Nickel Plate Road No. 765 debuts for 2023

Passenger train with steam engine stops on straight as diesel crosses bridge in background

ANGOLA, Ind. — Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive No. 765 debuted for its 2023 operating season during the Memorial Day weekend with one-hour Indiana Ice Cream Train rides out of Angola. The 1944-built 2-8-4 officially kicked off the second year of the Indiana Rail Experience, a program of events and excursions in partnership with the […]

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Railroad memories on vinyl records

Group photo of railroad-themed LPs on white background

Today, it’s easier than ever to railfan without leaving the comfort of your home. Kalmbach Media is one of several companies that offers DVDs on various prototype subjects. If you prefer seeing trains in real time, you can watch any number of railfan webcams, such as the one Trains magazine has at Rochelle, Ill. This […]

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Repainting of Great Northern SDP40 completed

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Locomotive contractor RELCO of Albia, Iowa, has completed repainting Minnesota Transportation Museum’s Great Northern Railway SDP40 No. 325 into GN’s simplified orange and green color scheme. The only remaining work is application of Great Northern logos on the cab sides. In February the museum announced a member had agreed to fund […]

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Unexpected repairs briefly sideline Abilene & Smoky Valley 4-6-2

Steam locomotive with passenger car and gondola for riders in field with trees in background.

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, […]

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N&W 611 concludes two-year residency at Strasburg Rail Road

Streamlined steam locomotive with train passes through field

STRASBURG, Pa. — Norfolk & Western J-class 4-8-4 streamlined steam engine No. 611 (Roanoke Shops, 1950) wrapped up a two-year stay at the Strasburg Rail Road tourist and short line over the weekend, and will soon be headed back to its home state of Virginia. Owned by the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the engine had […]

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Steamtown National Historic Site’s Railfest set for June 17

Steam locomotive and tender on turntable

SCRANTON, Pa. – Steamtown National Historic Site’s Railfest and Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum’s Arts on Fire is set for June 17. In addition to free admission, there will be no cost for Steamtown’s short train rides. A complimentary shuttle service will be available throughout the day to transport visitors between Steamtown and the Scranton Iron Furnaces. […]

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Southern Railway No. 722 | Return to steam

A ghost from the past is staging to return! In the spring of 2023, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad announced that No. 722 would be going into the shops for a return to operational service. Let’s take a look back to see how this historic Southern Railway 2-8-0 steam locomotive arrived at this point. […]

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Young Guns in Preservation: Jonathan Smith

Young individual working at an office.

It’s not uncommon to see individuals in railway preservation wear multiple hats, something 24-year-old Jonathan Smith has embraced during his young career. As Director of Sales and Marketing for the East Broad Top Railroad in Rockhill, Pa., Smith understands the importance of having a diverse resume within the industry. How did you get involved in […]

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NRHS, magazines create new rail preservation award

Boiler of steam locomotive in shop building

  PHILADELPHIA – The National Railway Historical Society has announced a new program to recognize railroads for their efforts in railway preservation. The Society is partnering with Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures magazines to honor and recognize a North American common carrier railroad for a historically significant preservation project completed or put into operation within the last […]

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Cass Scenic Railroad | Return to Durbin, W.Va.

Steam trains have been running at Durbin, W.Va., for the past 20 years. But if you look closely, this video captures double-headed Shay steam locomotives working up from Cass, W.Va., for the first time since 1985! Hop aboard for the sights and sounds on this special, restored route along the Greenbrier River. Want to see […]

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Norfolk & Western No. 611 debuts for 2023

Two steam locomotives sitting side by side.

STRASBURG, Pa. — Norfolk & Western steam locomotive No. 611 debuted for its 2023 operating season last weekend with a series of events and excursions on the Strasburg Rail Road. The J-class 4-8-4 returned to the tourist railroad earlier this month after spending the beginning of the year as an exhibit at the next-door Railroad […]

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