MoPac Colorado Eagle E6

20150521

A metal emblem and lettering on the nose of Missouri Pacific E6 No. 7002 touts the diesel’s initial assignment to the joint MoPac-Rio Grande Colorado Eagle. When this photo was made in April 1948, the unit was preparing to depart St. Louis with the westbound Royal Gorge, another MoPac-D&RGW operation. Rick Church photo […]

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The 2-8-2 Mikado-type steam locomotive

Steam locomotive standing in rail yard

Versatility is a single word that sums up the Mikado-type steam locomotive. This 2-8-2 wheel arrangement became the “one size fits all” in terms of mass usage across North America’s railroads. When it also came to bridging the gap in advanced steam technology at the turn of the 20th century, this locomotive type delivered.   […]

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Tower A-2

20190411

Milwaukee Road 4-6-4 No. 135 passes Tower A-2 at Western Avenue in Chicago with a suburban run to Elgin in June 1953. Robert R. Malinoski photo […]

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Jawn Henry

20190417

Steam-turbine-electric No. 2300 Jawn Henry — N&W’s bid for a coal-fired future — drops down Virginia’s Christianburg Hill with its own doghouse-equipped water tender, an extra canteen, the road’s dynamometer car, and tidewater-bound coal loads. LeRoy A. Scott photo […]

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Amtrak Indianapolis services through time

Streamlined diesel locomotives with passenger train outside of station train shed

Amtrak Indianapolis services exhibit more than their share of tumult through Amtrak’s five decades. No single train has served the city during this time, and, in fact, the Hoosier State’s capital city had no Amtrak service from October 1979 to October 1980.   Amtrak’s Indianapolis station is, and has been, located at 350 S. Illinois […]

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Most famous GG1

20190419

Freshly washed GG1 No. 4876 leaves Wilmington, Del., with the Executive. On Jan. 15, 1953, the locomotive was involved in a runaway wreck that dropped it into the basement of Washington Union Station. R.H. Braun photo Freshly washed GG1 No. 4876 leaves Wilmington, Del., with the Executive. On Jan. 15, 1953, the locomotive was involved in […]

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Mixed freight

20190424

Seaboard Air Line train No. 280 heads northbound near Aberdeen, N.C., with several piggyback trailers in 1962. Trailers include Pennsy, Fruit Growers Express, and Chesapeake & Ohio. J. David Ingles collection […]

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A wise aunt, a rare book, and the P Company

Steam locomotive with freight train under truss bridge

Like some railfan contemporaries, in recent weeks I’ve been going through decades of railroad stuff, seeing what I can get rid of and what I simply can’t live without. Tough choices. In the “can’t live without” category, anything with David P. Morgan’s name on it, or anything labeled “New York Central” or “C&EI.” In the […]

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Lackawanna power

20190425

In August 1958, Alco HH660 No. 409 rests on an outdoor turntable lead at Scranton, Pa. The track is now part of Steamtown. Railroad Avenue Enterprises, Bob Bahrs collection […]

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Joint Line

20190408

Eight Santa Fe and Burlington Northern engines power a Santa Fe freight on the Rio Grande-owned northbound Joint Line track at Castle Rock, Colo., in 1973. Mel Patrick photo […]

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