B&O 2-8-0 on a short line

20180809

The Castleman River Railroad ran 13 miles from Bittinger, Md., to a connection with the Baltimore & Ohio at Worth, Pa. The road’s lone engine, a Consolidation leased from the B&O, rests at Grantsville, Md., while men unload a boxcar in September 1955. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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The Cass Scenic Railroad | Cass, W.Va.

The Cass Scenic Railroad is logging locomotive central for the East Coast, rostering all three major types of geared steam locomotives. The railroad is based out of Cass, W.Va., where a former logging railroad was saved in the 1960s to become the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park to preserve the railroad for future generations. Come […]

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Don Sims covers Nevada Northern Railway

Diesel locomotive with freight train by wooden water tank

The Nevada Northern Railway might be the most remote railroad attraction in the Lower 48, and it’s also one of the most valuable. Just ask any of the thousands of people who make the trek each year out to windswept Ely, the east-central Nevada town that hosts one of our finest steam operations. Headlined by […]

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Clover Valley Lumber

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Baldwin Locomotive Works built 2-6-6-2T No. 4 for Clover Valley Lumber Co. of Loyalton, Calif., in March 1924. Shown here in 1950, it also served Feather River Lumber Co. at Loyalton, Calif., before going to the Pacific Locomotive Association in July 1973. Guy L. Dunscomb photo […]

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Climbing over La Mesa Model Railroad Club’s Tehachapi Subdivision

Climbing over La Mesa Model Railroad Club’s Tehachapi Subdivision | In this Trains.com Video Exclusive Layout Extra, our staff captures trackside views of both freight and passenger train forging the enormous 42 x 80-foot HO (1:87) scale public display depicting the route over Southern California’s famed Tehachapi Loop. Sit back and enjoy this extended reel […]

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Railroading Heritage of Midwest America | Silvis, Ill.

Headquartered in the former Rock Island Railroad steam locomotive backshops in Silvis, Ill., Railroading Heritage of Midwest America is quickly becoming a major player in the rail preservation scene.  The new owner of famed Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger No. 3985 and DDA40X Centennial diesel No. 6936, the RRHMA is the proud owner of a large […]

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Rare images of Reading 2102 on the P&LE

Smoking steam locomotive on curve along river

Of all the mainline steam locomotives running these days — and there is an uncanny amount of them — I can’t think of one with as many distinct transitions as Reading 4-8-4 No. 2102. By my count, she’s a cat with at least five lives, with four more to go, if you believe that sort […]

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Two-day freight photo charter offered with Soo Line No. 1003

Steam engine in snow

Ethan Brodie and Brodie Photography are organizing a two-day photo charter in November featuring Soo Line No. 1003, the 1913 Alco 2-8-2 operated by the Hartford, Wis.-based Steam Locomotive Heritage Association. One- and two-day tickets will be offered for the event Nov. 2-03, which will feature No. 1003 pulling a freight train including additional cars […]

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N scale Reading T-1 from Broadway Limited

Screen capture of N scale steam locomotive on scenicked model railroad.

An N scale Reading T-1 from Broadway Limited recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route layout. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he gives a short history of the full-size 4-8-4; points out the many separate, factory-applied details on the model; and demonstrates the light and sound functions on the Paragon4-equipped steam […]

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N scale Reading T-1 from Broadway Limited

Screen capture of N scale steam locomotive on scenicked model railroad.

An N scale Reading T-1 from Broadway Limited recently visited our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route layout. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he gives a short history of the full-size 4-8-4; points out the many separate, factory-applied details on the model; and demonstrates the light and sound functions on the Paragon4-equipped steam […]

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NC&StL locomotives remembered

Diesel NC&StL locomotives with passenger train by signal and station

NC&StL locomotives were distinctive but disappeared all too soon.   The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway had its share of unique items and was a pioneer. Historian Dain L. Schult says the “NC,” as it was known, was the only southern road to try a Camelback and a duplex; neither type worked out. It […]

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