This is our second year conducting the MVE for Military survey and we are pleased to have a 30 percent increase in surveys submitted for 2010. The submission responses show us that despite recent economic challenges, corporate America values the highly skilled talent and leadership ability that veterans bring to a company when hired."

The Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military 2010 was open to all U.S.-based companies. The finalists were selected based on surveys in which employers outlined their 2010 recruiting, training and retention plans that best serve military service members and veterans. Winners will be selected from the pool of finalist companies and will be announced May 2, 2010. Both winners and finalists will be recognized on the CivilianJobs.com Web site as well as in the May issue of Civilian Job News, CivilianJobs.com's world-wide military base newspaper.

See Also: Railroad Photography - Saturday Afternoon At Oro Grande / BNSF Shareholders Approve Sale To Berkshire Hathaway / The BNSF Honors Three Shortline Railroads For Partnership Excellence / The Cajon Pass Railroad Museum - The Birth Of A Dream

HO Scale BNSF Items: Athearn HO Scale SD75M Locomotive - Santa Fe / BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Center Fow Hopper Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Sieco Box Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Iron Horse Express Electric Train Set - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern Santa Fe / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern / BNSF

CN Selects Children's Hospital Foundation Of Manitoba As Community Charity For 2010 CN Canadian Women's Open

Source: CN (Press Release)

CN (TSX: CNR)(NYSE: CNI) announced today the selection of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Inc. as the official charity and beneficiary of the CN Miracle Match program that will accompany the 2010 CN Canadian Women's Open. The golf championship will be held at Winnipeg's St. Charles Country Club Aug. 23-29.

CN Miracle Match will rally the Winnipeg and Manitoba communities to make charitable donations to the Children's Hospital Foundation. Each year since 2006, CN and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) have generated funds to support a children's hospital by matching donations made through initiatives associated with the CN Canadian Women's Open. In the past four years, this program has raised more than $3.5 million for children's hospitals.

Michael Cory, CN senior vice-president, Western Region, said: “CN has a major presence in Winnipeg, and we want to help build a safer, stronger community here. One of the best ways we can do that is raising funds to assist the Foundation's mission to improve the health and safety of children. We'll be out there in the community drumming up donations for the Foundation during the tournament and run-up to it. We hope total donations to the 2010 CN Miracle Match in Winnipeg will exceed $1 million, thus allowing our Miracle Match program to top that figure for the third straight year.”

Lesia Sianchuk, executive director of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, said: “We are so excited to have the CN Canadian Women's Open in Winnipeg, and to build a strong partnership with the CN organization and their many Manitoban employees. It's going to be an excellent opportunity for our Foundation and community to not only increase support for, but to also enhance child health care and research in Manitoba. ”

“Along with our partners at CN, we believe it is very important that the CN Canadian Women's Open leave a lasting legacy in our local host communities,” said Scott Simmons, RCGA executive director and chief executive officer. “As a national charity program with a philanthropic mandate to raise money for children's hospitals, CN Miracle Match is a terrific initiative that helps to raise charitable proceeds in the name of Canada's National Women's Open Championship.”

See Also: CN Announces New $100-million Calgary Logistics Park / Arbitrator To Decide Wage And Benefit Issues For CN Locomotive Engineers / CN Signs Voluntary Mitigation Agreement With The Village Of Plainfield / CN Locomotive Engineers' Strike To End Immediately After Company And Union Reach Agreement / CN Makes New Offer To Locomotive Engineers' Union In An Effort To End The Strike In Canada / Talks Between CN And Locomotive Engineers' Union In Canada Break Off With No Settlement / CN Receives Strike Notice From Union Representing Locomotive Engineers In Canada / CN To Implement Wage Increase And Milage Cap For It's Canadian Engineers / CN Reaches 20th Voluntary Mitigation Agreement (VMA), Makes Substantial Strides In EJ&E Integration

Model Train Items: Trainline HO Scale EMD GP-9M Locomotive - Canadian National / Bachmann HO Scale 2-6-0 Mogul Locomotive - Canadian National

CSX Transportation Announces 2009 Chemical Safety Excellence Award Winners

Source: CSX (Press Release)

CSX Transportation (CSXT) today announced a record 73 winners of its annual Chemical Safety Excellence Award (CSEA), celebrating customers' commitment to safe hazardous material rail car loading and maintenance.
"The CSEA recipients understand the best practices of chemical safety, and they have demonstrated a commitment to those practices and strong industry leadership among their peers," said Clarence Gooden, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at CSX. "Safety is a core value for CSX, and we appreciate the winners' help in making CSX one of the safest freight transportation companies in North America."

