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STAUNTON, Va. — Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 is poised to return to the Buckingham Branch Railroad this fall. Beginning on Sept. 26, 2025, the 4-8-4 will lead the Virginia Scenic Railway’s Shenandoah Valley Limited for five weekends. The locomotive operated these trips in 2023, but sat out for 2024 due to essential […]
STRASBURG, Pa. — The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services, announced today (July 8) that eciConstruction of Dillsburg, Pa., has been confirmed as the general contractor for the museum’s roundhouse project. The bidding process began Feb. 21, 2025, for […]
STRASBURG, Pa. — RJD America LLC made early Fourth of July headlines with its recent acquisition of business car Pacific Spirit. Originally built by National Steel Car in 1959, and previously known as Bonaventure, this rare example of the M530-class design was part of the Canadian National Railway’s business fleet and was made available through […]
GOLDEN, Colo. — The Colorado Railroad Museum has unveiled plans to restore ex-Rio Grande Southern narrow-gauge caboose No. 0404, with the goal of having it ready to accompany RGS 4-6-0 No. 20 to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for special excursions in early 2026 [See “Colorado Railroad Museum, Durango & Silverton announce plans…” […]
NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — The Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s rescheduled “homecoming” ceremony for its Chicago & North Western Ten-Wheeler, No. 1385, will be held Saturday, July 12, at 4:30 p.m. at the museum in North Freedom. The starting time for the public event has been moved forward from what had previously been reported [see “C&NW No. […]
ELY, Nev. — Nevada Northern Railway has unveiled its repainted locomotive for America’s semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, coming on July 4, 2026. The design, unveiled on Friday (July 4, 2025), was chosen through a contest held by the museum railway earlier this year. SD9 No. 204, […]
The Colorado Railroad Museum, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Durango Railroad Historical Society have announced plans for locomotive loans this fall and winter that will see locomotives from the museum and D&SNGR visiting the other partner in the agreement. The Durango & Silverton announced Wednesday (July 2) that the museum’s Rio Grande Southern […]
Senior Editor David Lassen is now scheduled to serve as the Trains Magazine host on the Trains/Special Interest Tours “UK Celebration Steam Bicentennial Tour,” a 10-day, nine-night event set for Sept. 23-Oct. 2, 2025. Space remains available for the tour, which begins in London and ends in Manchester. It includes private-car excursions on the Ffestiniog […]
A career in rail preservation is always possible — it’s a matter of finding where to begin. For 23-year-old Logan Smith, it all started by volunteering at the Illinois Railway Museum on Sundays. Over time, he began working more often and with increasing responsibility, from fireman to head of the Railway Post Office events, and […]
UNION, Ill. — The Illinois Railway Museum has added two former Amtrak diesels — an F40PHR and SDP40F — to its collection. Dynamic Rail Preservation, or DynaRail, has donated F40PHR No. 231 and SDP40F No. 644. The latter unit went to BNSF where it was known as SDF40-2 No. 6975. No. 231 is one of […]
EAST TROY, Wis. — A new restoration with Milwaukee ties is underway at the East Troy Railroad Museum. Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee (North Shore Line) interurban car No. 162 was recently moved into the museum’s maintenance facility for the extensive project to begin. The car was built in 1915 by the J. G. Brill […]
What does it take to save historic rail equipment? It might seem like a lot, even for a simple flatcar. However, learning from the experiences of others — and getting some helpful tips — can help first-time preservationists and new organizations determine how they can get involved. Having a plan The modern rail preservation movement […]
