The Super Chief was the first scheduled Santa Fe passenger train to beat the running time of the famous special that the railroad operated for Walter E. Scott, better known as “Death Valley Scotty,” in 1905. Here, the eight-car Chief is led by an A-B set of EMD diesels. Santa Fe Railway photo […]
Section: Photos and Videos
Two Medicine Valley
Great Northern’s eastbound Empire Builder crosses Two Medicine Valley near Montana’s Glacier National Park. EMD supplied the railroad with eight SDP45 locomotives, Nos. 326-333, in 1967, two of which power this train. Great Northern photo […]
Pennsy power
The Pennsylvania Railroad station in Fort Wayne, Ind., was busy each afternoon and evening as the railroad’s eastbound passenger train fleet rolled in. Here, a distinctive T1 class 4-4-4-4 receives some attention under the lights. William N. Clark photo […]
Racing rivals
Pennsylvania Railroad’s Broadway Limited, left, and New York Central’s 20th Century Limited race each other from Englewood on Chicago’s South Side to Gary, Ind., in the 1930s. Both trains shared stations at each location. Classic Trains collection […]
Sand Patch
Baltimore & Ohio F7s tackle the twisting approach to the Sand Patch summit in southern Pennsylvania with an eastbound coal train in February 1953. The B&O had almost 300 F7 A and B units, in addition to FT, F3, and FP7 models. S.K. Bolton Jr. photo […]
Sandersville switch
Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 No. 100 replaced a former Central of Georgia 2-8-0 to dieselize Georgia short line Sandersville Railroad in 1953. The unit was the only FM on the railroad, which later switched to EMD. Little Studio photo […]
Silver Lady salute
A row of Sycamore trees marks the passage of the California Zephyr behind Western Pacific F units at Union Park in Stockton, Calif., on Feb. 13, 1967. That day, regulators in Washington, D.C., voted to keep the train running, which WP continued to do until 1970. Tom Taylor photo […]
Flood duty
On a 1979 fantrip, Beech Mountain Railroad Alco S2 No. 9452 wades through high water at a unique culvert designed for just such a situation. At the time, the railroad operated from a connection with the Baltimore & Ohio at Alexander, W.Va. Donald McFall photo […]
General reborn
Western & Atlantic General of Great Locomotive Chase fame departs Detroit’s Michigan Central Station in August 1964 on a promotional tour for Louisville & Nashville. After restoration in the railroad’s Louisville, Ky., shops, the locomotive was something of a celebrity during the 1962 centennial celebration. Lowell Bush photo […]
Meadville moment
The Erie’s Pacific Express calls at Meadville, Pa., in 1951 with new E8s in charge. Lead unit No. 833 survives on the New York & Greenwood Lake south of Buffalo after spending time in Conrail’s executive locomotive fleet. J. William Vigrass photo […]
Narrow gauge classic
Denver & Rio Grande Western K-28 class narrow gauge 2-8-2 No. 474 steams at Gunnison, Colo., in 1940. The railroad had 10 such locomotives, Nos. 470-479, built by Alco in 1923. They were retired in 1946. R.H. Kindig photo […]
Necessary travel
Travelers during World War II swarm the New York Central ticket windows in Grand Central Terminal. Signs above the windows caution against “unnecessary travel” during wartime. New York Central photo […]