To qualify for the award, each winner shipped 600 or more railcars during 2009 on CSXT, with no non-accidental hazardous material releases through the entire year. Shippers include companies from the chemicals, fertilizer, agriculture and metals merchandise commodity markets as well as from emerging markets.

The awards ceremony will be held today, March 17, in Baltimore, Maryland. Along with Gooden, speakers at the ceremony will include Skip Elliott, vice president of Public Safety & Environment, Dean Piacente, vice president of Chemicals & Fertilizer; Tim Male, assistant vice president of Advanced Engineering; and Bill Schoonover, Office of Safety Assurance & Compliance, Hazardous Materials Division of the Federal Railroad Administration.

At the ceremony, CSX's senior management will discuss the current operating environment and explain how CSX's safety initiatives are evolving to address changing federal policy and a continued emphasis on protecting the environment. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to tour the B&O Railroad Museum and to ride the rails to the site where the First Stone of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was laid on July 4, 1828 by Charles Carroll, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence.

This year, CSXT is proud to specially recognize shippers who have shown a five year commitment to chemical safety excellence. These winners are: BASF Corporation; BP Products North America; CF Industries, Inc.; Eka Chemicals, Inc.; Inter-Chem; Kemira Finnchem; Kinetic Resources (LPG); Nan Ya Plastics Corporation America; NGL; Targa Transport LLC; Valero Marketing and Supply, Inc.; and Westlake CA&O.

Additional winners for 2009 include: Abengoa Bioenergy US; Air Liquide Industrial U.S.; Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.; ALON USA; American Ecology Corporation; The Andersons; Arizona Chemical; Arkema, Inc.; Ascend Performance Materials LLC; ASHTA Chemicals, Inc.; Aux Sable Liquid Products; Cardinal Ethanol LLC; Cargill, Inc.; Celanese; Chemtrade Logistics, Inc.; Chevron Products Company; Citgo Petroleum Corporation; Consumer Co-Op. Refinery Ltd. (Division of Federated Co-Op. Ltd.); Countrymark Cooperative; Dominion Transmission, Inc.; The Dow Chemical Company; Dow Corning Corporation; Eastman Chemical Company; EQ Northeast, Inc.; Evonik Degussa Corporation; ExxonMobil Chemical; Glacial Lakes Energy; Granite Falls Energy LLC; Green Plains Renewable Energy; Hawkeye; Huntsman; Husky Energy Lima Refinery; INEOS Nitriles; INEOS Phenol; Irving Oil Limited; Kemira Water Solutions; Koch Sulfur Products; Koppers, Inc.; LyondellBasell; Marsulex; MHF Services; Moose Jaw Asphalt, Inc.; NorFalco LLC; Nucor Corporation; NuStar Energy L. P.; Nyrstar; Occidental Chemical Corporation; Olin Chlor Alkali Products; Patriot Renewable Fuels LLC; Platinum Ethanol LLC; Praxair, Inc.; Pursue Energy; Reagent Chemical and Research; SABIC Americas, Inc.; SABIC Innovative Plastics; Shell Chemicals Canada; Sunoco Chemicals, Inc.; Transammonia, Inc.; Tronox; United Refining Company; Utica Energy and Western Wisconsin Energy LLC.

CSX Transportation is a principal operating company of CSX Corporation. CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is a leading transportation company providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com.

