Preview August and September 2023 Trains content

Preview Trains August and September 2023 content

We’re always adding new content to our website! Here’s a sneak peek at a few items coming up this August/September …

Five mind-blowing facts — Fast trains

Don’t blink. How fast was that train going? Read about the five mind-blowing facts regarding speed and trains from Bob Lettenberger’s article.

train moving so fast it's a blur — In an instant a train can pass by. The meaning of “fast” in relation to trains has constantly changed and increased. From top speeds of 20 mph to 350-plus — train speed continues to fascinate us. Don’t blink …

Amtrak police dogs

More than 50 police dogs serve and protect Amtrak’s trains and stations throughout the United States. From birth to adulthood, these canines are trained to work with their human counterparts, protecting them from threats such as bombs. A few of the dogs are solely trained to detect narcotics. So much goes into each dog … read to find out more!

canine police dog in station — Officer Bobby Williams’ canine partner Diesel is one of many dogs protecting New York Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall. APD/Emily Moser

New Class I locomotive orders trickle in

It’s been three years since the railroad industry has had a new-build six-axle freight locomotive order for a Class I railroad. Precision Scheduled Railroading, a glut of stored locomotives, and the desire to rebuild instead of build, has kept railroads on the sidelines in terms of new power. Progress Rail’s last new six-axle order was in 2019 for CSX, while Wabtec built new road power for BNSF and Canadian National in 2020.

orange and yellow locomotive on track — BNSF ET44ACH No. 3653 sits at Wabtec’s Ft. Worth, Texas, plant shortly after completion. Travis Berryman

Railcar movers are replacing shop locomotives

Railcar movers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but when it comes down to it, they all do the same thing; move railroad locomotives and cars. While many consider such contraptions sacrilege, equipped with rubber tires as well as steel wheels, an experienced operator can move equipment around many times faster, and usually cheaper, than a standard locomotive assigned to shop duty.

yellow and blue railcar mover — A Zephir LOK 13.90E rail car mover at Amtrak’s Redondo Roundhouse in Los Angeles. The builder says its line of movers is designed to be customized by the buyer for their specific requirements. David Lustig

Coming in September …

Grand Canyon Railway’s 4960

Grand Canyon Railway’s 4960 was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. The O-1A class 2-8-2 Mikado No. 4960 was ideally suited for powering fast freight trains across Burlington’s mostly level Midwest routes.

A black steam locomotive pulls passenger cars down a single-track line under a blue sky — Grand Canyon Railway’s 4960, a 2-8-2 Mikado built in 1923 for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, rolls south with a National Model Railroad Association Pacific Southwest Region charter on June 10, 2023. The O-1A class locomotive is fueled by waste vegetable oil collected from local restaurants. Carl Swanson

Death Valley Railroad: A heck of a place for a railroad

Of all the places to run a railroad, perhaps the last you might expect to find one is California’s Death Valley. I mean, come on. Locals, what there are of them, claim it can be the hottest place on Earth in the summer. As for water, well, there’s not much of that any time of the year.

Steam locomotive on display in desert setting — Death Valley Railroad Baldwin 2-8-0 No. 2 is seen on Dec. 22, 2021, at Furnace Creek, Calif. Randy Young

Rhyolite, a railroad ghost town in Nevada

When the evening breeze whispers, Rhyolite, a railroad ghost town in Nevada, almost seems to some alive. One can imagine people strolling the concrete sidewalks under electric streetlights while strains of music float from the air-conditioned opera house.