More Monday morning rail news: Oregon excursion train cancels season Northeast Oregon’s Eagle Cap Excursion Train has cancelled its 2020 season after previously delaying opening because of the coronavirus pandemic. The operation based in Elgin, Ore., made the decision based on the risk involved in operating, given the age of passengers and volunteers and the […]
Railroad: Tourist Railroad
Trains Presents: Geared steam locomotive show at Cass, W.Va.
Cass Scenic Railroad reopened in June 2020 with a splash of geared steam. Climax No. 9 kicked off things with a photo charter, then lead a pack of Shays for side-by-side running and a five-chime whistle to let everyone know that steam is alive and kickin’ in the Mountain State! […]
Trains Presents: Geared steam locomotive show at Cass, W.Va.
Cass Scenic Railroad reopened in June 2020 with a splash of geared steam. Climax No. 9 kicked off things with a photo charter, then lead a pack of Shays for side-by-side running and a five-chime whistle to let everyone know that steam is alive and kickin’ in the Mountain State! […]
Trains Presents: East Broad Top revival
The phenomenal narrow gauge of the Northeast, the East Broad Top, is coming back. Nine years after it was closed and almost six decades since it shut down in the 1950s as a coal hauling railroad, the EBT has reopened and is on track to reopen in steam in 2021. Here’s a report from our […]
Digest: Judge turns down Durango & SIlverton request to resume fire mitigation, washout repairs
Thursday morning rail news in brief: Durango & Silverton mitigation, repair projects still stalled after judge declines to intervene A federal judge has denied the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s request to resume fire-mitigation efforts along its right of way, as well as its repairs on a bridge washed out during heavy rains earlier […]
Forest Service orders Durango & Silverton to stop fire-mitigation efforts
Rail news in brief for a busy holiday weekend: Forest Service stops Durango & Silverton fire mitigation effort The U.S. Forest Service has halted a fire mitigation program by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad over concerns about the number of trees being cut down. The Associated Press reports the project cleared 100 feet […]
Washout cuts Durango & Silverton access to Silverton for eight to 16 weeks
Still more Monday rail news: Durango & Silverton hit by washout A washout has cut the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s access to Silverton for eight to 16 weeks, the Durango Herald reports. A log jam on the railroad’s bridge at Elk Creek, about five miles from Silverton, forced the creek to overflow and […]
Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. acquires diesel locomotive from Norfolk Southern
IRVINE, Ky. – Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. has acquired SD40-2 No. 6162 from Norfolk Southern via donation. In its 42-year career, No. 6162 saw service in the Appalachian coalfields and hauled countless tons of freight through Central Kentucky. Chris Campbell, president of the nonprofit, says the addition to Kentucky Steam is a major milestone in […]
East Broad Top to welcome guests back in mid-August
ORBISONIA, Pa. – For the first time since 2011, the narrow-gauge East Broad Top Railroad in central Pennsylvania will offer public passenger-train rides Aug. 13-15. The reopening of the National Historic Landmark coincides with the 260th anniversary of the founding of the town of Orbisonia and its twin borough, Rockhill Furnace, home to the company’s […]
Durango & Silverton to reopen with shorter trips, steam-diesel combinations
Wednesday morning tourist rail and excursion news: Durango & Silverton to reopen with shorter trips, steam-diesel combinations The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has received the OK to begin operations June 23, although those operations are significantly altered from normal practices. The Durango Herald reports that two trains will operate daily, making a two-hour […]
Durango & Silverton aims to begin operation in late June
Wednesday morning tourist and museum news in brief: Durango & Silverton says it can operate profitably at 50% capacity, seeks OK to open The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad says it will be capable of turning a profit while running trains at 50% of capacity and now hopes to resume full trips by late […]
Digest: Insurance company sues Durango & Silverton over resort’s fire losses
More Thursday rail news in brief: Resort’s insurance company sues Durango & Silverton over fire The insurance company for Durango’s Purgatory Resort is suing the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad over damages resulting from the 416 Fire, the 2018 wildfire which the U.S. government has said was started by sparks from a D&S locomotive. […]