California Zephyr on a detour

California Zephyr

The California Zephyr shares dual-gauge trackage with a Rio Grande 2-8-0 at Salida, Colo., on June 18, 1951. The CZ shouldn’t be here on D&RGW’s Tennessee Pass line — it’s detouring around a washout on its regular Moffat Tunnel route. Bob Borcherding photo […]

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IC 4-8-2 on the James Whitcomb Riley

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Illinois Central 4-8-2 No. 2452 contrasts with the stainless steel cars of New York Central’s James Whitcomb Riley as the Chicago–Cincinnati streamliner speeds past IC’s 75th Street suburban station on the South Side of Chicago in 1947. The Riley will switch to NYC rails, and power, at Kankakee, Ill. Willard A. Gardner photo […]

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SP’s “Slim Princess” on a stroll

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Southern Pacific’s “Slim Princess” line tackled the rugged and arid territory along the east side of Owens Lake between the Virginia & Truckee and Keeler. Originally the Carson & Colorado, it was renamed for parent SP in 1912. Here oil-burning 4-6-0 No. 8 leads a short train through the desert. Classic Trains collection […]

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Bridge replacement on the Katy

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A crane lowers into place the next-to-last plate girder of a new bridge that will replace a wood trestle on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas. The BETHLEHEM lettering on the plate girder indicates the maker of the steel. MKT photo […]

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Rio Grande M-68 Northern

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad 4-8-4 near Denver Union Station

Handsome D&RGW 1800, first of the road’s five class M-68 passenger 4-8-4s built by Baldwin in 1938, poses for a broadside portrait near Denver Union Station in August 1940. R. H. Kindig photo […]

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Airborne Challenger

Union Pacific Railroad 4-6-6-4 Challenger wheels

Union Pacific’s 4-6-6-4 Challengers were too long for the turntable at North Platte, Nebr., but they could still use it. Wedges were clamped to the table’s rails at one end, then a 4-6-6-4 was backed on, leaving the rear four wheels of the tender hanging in mid-air. Art Stensvad photo […]

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Classic railroad scene in central Ohio

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In a scene filled with the trappings of classic-era railroading, a Baltimore & Ohio 2-8-2 clatters across the New York Central at Shelby, Ohio, in September 1955. Today, both lines remain, but the NYC is single track and the depot buildings, water towers, sidetracks, interlocking rods, and express trucks are long gone. Philip R. Hastings […]

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