JEFFERSON, La. — The Louisiana Steam Train Association has delayed an operation of its Southern Pacific 2-8-2 No. 745 on a grain train that was originally planned for April or May 2018. In April, the association announced that it had arranged for an event seldom seen in railroad preservation: No. 745, would pull a revenue […]
Train Topic: Preservation
Friends of the 261 forced to cancel June steam trip NEWSWIRE
En route to Duluth, Milwaukee Road No. 261 passes through Hinckley, Minn., on June 4, 2016. A similar trip for this June has been cancelled. Steve Glischinski MINNEAPOLIS – The Friends of the 261 has informed ticketholders it was forced to cancel its planned positive train control fundraising trip from Minneapolis to the Lake Superior Railroad […]
Trains Presents: Big Boy No. 4005 at the Forney Museum
We visit Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4005 at Denver’s Forney Museum of Transportation, one of only two Big Boy locomotives housed inside. It is also the only Big Boy ever converted to burn oil for fuel and the only one to suffer a major derailment. We talk with the Forney’s Al Frank and Kayla […]
Pennsylvania museum Friends offering print to donors in locomotive restoration appeal NEWSWIRE
Donors of a certain monetary level to an effort to restore five Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotives will receive this print. FRMP STRASBURG, Pa. – The Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania recently commissioned a painting from renowned railroad artist Peter Lerro Jr. This attractive watercolor depicts five historic Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotives in the […]
Pennsy T1 comes to life in a St. Louis shop
ST. LOUIS – Gary Bensman walks through Continental Fabricators in St. Louis, holding a washout plug for the boiler of Pennsylvania Railroad T1 No. 5550. Bensman grips the plug much like a judge would hold a gavel, as he holds court over the fabrication of the boiler for a locomotive class whose last member of […]
Minnesota museum acquires Great Northern SD7 NEWSWIRE
Former Great Northern and Burlington Northern SD7 No. 6008 works at a grain elevator in Litchfield, Minn. The locomotive has been donated to the Minnesota Transportation Museum. Steve Glischinski ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Transportation Museum has acquired former Great Northern Railway SD7 No. 558. Cargill, Inc. donated the locomotive, one of 23 SD7s […]
Florida educational farm completes rescue of 20 ‘circus train’ cars NEWSWIRE
A crane and crews work to lift former Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus cars from a nearby shortline railroad siding to panel track laid at the Kirby Family Farm in Williston, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 24. The circus cars are destined for re-use as dormitories for at-risk and special needs youth. Submitted photo A […]
Contractor for 1309 says locomotive brasses part of metal stolen NEWSWIRE
The old cab of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 in July 2015. Workers built a new cab to replace the old one. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn CUMBERLAND, Md. — Brass components weighing 300 pounds each were pulled off former Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 and sold to a local scrap dealer, according to Gary […]
Preservationists launch emergency GoFundMe page for Texas steam locomotive NEWSWIRE
Demolition equipment is in place to cut up No. 503 in Port Arthur, Texas, unless preservationists prevail. Jason Sobczynski PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Railway preservationists are launching a last-minute grass roots campaign to try and save a unique Ten-Wheeler that is only days away from scrapping in this coastal city that was devastated by Hurricane […]
Oldest Southern Railway passenger car gets a new home, new feet NEWSWIRE
Interstate office car No. 101 has been saved yet again in Big Stone Gap, Va. Ron Flanary BIG STONE GAP, Va. — For wooden Interstate Railroad office car No. 101, life is starting anew at age 148. The car, located in Big Stone Gap, Va., and now under restoration for the second time in the […]
Large gathering of circus train cars headed to educational farm in Florida NEWSWIRE
Kanawha River Railroad crews switch out the entire consist of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Blue Unit circus train near Charleston, W.Va., in May 2017. A large number of the cars are slated to arrive at a new permanent home in north Florida on Feb. 24. Chase Gunnoe WILLISTON, Fla. — A Florida […]
Nickel Plate 765’s 15-year inspection is a prelude to 2018 operations NEWSWIRE
Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765, shown during a 2009 visit to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum at North Judson, Ind., will be steaming again in 2018 after its 1,472-day inspection is completed. Trains: Jim Wrinn FORT WAYNE, IND. — The excursion off-season gives railway presrvationists an opportunity to address repairs that can not be […]