Here’s our 2022 steam locomotive list. As 2021 may be the best so far in the 21st century to be a steam locomotive enthusiast, 2022 is looking good too! A Big Boy is running on Union Pacific’s main lines, the last Baldwin steam locomotive built is flexing its articulated muscles on a mountain railroad, and […]
Type of Train: Steam Locomotive
Trains Magazine, Western Maryland Scenic announce 1309 event
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Trains Magazine and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad are pleased to announce the first enthusiast event to celebrate return of newly restored 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, to be held Feb. 25-27, 2022. The three-day event will be limited to 100 participants and will include a night run on the legendary Western Maryland Railway main […]
Reefer block
Reefer block 4-8-2 2605, a product of IC’s own Paducah (Ky.) shops, leads a long string of refrigerator cars north on the main line at Peotone, Ill., in the 1940s. Illinois Central photo […]
HO Scale geared steam locomotive sample photos and video shared by UK maker
One model manufacturer is “gearing” customers up for a new HO Scale Shay steam locomotive to come to market in 2022. United Kingdom-based KR Models Ltd. released product sample pictures and a test-run video recently which show the company’s version of the classic logging locomotive moving forward and reversing on YouTube. According to an advertisement […]
Western Maryland Scenic 1309 receives FRA approval
RIDGELEY, W.Va. — The Federal Railroad Administration Thursday approved Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 for service, officials of the Cumberland, Md.-based tourist railroad tell Trains News Wire. The last Baldwin built for domestic service in 1949 immediately becomes the world’s largest operating Mallet on a 17-mile mountain railroad that was once the Western […]
Handsome Hudson
Handsome Hudson For a few years in the late 1930s, the steam queens of New Haven’s Shore Line were 10 class I-5 4-6-4s. The handsome Hudsons’ wheel-balance woes prompted NH to begin acquiring a fleet of 60 DL109 diesels in 1941. Here, an I-5 roars west with the Merchants Limited at Sharon, Mass. Wayne Brumbaugh […]
Milwaukee Road freight trains photo gallery
All through November, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the multi-faceted Milwaukee Road. Please enjoy this photo gallery of Milwaukee Road freight trains selected from the image archives of Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. In its history, the Milwaukee Road operated freight service from as far as Louisville, Ky., west to Tacoma, Wash., and Portland, […]
Nashville Steam Issues End of Year Matching Grant Challenge
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – As the restoration of Nashville’s iconic steam locomotive nears its halfway point, Nashville Steam Preservation Society has issued a matching grant challenge to raise $100,000 by the end of 2021. Thanks to a generous opportunity from The Candelaria Fund and The Wick Moorman Charitable Foundation, all donations, and gifts over $500 will […]
First public excursions for Florida 4-6-2 steam locomotive set for December
CLEWISTON, Florida — On December 11th, The Santa Express will deliver gifts to Toys for Tots organizations and local families in need. Special stops with Sugar Express No. 148 and Santa Claus are planned in Glades, Highlands, Hendry, Palm Beach, and Martin Counties. “This is our second year operating The Santa Express and we couldn’t […]
Feather River freight haulers
Feather River freight haulers Western Pacific’s original road freight locomotives were 65 Consolidations; 20 came from Baldwin in 1906, followed by 45 from Alco’s Schenectady plant in 1909. Engine 63 was still on the job at Oakland in 1952. Western Pacific photo […]
The Trains Interview: Western Maryland Scenic’s Wesley Heinz, Part II
Second of two parts CUMBERLAND, Md. — The conclusion of a Trains News Wire interview with with Wesley Heinz, executive director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Part I is available here. Q: Second to 1309, track infrastructure has been a recurring topic of discussion. How is the railroad addressing track needs to avoid another […]
Trains photo charter in Oregon to feature Santa Maria Valley 2-6-2
LEBANON, Ore. — Santa Maria Valley No. 205, a recently restored 2-6-2 that had not steamed in 71 years, will make its photographer’s train debut in a Trains Magazine-sponsored event at the Albany & Eastern on March 18. The locomotive and two coaches will make multiple photo runbys on the railroad’s scenic Sweet Home Branch […]