CLEWISTON, Fla. – On October 1, Sugar Express 4-6-2 steam locomotive No. 148 will power the first cane train of the season, signaling the official start of the sugarcane harvest. The train will depart 1st Avenue and Florida Avenue NW in Moore Haven at about 9:30 a.m., and pull south through Clewiston over U.S. 27 […]
Train Topic: Preservation
Lunch hall fire truncates Cumbres & Toltec Scenic trains
OSIER, Colo. — Steam excursion trains of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic turned back early today after a fire in the lunch hall at the mid-point of the railroad in Osier, Colo. C&TS Interim President Scott Gibbs says that damage was confined to the bakery portion of the kitchen. He says the railroad turned Thursday’s […]
Shay locomotive to be displayed in inventor’s Michigan hometown
HARBOR SPRINGS, Mich. — An important piece of American steam locomotive logging history is being relocated from its display site of more than 50 years in Texas to an appropriate place in Michigan. In the town of Harbor Springs, a Shay locomotive will be restored and displayed in the town where inventor Ephiram Shay came […]
B&O Railroad Museum receives grant to restore Pullman tavern-observation car
BALTIMORE – The B&O Railroad Museum has obtained a $500,000 grant to cosmetically restore both the exterior and interior of the former Baltimore & Ohio Washington Pullman observation-tavern car No. 3316 built in 1949. The funds, to be matched 1:1 with other contributons come from the Federal Saving America’s Treasures program. That is a National […]
Steam locomotive arrives at Hoosier Valley museum
NORTH JUDSON, Ind. — An operable steam locomotive has arrived at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, moving the museum closer to offering steam excursions for the first time in more than a decade. Bock Lumber Co. No. 1, an 0-4-4T Forney-type locomotive build by Baldwin in 1908, arrived at the museum on Monday. The museum […]
Kentucky Steam Heritage operates first excursion trains
RAVENNA, Ky. — Train operations are now underway at the Kentucky-based nonprofit where steam locomotive C&O 2716 is being restored, and officials there are looking forward to larger-scale operations in the near future. On Saturday, Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. hosted train excursions for the first time in its six-year history to help celebrate the Ravenna […]
Pullman cars return to their birthplace for weekend open house
CHICAGO — A heavyweight business car and two lightweight sleepers will return to their birthplace as part of this weekend’s grand opening of the Pullman National Monument Visitor Center on Chicago’s South Side. The cars, built by Pullman or Pullman-Standard between 1928 and 1955, will be available for tours Saturday and Sunday at Metra’s 111th […]
Preview: Pullman National Monument Visitor Center opens
CHICAGO — Mirroring a song from the hit musical “Hamilton,” the formal opening of the Pullman National Monument Visitors Center on Chicago’s South Side will give participants a sense of “the room where it happened.” The “room,” in this case, is the long-shuttered Clock Tower Administration Building and grounds that were the birthplace of assembly-line […]
Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 to operate by mid-December, executive director says
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 will operate for Polar Express rides in December, if not sooner, the railroad’s new executive director says. Wesley Heinz told the Cumberland Times-News that “Sometime between today and Polar Express [rides scheduled for Dec. 17], No. 1309 will make it out onto the line. We […]
19th century steam locomotives operating in the West
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic is celebrating its belated (by 1 year due to Covid-19) 50th anniverary with a great gathering of pre-1900 steam locomotives. The event began last weekend and continues through this coming Sunday. Here’s what Editor Jim Wrinn has seen so far. […]
Cab roof acquisition allows PA restoration project to move forward
FRISCO, Texas — A critical part in the restoration of Santa Fe Alco PA 59L at the Museum of the American Railroad has arrived in Texas. The cab roof and front windshield from a FP4A arrived Aug. 16 and was set down next to the legendary locomotive. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Ohio provided […]
News Photos: Locomotive leaves Jacksonville display site for restoration
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Atlantic Coast Line locomotive which has long been displayed in Jacksonville — most recently outside the city’s convention center, a former railroad station — has begun its journey back to operating status. The Florida Times-Union reports work on Monday and Tuesday removed the locomotive from outside the Prime F. Osborn […]