Around the UTU, June 2013

Local 202, Denver, Colo. The members of this local are asking for donations to assist the family of 40-year member John D. Velasquez, whose wife, Louise, is in need of liver and kidney transplants. She is suffering from non-alcoholic, fatty liver disease. “John was planning o [...]

Spain train derailment kills 78

At least 78 people have been killed in the passenger train derailment in northwestern Spain on July 24. More than 140 were hurt, 36 seriously, after all eight carriages of the Madrid to Ferrol train came off the tracks near Santiago de Compostela. Read the complete story at B [...]

UP plans to restore massive steam engine

CHEYENNE, Wyo.—Union Pacific Railroad says it will try to restore one of the largest steam locomotives ever built to operating condition. The railroad said July 23 it reached an agreement to acquire a “Big Boy” locomotive from the RailGiants Train Museum at the Lo [...]

Railroad tankers roll through Denver building

DENVER – A train of tanker cars rammed through the back of a building Tuesday morning in a Denver rail yard. The mishap unfolded about 7 a.m. July 24 near East 44th Avenue and Sherman Street. Read the complete story at The Denver Post.  

Class I railroads report 2nd quarter earnings

CSX Corporation announced July 16 second quarter net earnings of $535 million or $0.52 per share. For the second quarter of 2012, CSX earned $512 or $0.49 per share. According to these figures, CSX is up a profit of $23 million over last year’s earnings for the same qua [...]

RRB labor member announces staff appointments

Walter A. Barrows, the labor member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), recently announced two senior-level staff appointments within his immediate office. Michael J. Collins, who has been an assistant to the labor member since April 2003, will assume the position of [...]

Insufficient brake force blamed in Quebec derailment

LAC-MEGANTIC, Que. – Insufficient brake force was applied before an oil train slammed into a town in Quebec on July 6 and killed 47 people, officials said Friday. Donald Ross, chief investigator for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, said the insufficient brake force [...]