See Also: Why Is The CSX Intermodel Yard In Atlanta Named 'Hulsey'?......And Does Anybody Know? / CSX Names David Brown Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer / CSX Transportation Brings Cleaner Air To Indiana

CSX HO Scale locomotives: Athearn HO Scale C449W Locomotive - CSX

VIA Rail Announces Plans For A New Station In Smiths Falls

Via Rail (Press Release)

Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough and Chairman of the All Party Rail Caucus Parliamentary Group, on behalf on Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), and VIA’s Senior Director, Real Estate, Magdy Fahmy today announced the construction of the town’s new station and rail line upgrading. Made possible by the Government of Canada’s investments of close to $21 million for major rail infrastructure work, the projects will increase and improve the safety, frequency and speed of passenger rail service all along VIA’s busy Toronto-Ottawa route. MP Del Mastro and Senior Director Fahmy were joined at the announcement by Smiths Falls Mayor Dennis Staples and Canadian Pacific (CP) Vice-President of Government Affairs Michael Murphy.

“The Government of Canada understands how important VIA’s rail service is to Smiths Falls and hundreds of other communities and rail travelers across Ontario,” said MP Del Mastro. “By investing in rail services and facilities such as these here in Smiths Falls, we are underlining our commitment to VIA’s capital renewal as a wise way to stimulate economic activity and job creation, contribute to environmental sustainability and improve Canada’s passenger rail system for years to come.”

Senior Director Fahmy added, “These investments will create a passenger rail service second to none. A rail service that is safe, fast and sustainable. A rail service designed for Canadians – in the 21st century. VIA is very pleased that the citizens of Smiths Falls are going to be a part of this new era in rail travel.”

"We're very pleased to work with VIA to implement upgrades to CP's Brockville Subdivision, and thereby help improve passenger rail service on this important segment of the network,” said VP Murphy.

VIA’s new Smiths Falls station will be fully-accessible and located just north of downtown. With its distinctive tower, the new station has been designed to blend harmoniously with the historic character and railway legacy of Smiths Falls. It will provide easy passenger access, ample parking and room for future growth. The new location will also reduce schedule conflicts between VIA passenger and Canadian Pacific freight trains at the old site, which is in the middle of a junction between four busy CP lines and VIA’s Smiths Falls Subdivision to Ottawa. The construction of the new Smiths Falls station is due to be completed at the end of this year.

The rail infrastructure upgrading began recently on CP’s Brockville Subdivision, which is the route of VIA’s heavily-used Toronto-Ottawa trains. The project, scheduled to be completed at the end of 2010, includes two new passing sidings between Smiths Falls and Brockville, a new Centralized Traffic Control signal system, upgraded protection at rail/road grade crossings and strategic sections of safety fencing.

“Smiths Falls’' connection with and affection for the railways goes back to 1859, when the Brockville & Ottawa’s first train steamed into town,” said Mayor Staples. “It brought with it so many opportunities for this town to grow and prosper. I’m convinced these VIA projects can and will do the same today.”

VIA’s Smiths Falls projects are closely linked with other work that is now, or will soon be, underway throughout the Quebec-Windsor Corridor, which generates almost 90% of VIA’s ridership and revenue. Other corridor projects include similar upgrading of the VIA-owned Ottawa-Smiths Falls line and Canadian National’s Montreal-Toronto main line. These projects combined will lead to increases in VIA train safety, frequency and speed.

The construction of VIA’s new Smiths Falls station is part of the $516 million capital program announced by the Government of Canada for VIA Rail in 2007. This investment is stimulating job creation, skills development and private sector activity across the country. Additional infrastructure projects are aimed at improving service quality and cost efficiency at other points across VIA’s coast-to-coast route network.

Proto 2000 Ho Scale Alco PA/PB Locomotive Set - Union Pacific

ALCO PA refers to a family of A1A-A1A diesel locomotives built to haul passenger trains built in Schenectady, New York in the United States by a partnership of the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and General Electric (GE) between June, 1946 and December, 1953. They were of a cab unit design, and both cab-equipped lead A unit PA and cabless booster B unit PB models were built.

The PAs, as well as their cousins, the ALCO FAs, were born as a result of Alco's development of a new diesel engine design, the Model 244. In early 1944, development started on the new design, and by early 1946, the first engines were beginning to undergo tests. This unusually short testing sequence was brought about by the decision of Alco's senior management that the engine and an associated line of road locomotives had to be introduced no later than the end of 1946. In preparation for this deadline, by January of 1946, the first 244 engines were being tested, and while a strike delayed work on the locomotives, the first two PA units were released for road tests in June 1946, for testing for one month on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. After these first tests were completed, the locomotives returned to the factory for refurbishment and engine replacement. In September 1946, the first production units, an A-B-A set of PA1s in Santa Fe colors were released from the factory, and sent to New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which had a private railroad siding, for exhibition before being launched into road service.

