KINGSTON, New York — The Catskill Mountain Railroad will use three grants from the New York State Department of Transportation to build a new engine house and connecting track, a new terminal at Basin Road, and an upgrade to reduce diesel locomotive emissions, the railroad has announced. The grants, totaling $4.485 million, were among those […]
LONDON — British passenger charter train operator and car leasing company West Coast Railways has announced it is suspending operation of the world-famous “Jacobite” train between Fort William and Mallaig on Scotland’s west coast, popularly known as the “Harry Potter train” for the train’s role in the popular movies. The decision, announced just a week […]
DURANGO, Colo. — The final chapter of the long history of coal-powered trains on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad came Saturday, March 23, with a round-trip excursion between Durango and Cascade, Colo., handled by a Baldwin Class K-36 2-8-2 No. 481. The locomotive will now be converted to oil firing, completing conversion of […]
CHEHALIS, Wash. — The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum will resume excursion train operations April 6 after a lengthy hiatus, the organization has announced. The Centralia Chronicle reports Saturday and Sunday excursions are scheduled through Sept. 29, plus Polar Express trains that will begin Nov. 9. The heritage operation halted operations in March 2022 after losing […]
CHAMA, N.M. — The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has named Ed Beaudette as general manager for the 2024 season, the railroad announced Friday. He replaces Steven Butler, who resigned earlier this month. Beaudette, who worked for many years as the railroad’s manager of engineering and operations, currently serves on the board of the Friends […]
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Dieselization came late to the Milwaukee County Zoo’s railroad, but it has arrived. The zoo announced today (Thursday, March 14), that it has sold the two steam locomotives for its 1.25-mile, 15-inch gauge railroad — No. 1916, the Henry J. Grant, a 4-4-2 built in 1961, and No. 1924, a 4-6-2 built […]
STRASBURG, Pa. — Strasburg Rail Road has named Eric Hoerner, a Lancaster, Pa., business executive, as its board chairman and interim president, following the Feb. 26 resignation of the steam tourist line’s president and general manager, Jim Hager. Hoerner becomes the fifth person since 2018 to lead the 192-year-old short line. He is founder, partner, and […]
The John Emery Rail Heritage Trust has selected 18 applicants to receive a total of $250,000 in awards for its 2024 grants. The awards were selected from 31 applications requestion almost $850,000. They come from the trust created by Emery, a long-time Chicago resident and rail enthusiast who wanted to help preserve rail equipment and […]
PENINSULA, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will suspend operations for almost two months beginning this Friday, March 8, “to make substantial upgrades to safety and operating procedures,” the tourist railroad announced today (Monday, March 4). The railroad says in a press release that the suspension, through May 2, will allow “a comprehensive initiative […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Winter hibernation for Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960 concluded on March 2 as the 2-8-2 headed the first excursion of the railway’s 2024 steam season, between Williams and the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Off-season work since the end of the 2023 schedule included, as previously reported [See “Grand Canyon […]
Railfanning with kids can be the most rewarding and/or the most frustrating experience. Regardless of a child’s interests or capabilities, the amount of enjoyment adults and children get out of watching trains together depends primarily on the adults in charge. If you don’t already have your own style and methods for taking kids to watch […]
2024 Majestic Switzerland Special Interest Tours and Trains Magazine bring you a rail excursion tour like no other. From Sept. 19-30, join Trains Senior Editor David Lassen on an 11-night, 12-day adventure into the mountains. Switzerland has one of the most extensive railway networks in Europe. Beginning in 1847, the Northern Railway line was established, […]
