SILVIS, Ill. — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America has begun restoration work on former Union Pacific café-diner-lounge No. 5016. RRHMA is advertising that tours of the car to see work in progress will be offered with the purchase of tickets to the Trains and Tractors event at Silvis Oct. 18 and 19. Plans are to […]
Zone & Region: Midwest
Class of their own
In early 1954, Union Pacific 4-12-2 No. 9028 brings a train into North Platte, Neb., from the east. Only UP had 4-12-2s, 88 built during 1926–30, which led to the wheel arrangement being called the Union Pacific type. Art Stensvad photo […]
The S scale Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville layout
Facts and features Name: Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon) Scale: S (1:64)Size: 38 x 62 feetPrototype: MononLocale: west central IndianaEra: late 1940sStyle: walk-in Mainline run: 180 feetMinimum radius: 48″ (main), 36″ (sidings and spurs)Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 1% (main), 2.5% (to staging)Benchwork: L girderHeight: 46″ to 49″Roadbed: HomasoteTrack: code 100 (main), codes 83 and […]
Fort Wayne society names Lynch as executive director
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, known for its stewardship of Nickel Plate Road steam engine No. 765 and the Indiana Rail Experience rail tourism program, has named Kelly Lynch as its first executive director — the first paid employee in the organization’s 52-year history. Lynch has been a member of […]
Railfan Road: Railfanning the upper Mississippi
Railfanning the upper Mississippi River is a rewarding experience. The area’s scenic beauty rated a slogan from the Burlington Route: “Where nature smiles 300 miles,” enticing passengers to Chicago, Burlington & Quincy passenger trains along the east bank of the river. Milwaukee Road’s Hiawathas (slogan: “Nothing Faster on Rails”) competed for Chicago-Twin Cities business using its own […]
NTSB issues preliminary report on Union Pacific conductor fatality in Kenosha, Wis.
WASHINGTON — The Union Pacific conductor struck and killed by a Metra train in Kenosha, Wis., on Sept. 4 had left the locomotive of his freight train to address a hot-wheel report from a wayside detector, the National Transportation Safety Board says in am preliminary investigation report issued today (Tuesday, Oct. 1). The incident occurred […]
Ohio tourist railroad receives grant to help restore Alco S4 to operation
GRAND RAPIDS, Ohio — The Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum has received a grant to help restore its former Chesapeake & Ohio Alco S4, No. 5109, to operating condition, the organization has announced. The Anderson Foundation has awarded a $5,140 grant that the tourist railroad says in a Facebook post will be […]
OmniTRAX port operation unveils Mount Vernon Railroad name and logo
MOUNT VERNON, Ind. — The new OmniTRAX railroad serving Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon has been named the Mount Vernon Railroad, and students from three local schools have a chance to name the two GP38-2 locomotives that will serve the port railroad.= OmniTRAX was named as the operator for the port on the Ohio River in […]
Perry Becker, hobby store owner and steam photographer, dies at 90
MORGAN, Minn. — If you’ve attended a railroad hobby show or flea market in the Midwest in the past few decades, you couldn’t help but see the signs and tables for Perry’s Hobbies. Based in tiny Morgan, Minn., southwest of the Twin Cities, owner Perry Becker established the business in 1966. Becker, 90, died of […]
Wisconsin Great Northern owner sentenced to prison in tax case
MADISON, Wis. — The owner of the Wisconsin Great Northern, the heritage rail operation in Spooner, Wis., which gained significant attention for its efforts to restore the Mark Twain Zephyr, has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison for failure to pay employment taxes. Greg Vreeland, 55, of Springbrook, Wis., was sentenced […]
Chemical leak from tank car leads to evacuations near Cincinnati (updated)
UPDATE: The image has been clarified for the evacuation area of half-mile radius. https://t.co/lTpcF0Ni9U pic.twitter.com/Mv66wHwCss — Hamilton County EMA (@HCEMA) September 24, 2024 CLEVES, Ohio — An evacuation order was lifted this evening (Wednesday, Sept. 25) in the area where a tank car began leaking the toxic, flammable chemical styrene on Tuesday. The order was […]
Grand Canyon No. 4960 challenges grades during railway’s multiple anniversaries
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — At age 123, the former Santa Fe branch between Williams and Grand Canyon National Park will not hesitate in challenging Grand Canyon Railway’s steam and diesel locomotives as they navigate the sharp curves and 3.5% grades. The fleet’s flagship, 2-8-2 No. 4960, was no exception on Sept. 21, 2024. Commemorating the first […]