Two different models were offered: the 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kW) PA-1/PB-1 (built between September, 1946 and June, 1950); the 2,250 horsepower (1,680 kW) PA-2/PB-2 (built between April, 1950 and December, 1953)

Models popularly termed the PA-3/PB-3 were in fact only an upgrade of the PA-2/PB-2. The true PA-3/PB-3 model would have boasted 2,400 horsepower (1,800 kW), though none were ever built. Aside from the small power increase between the PA-1 and the PA-2, differences between the models were minor. Externally, PA-3s could be distinguished by the absence of the "eyebrow" trim piece on the grille behind the cab and the porthole window behind the radiator shutters. Internally, later PA-2 and PB-2 production featured a water-cooled turbocharger and other engine compartment changes, but these were frequently added to older models undergoing major repairs and/or overhauls.

Like its smaller cousin, the ALCO FA, the PA had distinctive styling, with a long, straight nose tipped by a headlight in a square, slitted grille, raked windshields, and trim pieces behind the cab windows that lengthened and sleekened the lines. The overall design owed something to the Fairbanks-Morse Erie-built design, which had been constructed by ALCO's electrical equipment partner General Electric at their Erie, Pennsylvania plant. The majority of PA components were compatible with the FA.

Fans deemed the PA one of the most beautiful diesels by design and an "Honorary Steam Locomotive", with the first being Professor George W. Hilton in a book review in the September, 1968, Trains Magazine,[2] because of a peculiarity of the ALCO 244 diesel prime mover when accelerating. Until the turbocharger came up to speed, thick clouds of black smoke would pour from the exhaust stacks, due to turbo lag. Photographing a moving PA while smoking became a prime objective of railfans.[3]

The ALCO 244 V16 diesel prime mover proved to be the undoing of the PA: The engine had been rushed into production, and proved to be unreliable in service. The PA locomotives failed to capture a marketplace dominated by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and their E-units. The original Santa Fe three unit set #51L, 51A and 51B was repowered in August 1954 with EMD 16-567C engines rated at 1,750 hp (1,305 kW). This EMD repowering of the PAs was economically unfeasible and the remaining Santa Fe PAs retained their 244 engines. The later 251-series engine, a vastly improved prime mover, was not available in time for ALCO to recover the loss of reputation caused by the unreliability of the 244. By the time the ALCO 251 engine was accepted into widespread use, General Electric (which ended the partnership with ALCO in 1953) had fielded their entries into the diesel-electric locomotive market. General Electric eventually supplanted ALCO as a manufacturer of locomotives. ALCO's loss of market share led to its demise in 1969.

See Union Pacific Model Trains: Athearn HO Scale C44-9W Locomotive - Union Pacific / Bachmann HO Scale Pacific Flyer Electric Train Set - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale GE AC4400 Locomotive - Union Pacific / Trainline HO Scale Alco FA-1 Locomotive - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 4-8-4 Nothern "800" Locomotive - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

Union Pacific News Articles: The Union Pacific Invests $5.7 Million To Improve Washington State Trackage / Railroad Photography - Saturday Afternoon At Oro Grande / Union Pacific To Sink $29 Million Into Improving Houston Infrastructure / The Union Pacific Increases Speed Through Malvern, Arkansas With Grade Crossing Improvements / Union Pacific Railroad Sets Monthly Record Moving Loaded Agricultural Unit Trains / Union Pacific Railroad's Pipeline Express Service Reaches 25,000 Rail Car Milestone / Railroad Photo Gallery - Union Pacific GP40-2 1368 (Ex Rio Grande) / The Diesel Railroad Locomotive - From Box Cabs And The SD40 To The SD70 And Gensets / The Cajon Pass Railroad Museum - The Birth Of A Dream

The Union Pacific Invests $5.7 Million To Improve Washington State Trackage

Source: Union Pacific (Press Release)

Union Pacific Railroad will improve Seattle's transportation infrastructure with a $5.7 million investment to enhance its track from Seattle to Fife, Washington. Running generally parallel to Interstate 5, this section of Union Pacific track critical to the movement of goods in Washington and helps keep local and regional economies competitive. The project is underway and will continue through the middle of 2010.

