Clearing a Rio Grande rotary

20180516

During an epic battle to reopen Cumbres Pass after a late December 1951 storm, a worker uses a shovel to clear the discharge chute of Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge rotary OM of heavy, wet snow. John Norwood photo […]

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EBT opens its first steam-powered season in 12 years

Steam locomotive and train at station

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – The East Broad Top Railroad opened its first steam-powered season in 12 years with the return of regularly scheduled excursion trains for weekend operations Friday, May 5, through today, May 7. EBT 2-8-2 engine No. 16 (Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1916) easily handled its six-car train.  Freshly overhauled, the 81-ton engine broke […]

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Santa Fe El Capitan of 1956

Santa Fe El Capitan train rounds curve in mountains

The 1956 Santa Fe El Capitan was a special train that deserves attention of its own merit.     Just say “Santa Fe” to anyone in the realm of railroading and they’ll likely think “Super Chief”! Truly, that Chicago-Los Angeles first-class-only streamliner was about as top notch as they got here in North America — […]

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BL2 at Muskegon

20180510

EMD’s BL2 of 1948–49 was conceived to be as versatile as a road-switcher yet attractive enough to give passenger trains a respectable appearance. Chesapeake & Ohio 1841 illustrates the BL2’s bi-directionality as it idles at the head of a passenger train at Muskegon, Mich., in the 1950s. David W. Richter photo […]

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B&O tower at Deshler, Ohio

20180507

Baltimore & Ohio’s DR Tower, pictured before daybreak in 1952, guards the crossing of the road’s Chicago and Toledo divisions at the small town of Deshler in northwest Ohio. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]

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Amtrak Miami services through time

Drawing of new two-story Amtrak Miami services with automobile parking lot

Amtrak Miami services have been dominated by trains from New York City. This included, at various times, the Silver Meteor, Silver Palm, and Silver Star. Additionally, at times, the Magic City has been served by its own section of the Floridian from Chicago and an extension of the Sunset Limited.     Amtrak’s current Miami […]

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General Electric BQ23-7: An Odd Diesel That Didn’t

General Electric BQ23-7 locomotive in yard

The General Electric BQ23-7 turned out to be an odd diesel that didn’t.     At the dawn of railroads eschewing cabooses as unnecessary expenses, locomotive builders were putting forth ideas to accommodate train crews. One option was the BQ23-7, the Q indicating crew Quarters.   General Electric’s design team took its standard 2,250 hp […]

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Penn Central history remembered

Black-and-white locomotives on Penn Central history freight train curving through mountains

Penn Central history began existence on Feb. 1, 1968. More accurately, it was incorporated in 1846 as the Pennsylvania Railroad; changed its name to Pennsylvania New York Central Transportation Co. on Feb. 1, 1968, when it merged the New York Central; and adopted the name Penn Central Co. on May 8, 1968. On Oct. 1, […]

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Everett Railroad to hold fundraiser for PRR K4s No. 1361

Steam locomotive with train on curve

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — The Everett Railroad will run a steam-powered fundraiser trip to support the restoration of  the Railroaders Memorial Museum’s Pennsylvania Railroad Class K4s steam locomotive No. 1361. On Saturday, May 6, the railroad will operate a 1-hour passenger excursion as part of the museum’s “Juniata Jewel Jubilee” to mark the 105th anniversary of […]

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NYC 2-6-6-2 in West Virginia

20180419

A long way from the broad, flat Water Level Route, New York Central 2-6-6-2 Mallet 1940 is seen in an undated photo on the road’s line to Charleston and other West Virginia points. Classic Trains collection […]

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