“Today is a big day for us! It’s the Grand Opening of our Edmonton Distribution Centre, and we couldn’t be more proud of what that means for our customers in Western Canada,” Petro-Canada Lubricants reported in a LinkedIn post shared by CN on Sept. 24. (Photograph Courtesy of Petro-Canada Lubricants)

Class I Briefs: CN, UP

Petro-Canada Lubricants, an HF Sinclair brand, launches a CN-served distribution center in Edmonton, Alberta. Also, Union Pacific (UP) recognizes its Yermo, Calif.-based Mechanical team for 25 years of injury-free service.

Class I Briefs: CN, UP, CPKC

Pivotal Energy Partners Inc. opens its new facility on a CN Certified Rail Ready Site. Also, 19 Union Pacific (UP) employees graduate from the Leadership Development Program; and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) raises more than $550,000 for veterans experiencing homelessness in Canada and the U.S.

Union Pacific Investor Day Takeaways (Updated Sept. 23)

Union Pacific held its 2024 Investor Day on Sept. 19. Following are takeaways from analysts at TD Cowen, Susquehanna Financial Group and Loop Capital Markets. UP’s slide presentation can downloaded below. Jason

Ballots Mailed to BLET Members in Tentative Metra, UP Implementing Agreement

Ballots were mailed this week to 307 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members eligible to vote on a tentative implementing agreement regarding Metra’s takeover of services from Union Pacific (UP).

(Logo Courtesy of STB)

For STB, an Earful on Freight Rail Growth

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Sept. 16-17 held a public hearing regarding growth in the freight rail industry. The objective, it said, was to better understand “how the industry has grown and intends to grow.” Railroads and related organizations offered insights and in some cases a dose of skepticism.

Commentary

Trains of All Lengths Keep Economies on Track

I’m writing to reflect on recent stories and reports about train length—and to share some facts about railroading, stats about length and safety, and the specific actions Union Pacific has taken to

Great Western Railway of Colorado “successfully implemented North America’s first Plasma AirJet system tailored for locomotives,” according to AnoDynamix, distributor of the CLACK Technologies-developed system. (OmniTRAX Photograph)

OmniTRAX Deploys ‘Plasma AirJet’

OmniTRAX on Sept. 18 reported that its Great Western Railway of Colorado affiliate recently pilot tested and purchased a new technology aimed at reducing locomotive emissions and fuel consumption.   The 80-plus-mile

Big Boy Fits in ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’!

Jay Leno is probably better-known for his Jay Leno’s Garage series and collection of 81 automobiles and 160 motorcycles, among which are several early 20th century Stanley Steamers, than for his 17

Pictured (from left to right): Tobias Atzler, Siemens AG; Grace Madden and Jennifer Schultz, HNTB; and Garrett Eucalitto, AASHTO. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)

People News: Siemens, HNTB, AASHTO

Siemens taps Tobias Atzler to lead Investor Relations. Also, at HNTB, Grace Madden joins as Project Director for Fleet and Facilities, and Jennifer Schultz transitions to Capital Region Business Development Leader; and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) formally names Garrett Eucalitto President.

UP craft professionals Ronald Chapman, far left, and Joe Montiel, far right, rode in the cab of No. 4014 on Aug. 28. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of UP)
Commentary

Once in a Lifetime: UP Honors Four Employees With Big Boy Ride-Along

It’s not every day you get to tour the Union Pacific (UP) Railroad Steam Shop, much less ride in the cab of Big Boy No. 4014, but four Operating Department employees are doing just that on the Heartland of America Tour.

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