SP’s “Slim Princess” on a stroll

20151127

Southern Pacific’s “Slim Princess” line tackled the rugged and arid territory along the east side of Owens Lake between the Virginia & Truckee and Keeler. Originally the Carson & Colorado, it was renamed for parent SP in 1912. Here oil-burning 4-6-0 No. 8 leads a short train through the desert. Classic Trains collection […]

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Bridge replacement on the Katy

20151123

A crane lowers into place the next-to-last plate girder of a new bridge that will replace a wood trestle on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas. The BETHLEHEM lettering on the plate girder indicates the maker of the steel. MKT photo […]

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Rio Grande M-68 Northern

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad 4-8-4 near Denver Union Station

Handsome D&RGW 1800, first of the road’s five class M-68 passenger 4-8-4s built by Baldwin in 1938, poses for a broadside portrait near Denver Union Station in August 1940. R. H. Kindig photo […]

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Norfolk & Western Railway history remembered

Steam locomotive with coal train among trees

Norfolk & Western Railway history has two distinct phases. Before 1964, it was a coal hauler controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It even looked like the Pennsy in places: Tuscan Red coaches, position-light signals, and a short electrified district — but no Belpaire fireboxes. In 1964, possibly as a reaction to the proposed merger of […]

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Airborne Challenger

Union Pacific Railroad 4-6-6-4 Challenger wheels

Union Pacific’s 4-6-6-4 Challengers were too long for the turntable at North Platte, Nebr., but they could still use it. Wedges were clamped to the table’s rails at one end, then a 4-6-6-4 was backed on, leaving the rear four wheels of the tender hanging in mid-air. Art Stensvad photo […]

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