Rebuilt for grain

Union Pacific boxcar with built-in grain door

Union Pacific had the largest fleet of rebuilt boxcars with built-in grain doors, visible in the upper part of the right plug door. No. 520003 was rebuilt from an older 40-foot car in 1967. Photo by Union Pacific […]

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Locomotives of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway

A steam switching locomotive.

  Locomotives are the focus of this week’s Classic Trains salute to the New York, Ontario & Western Railway. The NYO&W is Classic Trains’ Railroad of the Month for November 2020. You might also enjoy an article outlining the Old and Weary’s history, a passenger train photo gallery, or an all-freight train photo gallery. We hope […]

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Doodlebug discontinued

Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23

Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf gas-electric M-23, assembled by GE in 1939 using parts from other cars, stands at Denison, Texas, on July 8, 1954. M-23 was scrapped a few months later, after its Denison–Muskogee, Okla., run, the last Muskogee Group varnish, was discontinued. Photo by Harold K. Vollrath […]

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Burlington high stepper

2-8-2 Mikado No. 4960

In April 1965, the Mississippi River rose enough at Savanna, Ill., to endanger diesel traction motors, but the tracks were still passable. So, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy fired up fantrip 2-8-2 Mikado No. 4960, which ferried freight and passenger trains (like the North Coast Limited, pictured) through the high water. Photo by Chicago, Burlington & […]

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Freight trains of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway

Steam locomotive with freight train on deck-truss bridge

Enjoy this freight trains photo gallery of the NYO&W, the November 2020 Railroad of the Month   Freight trains Freight trains are the focus of this week’s Classic Trains’ salute to the New York, Ontario & Western Railway. The NYO&W is Classic Trains’ Railroad of the Month for November 2020. You might also enjoy an article […]

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Diesels for victory

A-B-B-A set of Erie Railroad FTs

An A-B-B-A set of Erie Railroad FTs, acquired during World War II, is fueled at an unknown, albeit modern, location on the railroad. The Erie had six such sets, Nos. 700–705 with A-B-C-D suffixes, followed by F3 and F7 units after the war. […]

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Kansas City, again

Rock Island train 39 in Kansas City

Nameless Rock Island train 39, heavy with “head-end” mail-and-express business, is 2 miles out of Kansas City Union Station on February 9, 1963, as it arrives at the Kansas City, Kans., station, behind an E7A-B duo. The depot, which sat between the two main tracks used by RI and UP through trains, was beside the […]

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Wabash mogul

Wabash 2-6-0 Mogul 573 in Iowa

Just uncoupled from its train, Wabash 2-6-0 Mogul 573 looks spiffy at Keokuk, Iowa, on October 18, 1953. The locomotive resided on the railroad’s Keokuk Branch due to the Illinois River bridge at Meredosia, Ill., which was unable to support newer diesels. Photo by Don Hofsommer […]

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Produce packers

Workers packing ice in crates

Workers pack ice in wooden crates with carrots at Elsa, Texas, northwest of Brownsville, in February 1939. There is an unidentified wooden reefer behind them. Photo by Russell Lee, Library of Congress […]

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