Young Guns in Preservation: Russell Heerdt

Young railroading employee posing in front of steam locomotive.

Railway preservation is important for museums and tourist railroads. But each non- and for-profit approaches this differently. For Special Events Coordinator Russell Heerdt of the for-profit Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, keeping the doors open, lights on, and wheels turning is a juxtaposition between individual organizations. How did you get involved in rail preservation? […]

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Pair of Berkshires build on 2024’s must-see big steam

People gather around a steam locomotive during an event

FORT WAYNE, Ind., and OWOSSO, Mich. — Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 has been a recent showstopper during its epic CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour from Canada to the U.S. and Mexico. But with summer closing in, expect more locomotives to take center stage as part of 2024’s must-see big steam, including a pair of […]

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CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour | Upper Midwest Chase

The chase is on! Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 is on an epic journey from Canada to the U.S. to Mexico – all to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the CPKC railroad! After the vintage locomotive steamed crossed the U.S. border, Trains.com staff members (Lucas Iverson, Bryson Sleppy, Sean Kirby, and others) were there to […]

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Archives center dedicated as part of C&NW Historical Society meeting, museum’s C&NW Days

Two green and yellow diesels meet

UNION, Ill. — Dedication of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society’s Archives Research Center at the Illinois Railway Museum highlighted the society’s 50th anniversary celebration during its three-day 2024 convention at Union and Crystal Lake, Ill. The research center joins the replica 1950s street scene on the museum’s Main Street, and replaces the society’s […]

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News photos: Restored N&W business car debuts

View of platform end of maroon passenger car

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. — The Norfolk & Western Business Car 300 Preservation Society unveiled the restored car on Saturday with an open house at repair and maintenance firm Professional Locomotive Services. Along with tours of the car — built in 1917 and modernized in 1955 — and displays of PLS equipment, visitors were treated to […]

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Patriot Rail donates vintage parts, machinery to Kentucky Steam

Boxes on shelves

IRVINE, Ky. — Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. has received a donation of vintage parts and equipment valued at well over $200,000 from Patriot Rail to aid the non-profit organization’s restoration of C&O 2-8-4 No. 2716 and stock the group’s locomotive shop. The donation includes some 37,000 pounds of parts, tools, and supplies from a Patriot […]

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NRHS awards preservation grants to 28 organizations

Logo of National Railway Historical Society

MOORESTOWN, N.J. — Twenty-eight organizations have been awarded a total of $125,000 from the National Railway Historical Society as part of its Railway Heritage Preservation Grants program, the organization has announced. The 2024 grants are awarded in the memory of longtime member Carl S. Jensen, who died in March [see “Carl Jensen, manager of NS […]

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T1 Trust shows frame and drivers; K4s 1361 tender painted

Steam engine wheels and frame on truck trailer

ALTOONA, Pa. — Milestones of progress on two Pennsylvania Railroad steam-locomotive projects were unveiled at last week’s 56th annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society. The Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Steam Locomotive Trust brought the frame and four drivers for its 21st-century recreation of the PRR T1 class of 100-mph streamlined 4-4-4-4 passenger […]

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