railroad equipment

Nexxiot, Knorr-Bremse integrating technology to build better rail brakes

A close-up photo of railcar wheels on a rail track.

Switzerland-based rail technology company Nexxiot and global braking systems provider Knorr-Bremse have struck a deal that Nexxiot CEO Stefan Kalmund says could significantly impact how freight and passenger rail companies keep track of their railcars’ performance and location.

Knorr-Bremse will integrate Nexxiot’s hardware and software into its products for the company and for North American subsidiaries New York Air Brake and Knorr Brake Co. Knorr-Bremse, a customer and investor of Nexxiot,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nexxiot-knorr-bremse-integrating-technology-to-build-better-rail-brakes

FreightWaves Classics/Pioneers: Dr. Grafton’s electric locomotive runs

Union Pacific purchased Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives. (Photo: Wabtec)

The first successful demonstration of a full-sized electric locomotive took place on April 29, 1851 (171 years ago today). The locomotive was designed and built by Dr. Charles Grafton Page.

Background

Dr. Charles G. Page. (Photo: Smithsonian Institution)Dr. Charles G. Page. (Photo: Smithsonian Institution)

Born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1812, Page developed a strong interest in electricity early in life. He earned a degree in science from Harvard University in 1832, and then went to medical school in Boston. After graduating from medical school...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classicspioneers-dr-graftons-electric-locomotive-runs

Rail Roundup: Leadership transitions, US rail traffic dips in January

Union Pacific names Beth Whited as EVP of sustainability and strategy

Union Pacific has named Beth Whited as executive vice president of sustainability and strategy, effective immediately.

This new role for Whited — she has served as EVP and chief human resources officer for UP since 2018 and will continue to lead that division — comes as UP (NYSE: UNP) is seeking to reach a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The railroad just announced plans to purchase 20 battery-electric locomotives as...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-roundup-leadership-transitions-us-rail-traffic-dips-in-january

FreightWaves Classics: Surface Transportation Board has regulated railroads for 25+ years

In 1887, Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act. The act established a five-member enforcement board known as the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The act also made the railroad industry the first industry subject to federal regulation. At that time, the railroads were the primary mode of transportation, moving both passengers and freight. Following the Civil War, most railroads were privately owned and entirely unregulated. Moreover, the railroads held a natural monopoly in the areas...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classics-surface-transportation-board-has-regulated-railroads-for-25-years

US regulator probing China’s role in container shortage

A top maritime official has started an informal investigation into whether China is using its market power to monopolize containers and other equipment crucial to international supply chains to pump up rates paid by American exporters.

Carl Bentzel, a U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner (FMC), told attendees at a virtual business meeting hosted by the Intermodal Association of North America that he is looking into the availability of containers, intermodal chassis and railroad equipment, and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/us-regulator-probing-chinas-role-in-container-shortage

FreightWaves Classics: Central of Georgia Railway persevered (Part 2)

A Central of Georgia Railway locomotive. (Photo: American-Rails.com)

In Part 1 of this article, the early history of the Central of Georgia Railway was featured. In Part 2, the railroad’s history from the late 1880s until it was acquired by Norfolk Southern is featured.

The acquirer is acquired but continues to grow

The Central of Georgia was acquired by the Richmond Terminal Company in 1887. The new company issued overvalued bonds based on the good credit of the Central. This resulted in huge corporate debts. 

Under its new ownership, the Savannah & Western...

FreightWaves Classics: Central of Georgia Railway persevered (Part 1)

An Electro-Motive photo featuring a new Central of Georgia locomotive in June 1948. (Photo: Warren Calloway Collection/Tom Alderman colorization)

As a corporate entity, the Central of Georgia Railway “lived” for nearly 150 years. It connected much of its home state, parts of Alabama, and reached Chattanooga, Tennessee.  

Pieces of the railroad survive as part of Norfolk Southern. Its corporate name also remains, although only on paper.

Built to help export King Cotton

Since its founding in 1732, Savannah’s commercial activity was focused at its port. Cotton was shipped down the Savannah River from Augusta to be exported overseas. However,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classics-central-of-georgia-railway-persevered

FreightWaves Classics: Railroads helped the U.S. expand and increased interstate commerce

A photograph of a Union Pacific train hauling intermodal containers across a field.

Early beginnings

Railroads were first developed in Great Britain. The first railroads were horse-drawn wagons running on wooden and then iron tracks, or rails…

Wooden railroads were also built in the American colonies and were built exclusively to transport freight. Termed “wagonways,” the earliest were begun in the 1720s. In addition to the British and colonists using wagonways in North America, the French used a wagonway to haul construction materials to their fortress at Louisburg, Nova...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/freightwaves-classics:-railroads-open-up-the-us-to-expansion-and-increase-interstate-commerce

Railway Supply Institute urges vaccination of railway supply workers

A photograph of a man stranding in front of a Union Pacific locomotive.

The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) is asking for railway supply workers to be considered as early candidates for the COVID-19 vaccine.

RSI sent a letter dated Thursday to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group affiliated with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asking for essential critical infrastructure representing the transportation and logistics and the critical manufacturing sectors to be included in Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution.

Doing so would...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/railway-supply-institute-urges-vaccination-of-railway-supply-workers

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