WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) federal mask mandate for travel on all rail systems, airplanes, in airports, and on buses will be extended through May 3, 15 days after it had been set to expire amid a new coronavirus surge fueled by the BA.2 variant. The two-week extension is from an order by […]
Railroad: Tourist Railroad
Sale of Saratoga & North Creek trackage in jeopardy
TAHAWAUS, N.Y. — The bankruptcy sale of a portion of the former Saratoga & North Creek Railroad is jeopardy after the buyers failed to submit a deposit in timely fashion, according to the bankruptcy trustee. The Adirondack Explorer news site reports buyers Carol McLean-Wright and John Wright, operating as Doc N Duchess Railway, did not […]
Reading T-1 4-8-4 2102 steam locomotive profile
Reading T-1 4-8-4 2102 is a steam locomotive of the Reading Company T-1 class locomotives built by the Reading in the 1940s. No. 2102 is expected to return to service in 2022 on passenger excursion runs in eastern Pennsylvania on lines operated by its owner on his railroad, the Reading & Northern. Periodic updates are […]
News photo: Heavyweight cars ready to move
FILLMORE, Calif. – A pair of heavyweight passenger cars sold by the former Fillmore & Western to the Everett Railroad in Duncanville, Pa., are scheduled to be interchanged with the Union Pacific at Santa Paula today (Wednesday, April 6). The Powhatan Café Parlor car was built by Pullman for the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad; […]
News photos: Albany & Eastern pays tribute to Wrinn
LEBANON, Ore. — The Albany & Eastern Railroad’s Santiam Excursion Trains had a new feature this weekend: A tribute to late Trains Editor Jim Wrinn. Dave Bertz sent these photos of a message added to the cab of the train’s locomotive, Santa Maria Valley No. 205, a 1924 Baldwin 2-6-2, as seen during an excursion […]
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad adjusts plans for excursions with Nickel Plate No. 765
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Ongoing riverbank-stabilization work in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is leading to some changes in departure locations for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s “Steam in the Valley” excursions set for May. The excursions, featuring the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765, are set for May 13-15 and May […]
News photo: Former Fillmore & Western cars bound for Pennsylvania
FILLMORE, Calif. – The dispersal of equipment from Southern California’s defunct Fillmore & Western Railway continues. Two heavyweight passenger cars from the railroad have been sold to Everett Railroad in Duncansville, Pa. The Powhatan Café Parlor car was built by Pullman for the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad; the Rancho Sespe — named for a […]
Durango & Silverton settles lawsuits stemming from 2018 wildfire (updated)
DENVER — The Durango & Silverton has agreed to pay $20 million and adopt fire mitigation plans in a proposed settlement to a lawsuit over its role in a massive 2018 Colorado wildfire. The money will settle a suit filed in 2019 by the federal government, which claimed cinders from one of the railroad’s locomotives […]
Tourist railroads have a workforce issue: Analysis
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It is currently not uncommon for small businesses to be short of workers to cover basic functions. This is true in the tourist rail industry, which was drastically affected by the pandemic, where some railroads are struggling to fill jobs as their season approaches. According to the U.S. Travel Association, leisure and […]
Durango & Silverton owner to take over Arizona tourist attraction
TUCSON, Ariz. — The parent company of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is set to broaden its interests by taking over Old Tucson Studios, a tourist attraction which closed in 2020. The Arizona Daily Star reports that Pima County, Ariz., has recommended that American Heritage Railways receive an operating agreement for Old Tucson. […]
President of Washington heritage rail operation resigns
CHEHALIS, Wash. — The president of the Chehalis-Central Railroad and Museum has resigned as the railroad deals with its shutdown because of a lack of insurance, saying in an email that the “organization is doomed to fail and I will not be a part of that failure.” The Centralia Chronicle reports that James Folk, who […]
Sugar Express sets steam excursions for April 9-10
CLEWISTON, Fla. — U.S. Sugar’s Sugar Express will operate its restored Alco 4-6-2 steam locomotive, No. 148, on two days of train rides between Clewiston and Moore Haven in April. Two-hour round trips on April 9-10 will depart Clewiston at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. each day. Each trip will feature No. 148 […]
