Nickel Plate Road No. 765’s 2024 season has a fall finish

Riding a steam-powered train through fall foliage

PLEASANT LAKE, Ind. — Finishing off the 2024 operating season for Nickel Plate Road No. 765 was the Indiana Rail Experience’s second annual Fall Color Steam Special on Oct. 19 and 20. The all-day round-trip jaunts drew beautiful weather as the 80-year-old 2-8-4 of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society marched up and down the […]

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‘Rocky Patel Rolling Smoke Cigar Train’ photo gallery

black and yellow locomotive

Rocky Patel Rolling Smoke Cigar Train The “Rocky Patel Rolling Smoke Cigar Train” behind Nickel Plate Road SD9 No. 358 ran a round-trip excursion from Pleasant Lake, Ind., to Hillsdale, Mich., and return on Oct. 12, 2024. The special is one of several themed excursions offered as part of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s […]

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Northern Central Railway names Krieg as operations manager

Woman in cab of steam locomotive

NEW FREEDOM, Pa. — Northern Central Railway of York, a non-profit tourist excursion line, has named Jennifer Krieg as superintendent operations manager. Krieg, who joined the railway as a fireman on the lines replica 1860s-era steam locomotive, will be responsible for overseeing and maintaining that locomotive, two diesels, and eight passenger cars. “I am excited […]

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Nickel Plate SD9 shines on Indiana Rail Experience cigar train

PLEASANT LAKE, Ind. — The Indiana Rail Experience operated its second cigar train using Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society passenger cars on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, on host railroad Indiana Northeastern. The “Rocky Patel Rolling Smoke Cigar Train” train operated behind Nickel Plate Road SD9 No. 358 in pull-pull fashion from Pleasant Lake to Hillsdale, […]

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Deciphering railroad lingo

A worker holds a pole next to a steam locomotive moving slowly.

Railroad lingo What is the railroad’s lingo? Utilized mostly by railroaders, it’s a way of speaking among co-workers that involves using railroad terminology, jargon, slang, or argot. Common lingo can vary from one group of individuals to another. Not born of this world, I’ve struggled to understand some of the language the railroad professionals use […]

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Grand Canyon No. 4960 concludes 2024 steam season

Steam powered passenger train running across a desert-like landscape

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The conclusion of the Grand Canyon Railway’s 2024 steam season was a fall finish as 2-8-2 No. 4960 made its Oct. 5 round trip between Williams and Grand Canyon National Park. Railway Chief Mechanical Officer Eric Hadder said the locomotive did well with no significant problems. He also noted that No. 4960’s […]

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Cool train rides this holiday season

Holiday lights reflect off the polished wooden side of an old time passenger train at dusk

There are cool train rides this holiday season from coast-to-coast, but plan ahead for the most popular events. The holiday season begins early for many heritage railroads, museums, and tourist train operators. On some lines there is only a short transition from the end of autumn Oktoberfests, pumpkin patches, and spooky trains to the start […]

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Fort Wayne society names Lynch as executive director

Man in period rail garb in front of steam locomotive

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, known for its stewardship of Nickel Plate Road steam engine No. 765 and the Indiana Rail Experience rail tourism program, has named Kelly Lynch as its first executive director — the first paid employee in the organization’s 52-year history. Lynch has been a member of […]

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Operation Toy Train announces expanded schedule for 2024

Aerial view of toy-collection train stop

DINGMANS FERRY, Pa. — Operation Toy Train has announced the schedule for its 16th year collecting toy donations for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and other organizations that benefit underprivileged children. This year, the program has expanded to include Southern California and New York’s capitol region, joining previous operations in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, […]

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