In a March 1942 scene at Raceland Junction, La., on Southern Pacific’s Texas & New Orleans subsidiary, 4-6-2 No. 612 approaches with a westbound troop extra as First 242 waits in the clear. Harold K. Vollrath photo […]
Raceland Junction
Type of Train: Steam Locomotive
Pennsy Mike in Appalachia
Interstate Railroad 2-8-2 No. 15, a former Pennsylvania Railroad L1s Mikado, makes a smoky departure from IRR’s yard at Andover, Va., in May 1952. Photo by Ed Theisinger […]
Monongahela monstrosity
Pittsburgh & West Virginia’s Connellsville, Pa., line was rife with major bridges. Biggest of all was this colossal crossing of the Monongahela River, seen in March 1950 supporting a 2-6-6-4 and freight 99. The three main spans had a lower level for the Monessen Southwestern, but it never used them. Ralph E. Hallock photo […]
Climbing the Front Range
Denver & Salt Lake train No. 1, the day train to Craig, rounds a sharp curve in Rollins Canyon just east of Rollinsville, Colo. The D&SL’s low-drivered 2-8-0s like No. 122 were ideal for its route, but not much good for heavier trains. Few lasted long after the 1947 merger with the Denver & Rio […]
Remembering Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo freight trains
All this month — July 2020 — Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and images of the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway. Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include TH&B diesel- and steam-powered freight trains through time. […]
Trains Presents: Assembling 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 in West Virginia
Crews from Hulcher and Diversified Rail Services worked to place Western Maryland Scenic 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 on its wheels on June 10, 2020. It was a major milestone in the restoration of the last Baldwin locomotive built for domestic service in 1949. This video shows the highlights. […]
Trains Presents: Assembling 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 in West Virginia
Crews from Hulcher and Diversified Rail Services worked to place Western Maryland Scenic 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 on its wheels on June 10, 2020. It was a major milestone in the restoration of the last Baldwin locomotive built for domestic service in 1949. This video shows the highlights. […]
Restoration of Reading 2100 receives boost from Reading & Northern
American Steam Railroad, which is restoring Reading T-1 4-8-4 No. 2100, has received a notable assist in its efforts from the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad, which is restoring sister locomotive No. 2102. While visiting the Reading & Northern shops in Port Clinton, Pa., to inspect the progress on 2102, the American Steam group […]
Colorado Railroad Museum to debut restored RGS No. 20 on Aug. 1
More Thursday morning rail news: Colorado Railroad Museum sets debut for Rio Grande Southern No. 20 Rio Grande Southern No. 20 will make its public debut at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colo., on Aug. 1, marking the conclusion of a 14-year, $1.5 million restoration for the narrow gauge 4-6-0 built in 1899. Built […]
Restoration work begins on CN 6060
Rail preservation and museum news in brief: Work begins on CN 6060 Work has begun to restore Canadian National No. 6060, the semi-streamlined 4-8-2 which had a heralded excursion career beginning in 1972 but has been inactive since 2011 and stored in Stetler, Alberta. The Rocky Mountain Rail Society is working to restore the locomotive, […]
Blue Streak
The Cotton Belt’s Blue Streak rolls west of Mount Pleasant, Texas, on Oct. 1, 1931. The train is led by 4-6-0 No. 659, built by Baldwin in 1913. Formally known as the St. Louis Southwestern, the railroad began as the 3-foot-gauge Tyler Tap Railroad between Tyler and Big Sandy, Texas, in the 1870s. Harold K. Vollrath […]
Durango & Silverton to reopen with shorter trips, steam-diesel combinations
Wednesday morning tourist rail and excursion news: Durango & Silverton to reopen with shorter trips, steam-diesel combinations The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has received the OK to begin operations June 23, although those operations are significantly altered from normal practices. The Durango Herald reports that two trains will operate daily, making a two-hour […]
