A plethora of steam locomotives made comebacks in late 2023 after being out of service for extended periods of time. Expect these primed-and-ready locomotives to return to service for the full 2024 season. Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad No. 8419 As a reminder of the twilight of steam locomotive manufacturing in the world, No. 8419 […]
WATERLOO, Ontario — The Waterloo Central Railway has purchased former Canadian Pacific Railway G5c 4-6-2 No. 1238 and intends to restore the locomotive to operation, according to the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society, the nonprofit organization that operates the heritage railway. The locomotive was purchased for $150,000 from Vintage Locomotive Society Inc. of Winnipeg, Manitoba, […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — It was a breakout year for the East Broad Top narrow-gauge line in central Pennsylvania, already the Cinderella story of American steam railroads. Since its opening in 1873 as a 33-mile-long, common-carrier coal and ore line based in Rockhill Furnace, Pa., EBT has been shut down twice and rescued twice. In […]
OWOSSO, Mich. — The brief yet significant operating season for Pere Marquette steam locomotive No. 1225 concluded Dec. 17 with the final runs of the 2023 North Pole Express. The holiday excursions are operated by Owosso’s Steam Railroading Institute, the 2-8-4’s owner, and covered five consecutive weekends beginning on Nov. 18. This followed multiple tests […]
ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk & Western No. 611, the Virginia Museum of Transportation’s celebrated Class J 4-8-4, has gained a new honor: a spot on the National Park Services’ National Register of Historic Places. The museum learned of the designation earlier this week, and plans an official celebration in the spring, according to social media […]
Add it up — a million here, a million there — and soon you’ve got some serious money. Looking back on 2023 in railroad preservation, the large sums secured for new museum facilities adds up to be the biggest story. The tally sheet shows the State of Nevada budgeted $23 million for a new visitors’ […]
NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — Mid-Continent Railway Museum is launching a project to restore to operating condition its Electro-Motive Corp. motor car , the oldest surviving piece of EMC equipment. Montana Western No. 31, built by EMC in 1925 for Great Northern Railway as its No. 2313, is the 13th railcar built by the company that […]
MINERSVILLE, Pa. — In what has become an annual tradition, Central Railroad of New Jersey No. 113 provided steam power for last week’s Santa Train out of Minersville. The 1-hour excursions are organized by Railway Restoration Project 113, the nonprofit organization that owns the 1923-built 0-6-0 of the American Locomotive Co. Snow throughout the Keystone […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The EBT Foundation, Inc. announced Monday, Dec. 11, that due to scheduling and maintenance demands for its lone operating steam locomotive, the East Broad Top Railroad will not hold its highly popular annual Winter Spectacular railfan event for 2024. “The locomotive’s annual inspection falls during the period we have historically held […]
Explore Ely, Nevada, and experience the rich history of the Nevada Northern Railway, one of the best-preserved tourist railroads in the United States. Originally built for copper ore transport, this 140-mile railway, now operating under the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation, showcases various steam locomotives. With ongoing restoration projects and a recent $10 million grant, […]
CASS, W.Va. — The Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association, founded in 1982, which played a key role in support of the Cass Scenic Railroad, will conclude operations, its president has announced. Association president Matt Wilson informed members in a Nov. 24 letter that the organization will become part another group, Friends of Cass […]
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America’s Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 made its second run of 2023 today (Thursday, Nov. 30) operating from its home base in Minneapolis to St. Paul Union Depot. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 1-3, the locomotive will run short “North Pole Express” trips at the depot in what […]
