DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. It was 1973 when the Lake Superior Museum of Transportation & Industry was incorporated (the name was formally changed to Lake Superior Railroad Museum Dec. 1, 1997). Three men were primarily responsible for the museum’s establishment: rail historians Frank A. […]
Train Topic: Preservation
CNJ No. 113’s Saturday steam up greets visitors from Port Clinton
MINERSVILLE, Pa. — The Railroad Historians of the Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley Chapter, National Railway Historical Society sponsored a “rare mileage” excursion on the Reading & Northern Railroad on April 15. Using the regional railroad’s Budd Rail Diesel Cars, the roundtrip departed from Port Clinton to Tremont and Minersville along the former Philadelphia […]
Tours of Norfolk & Western 611 offered
STRASBURG, Pa. — The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, in partnership with the Virginia Museum of Transportation, is offering specially designed tours of Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 No. 611. The engine is currently stored at the Museum until it returns to its home base in Roanoke next month. Now through May 14, the Railroad […]
Illinois Railway Museum to preserve historic White Castle facade
UNION, Ill. – White Castle restaurants and railroading would not appear to be linked, but volunteers at the Illinois Railway Museum are working to incorporate the famous White Castle facade into a 1950s street scene the museum is recreating. When volunteers realized that the oldest active Chicago-area White Castle restaurant in Whiting, Ind., was closing […]
Overhaul begins to restore Kentucky Railway Museum 4-6-2 to operation
NEW HAVEN, Ky. — Louisville & Nashville No. 152, the Kentucky Railway Museum 4-6-2 named the official steam locomotive of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by an act of the Kentucky Legislature, is beginning an overhaul to be returned to operation. The museum has awarded a contract to Next Generation Rail Solutions of Irvine, Ky., to […]
Indiana Rail Experience announces 2023 schedule, first day of ticket sales
The Indiana Rail Experience, the rail excursion partnership of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and Indiana Northeastern Railroad, will return for its second season with an expanded schedule of events beginning May 27-28 and continuing through December. Excursions will feature diesel locomotives as well as Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 on select occasions, […]
Young Guns in Preservation: Nick Martin
The roundhouse of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Cleveland is home to the Midwest Railway Preservation Society (MRPS) and the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association (ASR). Nick Martin – age 18 – is a regular to the roundhouse, volunteering his growing skill set in videography to help bring the missions of these non-profit […]
Greenbrier Express sets inaugural run, start of regular operations
ELKINS, W.Va. — The inaugural run of Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad’s Greenbrier Express operation is set for Saturday, May 13, the railroad has announced. The initial run on the recently reopened, 15-mile Cass-to-Durbin remnant of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad’s Greenbrier Subdivision quickly sold out. Regular service will begin the following Saturday, May 20. […]
British effort seeks to build new 0-4-4 tank engine
SHILDON, England — British rail enthusiasts have formed several groups to build new steam locomotives as part of the United Kingdom’s thriving heritage rail industry. The trend began with the building of the A1 Tornado, which in 2008 became the first main line steam locomotive built since the end of the steam era. Such a […]
CNJ No. 113 debuts for 100th birthday year
MINERSVILLE, Pa. — Central Railroad of New Jersey No. 113 made its 2023 debut on April 8th with the Easter Bunny Trains. These round-trip excursions operated out of Minersville, the locomotive’s home base, in partnership with the Reading & Northern Railroad. Passengers onboard celebrating the holiday weekend were treated to the sights and sounds of […]
Colebrookdale Trust will acquire locomotive from Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will transfer ownership of former Canadian National 4-6-2 No. 5288 to the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust in Boyertown, Pa., the two organizations announced Friday, with Colebrookdale planning to eventually restore the locomotive to operation. The engine will move to Pennsylvania as soon as possible. Built by Montreal […]
News photos: Conrail Historical Society Museum opens
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — The Conrail Historical Society’s museum and archive center, housed in a retired 86-foot hi-cube auto parts boxcar, opened to the public with ceremonies on Saturday, April 1. The facility, located along the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, is a collaboration of the society with the rail trail, Shippensburg University, Cumberland Area Economic Development […]