N&W No. 611 to remain at Strasburg Rail Road

Streamlined steam locomotive at station next to tower

STRASBURG, Pa. — Norfolk & Western Class J locomotive No. 611 will remain at the Strasburg Rail Road this winter, undergoing an annual inspection and maintenance, following the conclusion of its operations on the Pennsylvania short line. The Virginia Museum of Transportation’s 4-8-4 had operated at Strasburg since May, wrapping up its schedule of excursions, […]

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Milwaukee Road 261 returns to action (with video)

People gather around steam locomotive and train

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Milwaukee Road locomotive No. 261 is back on the road after a two-year absence from mainline operation. The S-3 Class Northern 4-8-4, built in 1944 by the American Locomotive Co. at Schenectady, N.Y., was in action Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2-3, on the Twin Cities & Western Railroad between Chanhassen and Bongards, […]

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Iowa Pacific Railroad equipment in late 2021

A maroon and yellow-stripped cab unit under clear, sunny skies.

ALAMOSA, Colorado — Iowa Pacific Railroad equipment rolled out of Alamosa in the San Luis Valley bound for days of fun, music, and beer in the Colorado mountains until just a few years ago. The Illinois Central colors of Iowa Pacific Holdings and the trains of the San Luis & Rio Grande added to the […]

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Mark Twain Zephyr work continues with dining-car project (with video)

Kitchen in railroad car, with new equipment on one side and original equipment on the other

TREGO, Wis. — The interior of another car has been completed as the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad continues its work to return one of the first diesel-powered streamlined passenger trains to operation. Trains News Wire’s latest visit to northwest Wisconsin to check on restoration of the Mark Twain Zephyr, the articulated trainset built by Philadelphia’s […]

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East Broad Top continues steady progress

Red and green diesel pulling open-air cars for passengers

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Almost two years into its revival, the East Broad Top’s return is moving forward at a rapid pace, with thousands of new crossties, work on the historic shop complex, and, progress on steam locomotive restoration. In February 2020, the famed narrow gauge railroad was sold to the newly formed EBT Foundation. […]

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B&O Museum launches new website

Web page with words "yesterday and tomorrow" at center

BALTIMORE — The B&O Railroad Museum has launched a new website, borail.org, giving the Baltimore museum the first update of its online presence in more than a decade. Designed in conjunction with marketing firm Mission, the new site offers highlights from the museum’s collection, access to its digital archives, virtual tours, and other features. “The […]

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Great Plains museum welcomes steam locomotive for Railfest

Logo of the Great Plains Transportation Museum

WICHITA, Kan. — The Great Plains Transportation Museum will be offering rides behind a visiting steam locomotive over the next two weekends to raise funds for the restoration of its Santa Fe FP45, part of the railroad’s last order for passenger locomotives. The rides behind Lehigh Valley Coal Co. No. 126, a 0-6-0T built by […]

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Santa Fe 2926: A grade crossing ahead for the big 4-8-4

People admire restored steam locomotive

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The buzz at an open house for Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 wasn’t all about the locomotive last run in 1953 and moved for the first time under its own power on July 25. A grade crossing and a spur track also figured into the conversations. With the restoration of the locomotive […]

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