Spring has officially sprung, and like warmer days ahead, announcements will soon be heating up for when and where you can experience big mainline steam in 2025. Some of these massive locomotives have already gotten head starts in their operating seasons with more expected to be out of hibernation before Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start to summer. If you’re also looking to get a head start in finding big steam this spring, let’s see who’s hot.
Some locomotives took to the high iron as early as January. U.S. Sugar 4-6-2 No. 148’s winter hibernation was more like a quick nap after the holiday season. The Pacific-type locomotive has spent the last three months criss-crossing Central Florida, pulling weekend excursions under the Sugar Express banner. For those who missed out, there is still time to go for a ride with more trips scheduled for the remainder of March and heading into late May.
Reading & Northern 4-8-4 No. 2102 and Grand Canyon Railway 2-8-2 No. 4960 also had early starts. The former’s 2025 debut had a dash of snow during the first-ever winter Iron House Ramble, between Reading and Jim Thorpe, Pa., on February 8. The latter kicked off its season with the traditional “First Saturday” excursion on March 1 as it traveled from Williams, Ariz., to Grand Canyon National Park. The Mikado-type locomotive even had a weekday trip sprinkled in on March 12 for Arizona’s spring break week. The next Reading-Jim Thorpe ramble with No. 2102 is scheduled on May 24, while No. 4960 will see four operating days throughout April and May (including Tuesday, April 22, for Earth Day).
For more big steam planned to debut this spring, highlights [so far] will stretch from east to west. Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 will return to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for the first time since 2022. Erosion along the nearby Cuyahoga River kept the 400-ton Berkshire from taking part in the traditional “Steam in the Valley” event the past two years. Instead, the locomotive spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons at the Indiana Northeastern Railroad. No. 765 is expected to return to the short line for the Indiana Rail Experience’s summer schedule. Meanwhile, Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 3751 will have a Hollywood-like spotlight on May 5 for a photo shoot at Los Angeles’ Renondo Yard. The day and night sessions are organized by Pete Lerro.
Obviously, the list of who’ll be in steam this spring isn’t complete as additional news and announcements are to be expected. You might also expect a couple of locomotives fired up for the first time in years. As more information becomes available, the following schedule will be updated. Keep checking back and stay tuned for the upcoming 2025 schedule for big steam in the summer!
Spring Schedules
Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960
Williams to Grand Canyon National Park
- April 5 and 22
- May 5 and 24
Visit the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotels website for more information and the complete 2025 steam schedule.
Nickel Plate Road No. 765
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Steam in the Valley; Rockside, Ohio
- April 25-27
- May 2-4
Visit the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad website for more information.
Reading & Northern No. 2102
Iron House Ramble, Reading to Jim Thorpe
- May 24
Visit the Reading & Northern Passenger Department website for more information and the complete 2025 Iron Horse Ramble schedule.
Santa Fe No. 3751
Lerro Photography’s Yard Photo Shoot; Los Angeles
- May 5
Visit the Lerro Photography website for more information.
U.S. Sugar No. 148
Sugar Express; Central Florida
- March 29 — Lake Placid Limited, Clewiston to Lake Placid
- March 30 — Palmdale Pioneer Ice Cream Train, Clewiston to Palmdale
- April 11 — Lake Placid Sunset Spirit Express, Lake Placid
- April 12 — Clewiston Comet, Lake Placid to Clewiston
- April 13 — Highlands County Crescent, Sebring to Childs
- April 26 — Lake Placid Limited, Clewiston to Lake Placid
- April 27 — Palmdale Pioneer Ice Cream Train, Clewiston to Palmdale
- May 17 — Lake Placid Limited, Clewiston to Lake Placid
- May 18 — Palmdale Pioneer Ice Cream Train, Clewiston – Palmdale
Visit the Sugar Express website for more information.
View the list of all the 2025 active steam locomotives in Trains’ Feb. 2025 issue.
