CORINTH, N.Y. — The Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway has introduced its newest piece of equipment, a flatcar that proved to have an extensive and significant history. SC&H car No. 16151 was unveiled on June 3 for the Alco Historical & Technical Society’s annual “Alco Adventure” day. During restoration for use as an open-air excursion […]
Railroad: Tourist Railroad
Santa Fe No. 3415 officially debuts for 2023
ABILENE, Kan. — Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 3415 officially debuted for its 2023 operating season on June 10, heading the regular excursion and dinner trains on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. This comes after the railroad’s 104-year-old 4-6-2 was temporarily sidelined right before the Memorial Day weekend due to unforeseen repairs needing to […]
Locomotive No. 4960 steams to the Grand Canyon unassisted
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s 2-8-2 No. 4960 led a charter train on June 10, one week after its scheduled “First Saturday” excursion. The Williams-Grand Canyon National Park trip was part of the itinerary for last week’s National Model Railroad Association’s PSR Grand Canyon Special Convention, hosted by the Arizona Division. With […]
Harold Borovec, significant steam preservation figure in Northwest, dies at 96
Harold Borovec, a significant figure in steam preservation in the Pacific Northwest, died June 10 at age 96. Borovec, born in 1927 in Chehalis, Wash., served as an engineer and mechanical officer for several steam tourist operations in Washington state, including the Puget Sound & Snoqualmie Railroad, the Camp 6 logging exhibit in Tacoma, the […]
Texas budget includes funding for heritage railroad
PALESTINE, Texas — The Texas State Railroad, a heritage railway in East Texas, will receive $10 million under the budget passed last month by the state legislature. The Palestine Herald-Press reports funding will go toward capital projects that could include tie and ballast work, replacement of 100-year-old rails, railcar maintenance, safety improvements, and other projects. […]
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society announces Cigar Train
PLEASANT LAKE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and Fort Wayne cigar and wine store Rudy’s Shop have announced plans for Rudy’s Rolling Smoke, a Cigar Train experience aboard vintage rail equipment to be offered on July 1. Tickets, starting at $199, are now on sale at the Cigar Train page of the […]
Aberdeen Carolina & Western E-unit No. 103 | NODA Express
It’s May 25th, 2023, and a test run of the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railroad’s new NODA Express is heading toward Charlotte, North Carolina. The Aberdeen Carolina & Western is a 150-mile short line, which hosts recently acquired E9A, No. 103, an EMD passenger diesel that was originally built for the Union Pacific Railroad. Come along […]
Norfolk & Western No. 611 returns to Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk & Western steam locomotive No. 611 returned to its hometown of Roanoke for the first time in nearly 5 years. The J-class 4-8-4 steamed into the yard of the Virginia Museum of Transportation on June 2 after extended stays at both the Strasburg Rail Road in Ronks, Pa., and the North […]
Steam locomotive No. 4960 heads June “First Saturday” excursion to Grand Canyon
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — As part of the 2023 steam schedule of operating the “First Saturday” excursions, Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s 2-8-2 No. 4960 was fired up for the special occasion. The former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad locomotive, with assistance from F40 diesel No. 4128, headed the railway’s round-trip excursion train from Williams to […]
How to operate steam locomotives on your modern layout
If you model the modern era like me, you may still have some equipment in your collection that doesn’t fit the era. Maybe you are a fan of one of the famous steam locomotives operating today, such as Nickel Plate Road No. 765 or Union Pacific’s Big Boy. Or maybe you have another steam engine […]
Great American Steam Locomotives: Geared and Logging DVD Trailer
Great American Steam Locomotives: Geared and Logging DVD | 16128 Geared engines were some of the most unique steam locomotives ever built. They were designed to go into the woods, over very steep gradesand questionable track to bring logs or coal out to either a mill or an interchange with a mainline. Join Trains magazine in […]
Unexpected repairs briefly sideline Abilene & Smoky Valley 4-6-2
ABILENE, Kan. — Fans who were looking forward to enjoying an extra season of steam-powered trips on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad will have to wait a little longer for those trips to begin. Trains powered by Santa Fe No. 3415, the railroad’s 104-year-old 4-6-2 locomotive, were to have begun operation Memorial Day weekend, […]