Steam on “the Peg”

Pacific 2157 in Duluth, Minnesota

Pacific 5127, leased from parent Canadian National, pauses at Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific’s elevated station (hidden behind train) in West Duluth, Minn., with the overnight accommodation from Fort Frances, Ont., in September 1954. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 powers benefit train for Altoona museum

Large steam locomotive with passenger train on curve at dusk

CUMBERLAND, Md. — Echoing off the walls of the Cumberland Narrows, a Pennsylvania Railroad three-chime passenger whistle symbolized a new preservation partnership between the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pa., and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. An evening dinner train to benefit restoration of the museum’s PRR Class K4s 4-6-2 engine No. 1361 (Juniata Shops, […]

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The Roundhouse: Episode 15

Hal Miller, Jim Wrinn, and Rob McGonigal

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Host Hal Miller welcomes Trains Editor Jim Wrinn and Classic Trains Editor Rob McGonigal on The Roundhouse set to talk railroad preservation, including insightful banter regarding stations, steam locomotives, and even vintage diesel power. […]

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Bangor & Aroostook locomotives remembered

Six red, gray, and black diesel Bangor Aroostook locomotives on train in wilderness

Let’s celebrate the variety and color of Bangor & Aroostook locomotives! The Bangor & Aroostook didn’t purchase its first diesels (EMD F3s) until 1947, but dieselization then came quickly, with the last steam operations in 1949. The railroad kept its older diesels in good shape for a long time, supplanting them with GP38s in the […]

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1940s Union Pacific steam locomotives

Smoking 1940s steam locomotive approaching with freight train

A childhood memory led me to chasing 1940s Union Pacific steam locomotives around Omaha has a teen. That story had its origin when I was around eight years of age. Like other boys of those times, I was fascinated by the sight and sound of a steam locomotive, but rarely saw one, since there were […]

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Reading & Northern 4-8-4 repaired, set for next excursion

Steam locomotive passes through town under cloudy skies

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern Railroad’s Class T-1 4-8-4 steam locomotive is repaired and ready to pull a sold-out Oct. 29 excursion after a malfunctioning component in its firebox sidelined it during a trip on Saturday, Oct. 8. After a six-year, $2.4 million restoration, the former Reading Co. engine has been performing flawlessly […]

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Lionel John Bull display set review

Lionel John Bull display set

The Lionel John Bull display set is a historical piece from the 2021 Volume I catalog. The company cataloged this in three versions: the “Display Set” which features the engine and one coach on two flatcars; a Camden & Amboy set with three coaches; and a “What-if?” Uncle Sam (John Bull’s cartoon U.S. counterpart) set […]

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Waterloo Central operates steam for Canada’s Thanksgiving

Steam locomotive and passenger cars in front of trees with dramatic fall colors

ST. JACOBS, Ontario — Heritage operator Waterloo Central Railway operated its 0-6-0 locomotive No. 9 on Canada’s Thanksgiving weekend for the first time in two years, following a two-year retrofit and its 10-year boiler inspection from Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority. The locomotive, built in 1923 by the Montreal Locomotive Works for the Essex […]

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CP’s experimental 2-10-4

Canadian Pacific Class T4a No. 8000

In 1931, two years after placing in service a fleet of 20 conventional 2-10-4s, Canadian Pacific constructed an experimental version. Class T4a No. 8000 had three cylinders and a multi-pressure boiler that supplied 250 PSI steam to the two outside cylinders and 850 PSI steam to the inside cylinder. It was retired in 1936. Classic […]

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Video of Bachmann’s HO USRA Light 2-10-2

We reviewed Bachmann’s HO USRA Light 2-10-2 in the August issue of Model Railroader. This locomotive comes equipped with a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder for use on both DC and DCC equipped layout, however, the engine doesn’t include sound. Click the icons below to see the 2-10-2 in action. All videos may take […]

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