Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono
Commentary

New Year’s Evolution

FROM THE EDITOR, RAILWAY AGE JANUARY 2023 ISSUE: New Year’s resolutions are, mostly, as my late Uncle Alberto used to say, “a bunch of malarkey.” What’s the point in pledging once a year to change something that perhaps you should have changed a long time ago, or in starting to behave differently than what people are accustomed to, on Jan. 1, year after year? The only constant in life is change, right? And if you really think about it, life is more about adapting than about changing.

Six fully electric cranes are now operational at NS's Austell, Ga.

Class I Briefs: NS, BNSF

Fully electric cranes are operational at Norfolk Southern’s (NS) Austell, Ga. intermodal facility. Also, following a series of significant winter weather-related service challenges across much of the Northern Corridor, BNSF reported that the railroad’s overall velocity in the week ending Jan. 3 improved versus the week between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays and was slightly higher than the average for December.

LRW presented Trinity Industries, Inc., President and CEO Jean Savage with the 2022 Railway Woman of the Year award at the 2023 NRC-REMSA Exhibition Conference in Boca Raton, Fla. (Photograph Courtesy of LRW via LinkedIn)

People News: STB, LRW, IANA

Karen J. Hedlund has been designated Vice Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Also, the League of Railway Women (LRW) named Trinity Industries, Inc. President and CEO Jean Savage 2022 Railway Woman of the Year; and the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) has installed its 2023 Board of Directors and Officers.

The Reimann Industrial Center was named BNSF’s first Certified Site in the State of Washington.

$3.6MM for Port of Pasco’s Reimann Last Mile Rail Project

The Port of Pasco announced Jan. 4 that Washington’s Congressional delegation has delivered $3.6 million in federal funding for the Port’s Reimann Industrial Center Last Mile Rail project in Pasco, Wash.

BNSF Joins Bakken Energy’s Heartland Hydrogen Hub Design Team

Developer of clean hydrogen Bakken Energy announced Jan. 4 that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BNSF Railway (BNSF) to work together on the design of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub, specifically the role of “railways as consumers and transporters of clean hydrogen.”

Schneider Fully Transitions Western Rail Ops to UP

Schneider on Jan. 2 reported completing the transition of its western rail operations to Union Pacific (UP). The trucking, intermodal and logistics services provider signed a long-term agreement with UP in January

CN's Express Pass mobility platform was recognized by DEA. Photo Courtesy of CN, via Twitter.

Class I Briefs: CN, BNSF

CN’s Express Pass mobility platform is recognized by the Digital Engineering Awards (DEA). Also, new Barstow, Calif., policing programs get under way as economic development plans emerge for BNSF Railway’s (BNSF) more than $1.5 billion rail facility.

Photo Courtesy of Wayzata Historical Society: Wayzata Depot around 1920
Commentary

A Home for History: Wayzata Section Foreman House From Great Northern Days To Be Restored With Support From BNSF

On the northern shore of Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota lies Wayzata, a town platted by Oscar E. Garrison in 1854. A year later, Wayzata settlers built a sawmill, hotel and blacksmith shop, creating a flourishing economy and commerce center for the area.

Photo Courtesy of the Connell Interchange Coalition.

Gov. Inslee Includes $15MM in 2023-25 Budget for Connell Rail Interchange Project

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced Dec. 16 that nearly $15 million in funding is being included in the recently released 2023-25 Budget for the Connell Rail Interchange Project, following nearly 40 letters sent from various counties, ports, cities, railroads, EDCs, companies and other entities to the governor, the Office of Financial Management, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and various legislators in support of the infrastructure project.

Map of TC&W Railroad, which owns and operates the 37-mile Sisseton-Millbank Railroad in South Dakota.

Small-Road Briefs: Boise Cascade/Palmetto Railways, Sisseton-Millbank Railroad (UPDATED)

Boise Cascade Company (Boise Cascade) expands South Carolina footprint with new Colleton County facility, increasing the company’s distribution capacity with direct access to the Palmetto Railways Salkehatchie Subdivision rail line. Also, Governor Kristi Noem proposes $6.25 million to fund the repair of South Dakota’s Sisseton-Millbank Railroad.

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