Work will be taking place in and around the cities of Seattle, Tukwila, Renton, Kent, Auburn, Sumner and Fife, representing more than 28 miles of Union Pacific track. When the project is complete, crews will have installed more than 35,000 new railroad ties and spread 9,000 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed, improve operating efficiency and enhance railroad safety. Crews will also upgrade 42 public grade crossings as part of the project.

See Also: Railroad Photography - Saturday Afternoon At Oro Grande / Union Pacific To Sink $29 Million Into Improving Houston Infrastructure / The Union Pacific Increases Speed Through Malvern, Arkansas With Grade Crossing Improvements / Union Pacific Railroad Sets Monthly Record Moving Loaded Agricultural Unit Trains / Union Pacific Railroad's Pipeline Express Service Reaches 25,000 Rail Car Milestone / Railroad Photo Gallery - Union Pacific GP40-2 1368 (Ex Rio Grande) / The Diesel Railroad Locomotive - From Box Cabs And The SD40 To The SD70 And Gensets / The Cajon Pass Railroad Museum - The Birth Of A Dream

See Union Pacific Model Trains: Athearn HO Scale C44-9W Locomotive - Union Pacific / Bachmann HO Scale Pacific Flyer Electric Train Set - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale GE AC4400 Locomotive - Union Pacific / Trainline HO Scale Alco FA-1 Locomotive - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 4-8-4 Nothern "800" Locomotive - Union Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

Kansas City Southern Acquires Puerta Mexico Intermodal Facility

Source: Kansas City Southern (Press Release)

Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE: KSU) announced today that it has acquired the Puerta Mexico intermodal facility at Toluca in the State of Mexico. Later this month, Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (KCSM) will add direct train service from Lazaro Cardenas to Puerta Mexico, providing Mexico City import and export shippers with a service alternative featuring improved consistency and reliability and better transit times.

“Puerta Mexico is well-positioned on KCS’ International Intermodal Corridor, making it a valuable enhancement for our cross border service offering,” said David L. Starling, KCS president and chief operating officer.

KCS executive vice president sales and marketing Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, added that, “The growth of manufacturing activity and international trade flows in the Mexico City area is increasing the demand for modern, multi-modal terminals in Mexico’s industrial heartland. The strategic location and modern facilities at Puerta Mexico will allow KCS to better serve these growing markets.”

With its connection to the KCS rail network, Puerta Mexico serves the industrial centers of Mexico and the U.S., several important seaports and the Toluca-Mexico City industrial corridor. The facility provides intermodal rail and truck services, warehouse storage and has the only inland customs-clearing facility in the State of Mexico.

In addition to train service, Puerta Mexico offers multi-modal terminal services and on-site customs and bonded warehousing facilities to ocean carriers, intermodal and other logistics service providers. With its direct access to KCSM’s “N” line, Puerta Mexico will become the terminal of choice for service to and from the central valley, the Port of Lazaro Cardenas and the border crossing at Nuevo Laredo/Laredo. With an estimated capacity exceeding 150,000 containers and two million plus tons of cargo per year on more than 130 developed acres, it essentially doubles the intermodal capacity available to the greater Mexican central valley region and alleviates congestion in the region.

“Since 1996, KCS has invested over $3 billion to expand and improve Mexico’s rail infrastructure. The purchase of Puerta Mexico further demonstrates KCS’ commitment to Mexico and its institutions, the appeal of Mexican markets and the viability of direct foreign investment in Mexico,” said KCSM president and executive representative Jose G. Zozaya. “Puerta Mexico is a key link in KCS’ International Intermodal Corridor, creating a continuous cycle of economic growth for Central Mexico.”

See Also: KCS Announces The Promotion Of Gene M. Goode To Vice President Administration / Railroad Job Postings For December 2009 / Goodwill And Holiday Spirit Run Kansas City Southern’s Ninth Annual Holiday Express / KCS’ Michael Upchurch To Address The Citi 6th Annual Small/Mid Cap Conference