Young Guns in Preservation: Tyler Chipman

Young individual in the cab of a steam locomotive

It’s not uncommon for a trainee to become a trainer in the world of rail preservation. Tyler Chipman has taken on this path himself, beginning as a volunteer student conductor and engineer at Chattanooga’s Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Today, the 25-year-old is both training and educating others in his part-time role at the museum. How […]

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By caboose to Silverton and back

Black & white photo of conductor and brakeman by desk in caboose.

It does not matter how many times you have traveled the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad between its namesake cities. Every time you ride is a new adventure. The scenery evolves over time and is dependent on the season at hand. The people you ride with change. The purpose of the ride is different. […]

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Travel with Trains: New England Fall Colors by Rail

A maroon railroad diesel crosses a short timber trestle

The Trains New England Fall Colors by Rail tour checks a lot of boxes. Memorable train rides, great food and lodging, colorful fall foliage, and time to explore picturesque towns. What’s it like to visit New England with Trains Magazine? Follow along with this day-by-day journal from Editor Carl Swanson. Friday, Oct. 4th, 2024 Volunteering […]

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U.S. Sugar 148 enjoys the spotlight

A color photograph of a steam locomotive pulling more modern passenger cars

I haven’t counted every last owner one time or another of Florida East Coast 4-6-2 No. 148, but it must be close to a record. For a mainline-size engine, the Pacific was incredibly peripatetic, sort of like former Burlington 2-8-2 No. 4960 before it landed at the Grand Canyon Railway. The 148 emerged from Alco’s […]

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‘Cameron Christmas Train’ to visit Ohio, Indiana, Michigan

Logo of Cameron Christmas Train

ANGOLA, Ind. — A three-day holiday train operation in northeast Indiana, southeastern Michigan, and western Ohio has been announced for next Monday through Wednesday. The Cameron Christmas Train, sponsored by Cameron Hospital, will be operated by the Indiana Northeastern Railroad, Little River Railroad, and Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Nov. 18-20. “As the region’s healthcare […]

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Young Guns in Preservation: Michael Spring

Young individual standing on top of a steam locomotive tender

Michael Spring is living the dream at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Since 2023, the 22-year-old has been a full-time employee at his favorite tourist line. He serves as a conductor and student engineer for the excursion operations out of Cumberland, Md., in addition to being a shop mechanic at the yard facility in Ridgeley, […]

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Woodstown Central 0-6-0 set for Nov. 30 debut

Steam locomotive operates with diesel switcher attached

WOODSTOWN, N.J. — The Woodstown Central Railroad, the heritage rail operation of SMS Rail Service, has announced that its restored Alco 0-6-0 locomotive No. 9 will make its revenue debut Nov. 30 in Santa Claus Special passenger service. The locomotive, built for the U.S. Army in 1942, also worked for the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway […]

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White Pass & Yukon runs train with all-female crew

Three women posed next to passenger car and diesel locomotive

SKAGWAY, Alaska — The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway marked a milestone in its well over a century of operation earlier this month when it operated a train with an all-female crew for the first time. The event occurred on Oct. 15 with a crew of Lindsay Breen, the railroad’s first woman engineer; conductor […]

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