Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority to host annual conference Aug. 9

Logo of Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

BUTTE, Mont. — Federal railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose and Surface Transportation Board Vice Chair Karen Hedlund are among scheduled speakers at the third annual conference of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, set for Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Hotel Finlen in Butte. The conference will bring together passenger advocates, government officials, railroad representatives, […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Coal Hauling Trains

Tons of Black Gold rides the rails under Big Skies. Tom Danneman is frequently there to capture these unit trains, so we’ve compiled this video of heavy haulers working the western main lines. These big trains and even bigger skies are all part of what makes Tom’s brand of contemporary railfanning so compelling to view […]

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Big Skies & Iron Rails, Coal Hauling Trains

Tons of Black Gold rides the rails under Big Skies. Tom Danneman is frequently there to capture these unit trains, so we’ve compiled this video of heavy haulers working the western main lines. These big trains and even bigger skies are all part of what makes Tom’s brand of contemporary railfanning so compelling to view […]

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Cumbres & Toltec seeing high demand for fall-colors trips

Cumbres_Toltec_Lassen

CHAMA, N.M. — Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad excursions this fall are selling quickly, the railroad reports, with some September dates almost sold out in all ticket classes and Parlor class seating available for only three dates in the entire month. “Autumn is always a popular time to ride the Cumbres & Toltec,” Scott Gibbs, […]

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Big Ten windbreak

Rio Grande Railroad hopper cars inside Big Ten Curve

The Rio Grande placed a string of hopper cars filled with dirt on the inside of Big Ten Curve above Denver on the Front Range of the Rockies to act as a windbreak. Until the cars were installed in 1971, strong winds off the mountains blew several trains off the track here. Ray Kenley photo […]

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Union Pacific’s General Electric U50C locomotives

Yellow General Electric U50C locomotives in yard beneath mountain peaks

Union Pacific’s General Electric U50C locomotives were the last double-diesel model to join the roster, beginning in late 1969. They were, however, the least successful of the three production models the railroad acquired.     GE built 40 U50C locomotives for UP between September 1969 and January 1971. (Their production dates largely mirrored those of […]

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Rio Grande 4-6-6-4

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Freshly-shopped Denver & Rio Grande Western 4-6-6-4 No. 3708 is at Wolhurst, Colo., 13.5 miles south of Denver, on a freight bound for Pueblo and Alamosa on the road’s “Joint Line” in June 1949. Ross B. Grenard photo […]

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Empire Builder delayed by minor derailment in Montana

Amtrak logo.

HAVRE, Mont. — No injuries were reported Monday after one car of the eastbound Empire Builder derailed Monday afternoon near Havre, Mont. Amanda Frickel, Hill County coordinator for disaster and emergency services, told MTN News that the next-to-last car derailed but remained upright, confirming what appeared to be the case, based on an image posted […]

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11 cars of BNSF train derail in Montana

BNSF Railway logo

HAVRE, Mont. — Eleven cars of a 25-car BNSF intermodal train derailed Friday afternoon about 8 miles east of Havre, blocking the railroad’s Northern Transcon route. The derailment occurred at 4:39 p.m., the Havre Daily News reports, quoting a BNSF spokeswoman. Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Amanda Frickel said one car was carrying […]

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