This video was originally published by Trains as part of the Locomotive 2017 DVD. The northeast United States continues to be an Alco and MLW stronghold. The largest percentage of active units from these two builders call many short line railroads in this region home. Two of these railroads, Western New York & Pennsylvania […]
Section: Railroading
Ontario Southerns FP9s and plowing snow
This video was originally published by Trains as part of the Locomotive 2017 DVD. Southwest Ontario’s rolling countryside is home to vast open stretches of fertile farmland. The gently rolling topography of the area forced the original builders of the rail lines in the area to employ a cut and fill approach to right of […]
Class One Motive Power–an overview
Kansas City Southern hasn’t purchased new locomotives since 2014 as the company has had ample power for its traffic levels with coal deliveries down across its core north-south mainline south of Kansas City. The railroad continues to upgrade its existing power, converting six (confirm) GP38-2s and GP40-2s to GP32ECOs using kits supplied from EMD. KCS […]
Rolling stones: rock, stone, sand — aggregates that railroads make money hauling
At first glance, aggregates — stone, sand, and gravel — are unlikely darlings among railroad commodities. They’re low-value and they tend to move only short distances. But even though their revenue per car is low, they are nearly perfect freight: indestructible and relatively harmless if spilled. In fact, stones and sand not only make […]
Big Skies & Iron Rails, Series Trailer
Railfans and model railroaders alike will enjoy a glimpse of the forthcoming series, Big Skies & Iron Rails, hosted by designer, photographer, and now videographer Tom Danneman. Watch for full-length episodes highlighting stunning natural vistas and railroads of the American West to arrive in early 2021…exclusively on Trains.com! Trains.com Members have exclusive access to the […]
Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 44 Motorin’ across Mizzou
Ride along with host Drew Halverson, Kent Johnson (KJ), and Allan Dahncke (Sherpa Al), as they motor across the middle of Missouri to a bustling BNSF transcontinental railroad route. In the final day of their Show-Me State Summer trek, the guys managed to find epic railfanning locations to capture BNSF, UP, NS, and Amtrak trains […]
Trains.com Holiday Party: CN Heritage Locomotives, Episode 2
David Popp joins Trains magazine editor Jim Wrinn at a trackside hotspot in Wisconsin. That’s where they hope to lay eyes on one or more of Canadian National’s fleet of modern diesel locomotives recently repainted to salute the railroads rolled into CN control. […]
Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 43 Goin’ to Kansas City
Tag along with MRVP’s wily, witty host Drew Halverson, as he first travels westward aboard Amtrak’s Southwest Chief between the Windy City and Kansas City! Upon arrival in the Show-Me State, Drew, KJ, and Sherpa Al form a nimble crew that’s ready to roll to historic, yet active railroad sites — both within […]
Trains Presents: Geared steam locomotive show at Cass, W.Va.
Cass Scenic Railroad reopened in June 2020 with a splash of geared steam. Climax No. 9 kicked off things with a photo charter, then lead a pack of Shays for side-by-side running and a five-chime whistle to let everyone know that steam is alive and kickin’ in the Mountain State! […]
Trains Presents: East Broad Top revival
The phenomenal narrow gauge of the Northeast, the East Broad Top, is coming back. Nine years after it was closed and almost six decades since it shut down in the 1950s as a coal hauling railroad, the EBT has reopened and is on track to reopen in steam in 2021. Here’s a report from our […]
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. […]
Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 42 St. Louis Gateway City
The eagerly anticipated warm-weather exploration of the rails in, around, and even under the Gateway to the West is set to rekindle Trackside Adventures! Catch up with host Drew Halverson, along with Kent Johnson, Charlie Conway, and Sherpa Allan Dahncke, as they make their way to ideal hotspots for capturing Amtrak, BNSF, NS, TRRA, UP, […]