Texas Tunnel

20191227

The eastbound Southern Pacific Sunset Limited approaches the Memorial Tunnel at El Paso, Texas, on March 15, 1952. Born in 1894, the Sunset had received its latest upgrade in 1950. Classic Trains collection […]

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Two, please

20191212

In June 1955, Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1498, built in 1923, shoves two empty hoppers toward a mine near Barrett, W.Va., for loading. W.A. Akin Jr. photo […]

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Hummingbird

20191205

Louisville & Nashville’s Hummingbird passes between the engine terminal and coach yard as it backs towards New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in 1954. Visible at left are locomotives of Illinois Central and Kansas City Southern. James G. La Vake photo […]

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Inside scoop

20191203

The truss bracing in the sides of cab units helped support the locomotive’s weight, so cab units required a thinner underframe compared with switchers and road switchers. This is an F unit being assembled at EMD’s La Grange, Ill., plant. Electro-Motive Division photo […]

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Richmond Beach

20191216

Two Great Northern E7s skirt Puget Sound at Richmond Beach, Wash., with the eastbound Empire Builder in April 1953, two years after its re-equipping. Soon, F units will replace the Es. David W. Salter photo […]

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Rolling freight

20191230

Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis class L-1 2-8-2 No. 619 rolls into Dickson, Tenn., before World War II. After nearly 60 years of control, the Louisville & Nashville merged the NC&StL on August 30, 1957. Louisville & Nashville photo […]

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SPUD power

20191223

St. Paul (Minn.) Union Depot Co. 0-6-0 No. 6 passes track workers in October 1954. The locomotive was relegated to standby duty in the 1950s by the arrival of GE 44-ton No. 441 in 1941. John Thill photo […]

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Beloit built

20191213

Fairbanks-Morse introduced its “Consolidation Line” of freight and passenger diesels in 1950. Available in cab and booster versions rated at 1,600, 2,000, and 2,400 hp, the line cataloged 14 models. These are CPA24-5 models with a two-axle truck up front and three-axle truck at rear. Robert M. Stacy photo […]

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Deshler doings

20191217

Baltimore & Ohio train No. 355, the Toledo–Cincinnati day local, passes under the home signals protecting the road’s Chicago Division diamonds as it pulls away from its Deshler station stop. Ahead, a 2-10-2 backs toward its train after taking water from the standpipe at the station. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]

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Dual service

20191209

St. Louis-San Francisco 4-8-2 No. 1503 works train No. 3 at Southeastern Junction just west of Lindenwood Yard southwest of downtown St. Louis in December 1942. The railroad had 30 such locomotives built by Baldwin between 1923 and 1926 that served in both freight and passenger service. William Barham photo, Don Wirth collection […]

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Enola bound

20191202

Pennsylvania Railroad M1 class 4-8-2 No. 6987 heads a freight toward Enola Yard near Harrisburg, Pa., in July 1955. The railroad had 301 such locomotives in the M1 and M1a classes built in-house and by Baldwin and Lima. Don Wood photo […]

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