Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-6 No. 1647 makes 40 mph along the Kanawha River east of Handley, W.Va., with coal bound for the piers at Newport News, Va. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
C&O Allegheny on the move
Zone & Region: Appalachia
NYC in central Pennsylvania
New York Central Alco FA diesels lead a freight near Jersey Shore, Pa., at the south end of Pine Creek Gorge – the “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania” – in 1952. This photo was on the cover of the first issue of Classic Trains, back in early 2000. William P. Price photo […]
Western Maryland Scenic adds former California Zephyr dome (corrected)
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has added dome-lounge Silver Palace, a well-traveled car built by the Budd Co. in 1948 for Western Pacific for use on the California Zephyr. Following completion of maintenance, inspections, and upgrades, the car will enter excursion service, replacing dome-lounge Stampede Pass, which the heritage railroad had previously […]
Last J with the Powhatan Arrow
Norfolk & Western engine 613 — the last-built of the road’s fleet of J-class 4-8-4s, and thus the last of all North American 4-8-4s — wheels the Cincinnati–Norfolk Powhatan Arrow south of Kenova, W.Va., on May 30, 1952. Ed Theisinger photo […]
CSX Santa Train to return Nov. 18
KINGSPORT, Tenn. — The CSX Santa Train will return for its 81st year on Nov. 18, the railroad announced today in a video on the Santa Train Facebook Page. “The Santa Train is an integral part of CSX history, and we are proud to be a part of this longstanding tradition,” CEO Joe Hinricks said […]
Helping hand from a Hippo
Pennsylvania Railroad class I1 2-10-0 1753 shoves on the cabin car of a westbound iron ore train at Alexandria, Pa., on PRR’s Hollidaysburg & Petersburg Branch in September 1955. The I1s’ chunky appearance earned them the nickname “Hippo.” Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Hardworking Erie Mikado
An Erie Railroad 2-8-2 works hard with a westbound way freight on a steep grade near Alfred, N.Y., in 1950. R. G. Nugent, Rail Photo Service […]
C&O Historical Society begins fundraising to restore office car Chessie 29 to operation
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. — The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society has begun a fundraising campaign to return historic C&O office car Chessie 29 to operation, organization president Mark Totten has announced. The society will sell a custom, limited-edition, 11-by-17-inch poster of the car from Base Camp Printing of Charleston, W.Va., to fund the hiring of […]
Beech Mountain, likely nearing end of operations, leases SW1500s
ALEXANDER, W.Va. — Beech Mountain Railroad has leased two former CSX SW1500s from LTEX Rail to continue moving coal from Carter-Roag Coal Co.’s Star Bridge processing plant to the railroad’s interchange with the Appalachian & Ohio at Alexander. United Coal Co. subsidiary Carter-Roag has closed its Morgan Camp mine, which fed the Star Bridge preparation […]
N&W 611 to run on Buckingham Branch’s Virginia Scenic Railway
Norfolk & Western No. 611 has a new place to run. The Virginia Museum of Transportation and Virginia Scenic Railway — the excursion operation of the short line Buckingham Branch Railroad — have announced the Class J 4-8-4 will run weekend excursions this fall on the Virginia Scenic Railway. The steam-powered Shenandoah Valley Limited will […]
NTSB issues preliminary report on NS hot-bearing coal train derailment
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board today released its preliminary report about a Norfolk Southern coal train that derailed in Virginia on July 6 after a wheel bearing failure. The railroad’s response to hot bearing alerts has been under scrutiny since the disastrous Feb. 3 hazardous materials wreck in East Palestine, Ohio. In this […]
Durbin & Greenbrier Valley sets Labor Day weekend events featuring Climax No. 9
CASS, W.Va — Cass Scenic Railroad operator Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad has announced two special events — a night photo session, and an excursion, both featuring Climax No. 9 — to be held Labor Day weekend. On Sunday, Sept. 3, the railroad will host a night photo session at the Cass depot, set to […]
