All this month — November 2019 — Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and images of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include ACL diesel- and steam-powered freight trains through time. You might also enjoy this […]
Train Topic: Fallen Flags
The train that never came
Michigan Central’s elusive train to Joliet, Illinois, approaches the Maple Street crossing in Matteson, Illinois, in mid-1968. Ralph Eisenbrandt photo, Paul Jaenicke collection In the mid-1960s, I attended a parochial school in the far south Chicago suburb of Matteson, Illinois, that bordered on the Joliet branch of the New York Central. Old-timers in town referred to it […]
Group attempting to save Great Northern SD9 from scrapper NEWSWIRE
The Go Fund Me page for a group attempting to save a Great Northern SD9 from the scrapper. Image from Save 599 Go Fund Me page SEATTLE — A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by rail-heritage enthusiasts in an effort to save a former Great Northern SD9 locomotive in Skykomish, Wash., from the threat of […]
Nickel Plate Road GP7 to be returned to operating condition NEWSWIRE
Nickel Plate Road GP7 No. 426 will soon be restored to operating condition. City of Noblesville, Ind. INDIANAPOLIS — Former Nickel Plate Road GP7 No. 426 is getting a new lease on life thanks to a campaign by the Nickel Plate Express. Nickel Plate Express took over about 12 miles of former Nickel Plate tracks […]
Remembering Atlantic Coast Line Railroad locomotives
Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and lore of famed (and infamous) railroads. In November 2019, we celebrate the Atlantic Coast Line. Please enjoy a collection of locomotive images located in the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include ACL’s iconic locomotives and scarce builder’s photos. You might also enjoy […]
Clinchfield office car 100 to return to CSX Santa Train NEWSWIRE
Former Clinchfield Railroad car 100 brings up the rear of southbound CSX manifest Q693 as it passes by the former Clinchfield offices in Erwin, Tenn., while en route to Jacksonville to be prepped for this year’s Santa Train. Mike Tilley JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – New life has been breathed into a famed former Clinchfield Railroad […]
Remembering Atlantic Coast Line passenger trains
In November 2019, Classic Trains is celebrating the history, heritage, and splendor of the Atlantic Coast Line. Enjoy this photo gallery, originally published online in June 2019, as the perfect salute to the Atlantic Coast Line. Return each week for another salute to the railroad of the month! See what we did last week for […]
Restored Conrail switcher makes debut NEWSWIRE
SW7 No. 8905, restored to its Conrail paint scheme, made its debut this weekend at the B&O Railroad Museum. Courtesy of Rudy Garbely BALTIMORE — The first operational locomotive restored to its Conrail appearance made its public debut this weekend at the B&O Railroad Museum. SW7 No. 8905 was restored to Conrail blue thanks to […]
Remembering the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
There is no mistaking Atlantic Coast Line boss Champ Davis’ favorite color — Royal Purple — as E6 No. 518 nears Cascade Road leaving greater Atlanta for Waycross, Ga., with local train 101 in Oct. 1958. David W. Salter The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was true to its name: it linked an important string of […]
Ex-GN diesel may be scrapped, not displayed NEWSWIRE
SKYKOMISH, Wash. — An ex-Great Northern SD9 locomotive enthusiasts had hoped might be displayed in the historic railroad town of Skykomish instead may be destined for scrap. The locomotive’s fate is wrapped in a controversy over whether it was ever actually donated to or accepted by the town, a small community in the Cascade foothills […]
Smoldering embers of a different age
A passenger for the New Haven’s Owl checks in at the gate for track 21 in Grand Central Terminal. This photo, from March 1957 Trains magazine, was author Gwyer’s introduction to the train. Don Wood I was first introduced to the New Haven Railroad’s Owl by a photo in the March 1957 issue of Trains magazine. The picture, made […]
Wisconsin Great Northern unveils C&NW-paint switcher NEWSWIRE
Freshly repainted SW600 No. 1280 leads Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad’s Pizza Train at Earl, Wis., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. The locomotive was repainted to its as-delivered scheme as a surprise for a Chicago & North Western Railroad Historical Society regional meet. Steve Smedley Paint and photographs were part of the work to restore Chicago […]