A wise aunt, a rare book, and the P Company

Steam locomotive with freight train under truss bridge

Like some railfan contemporaries, in recent weeks I’ve been going through decades of railroad stuff, seeing what I can get rid of and what I simply can’t live without. Tough choices. In the “can’t live without” category, anything with David P. Morgan’s name on it, or anything labeled “New York Central” or “C&EI.” In the […]

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Lackawanna power

20190425

In August 1958, Alco HH660 No. 409 rests on an outdoor turntable lead at Scranton, Pa. The track is now part of Steamtown. Railroad Avenue Enterprises, Bob Bahrs collection […]

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Joint Line

20190408

Eight Santa Fe and Burlington Northern engines power a Santa Fe freight on the Rio Grande-owned northbound Joint Line track at Castle Rock, Colo., in 1973. Mel Patrick photo […]

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Milwaukee Road’s EMD SDL39 diesel locomotives

Black-and-orange diesel EMD SDL39 diesel locomotives with white lettering

Milwaukee Road’s EMD SDL39 diesel locomotives came from the road’s desire to replace aging Alco RSC2 units in branchline service.     The Milwaukee Road custom-ordered the lightweight SDL39 specifically for use on its light-rail branch lines. The railroad bought five of the locomotives in 1969, Nos. 581-585. It followed with an order for another […]

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Grand Central transfer

20190422

Seen from the Roosevelt Road viaduct, Soo Line 2-8-0 No. 468 pulls out of Grand Central Station with a transfer run in June 1953. Directly above the engine, across the Chicago River, is the Pennsylvania Railroad’s massive Polk Street freight house. Robert R. Malinoski photo […]

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What’s behind today’s intermodal equipment

Two red and light locomotive leading train of containers

Intermodal equipment If you’re trackside, odds are you’re going to see an intermodal train. Intermodal made up 49% of the 34 million units of freight carried by U.S. railroads last year, more than four times higher than coal, the next largest commodity. Odds are that intermodal train will mostly have railcars owned by TTX, a […]

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George Washington

20190409

Chesapeake & Ohio’s George Washington roars through Mayville, Ky., in an undated photo. No. 491 was an F-19 class 4-6-2 built by Richmond and later rebuilt as a 4-6-4. Lucius Beebe photo […]

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Fledgling museum

20190423

Rolling stock of the Colorado Railroad Museum huddles on a few tracks in Golden. A Galloping Goose is visible at far left along with a selection of narrow gauge steam and Burlington Route 4-8-4 No. 5629. Across the street is the Coors brewery. Classic Trains collection […]

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Fairbanks-Morse Train Master diesel locomotive

Blue-and-gray Train Master diesel locomotive with freight train at crossing

The Train Master diesel locomotive holds a unique spot in history. At its introduction in 1953, it was simply a logical extension of Fairbanks-Morse’s locomotive line, yet the Beloit (Wis.) builder recognized that what Trains Editor David P Morgan termed the “fat, robust, gadget-packed 2,400 hp six-motor hood unit” could become something special. Which it […]

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Fan trip photo stop

20190430

A Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville fan trip pauses in front of the Gloversville, N.Y., headquarters building. The fine October 1950 day made for great roster photos of S2 diesel No. 20 (Alco, 1945). Cabooses 1 and 2 and combine 21 made up the rest of the train. Edward Theisinger photo […]

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