The Seattle-centric postcards continue with Charlie and MRVP’s Kent Johnson visiting the locomotive ready tracks at BNSF’s Balmer Yard. From a prime street-side vantage point, the two investigate an eclectic range of vintage Santa Fe and BN equipment, plus modern BNSF diesel power idling and working the site. […]
After attending the 2015 National Train Show in Portland, Ore., Charlie and Kent Johnson decided to leave the driving to Amtrak for the return trip to Seattle, Wash. In this video, the guys share the high-speed sprint from one classic station to another, and highlight numerous railroad interests along the BNSF main line! […]
A Fort Worth & Western mixed freight ascends a grade near Cresson, Texas, in May 2013. Steve Sweeney Q Do railroads have formulas managing the length or tonnage of a train based on how many engines are pulling it? What factors would be in such a formula? — Doug Gard, McCordsville, Ind. A Each railroad […]
Railroads included in this map: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Arizona & California; Arizona Central; Blackwell Northern; BNSF Railway; Cimarron Valley; Dallas Area Rapid Transit; Farmrail; Fort Worth & Western; Grand Canyon; Garden City Western; Heart of Texas; Kansas City Southern; Kansas & Oklahoma; Midland; Panhandle Northern; Pacific Sun; Rail Runner Express; Metrolink; Coaster/Sprinter; Santa […]
New GoldLeaf dome car final designs as envisioned by a graphic artist. Passenger car and locomotive maker, Stadler, will build the cars for the Rocky Mountaineer land cruise trains in Switzerland and Germany. Rocky Mountaineer VANCOUVER, B.C. — Following an eight-year search, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours says it is commissioning European rail manufacturer Stadler to build […]
Whitewater Valley Railroad’s No. 25 stands by, waiting further orders on Dec. 21, 2013. The decades-old Lima-Hamilton served Cincinnati Union Terminal and the Cadillac & Lake City Railroad before moving to Connersville, Ind. Photo by Steve Sweeney […]
Northbound Florida East Coast train No. 224 peers through the fog at Stratten Road between St. Augustine and Jacksonville, Fla., on Jan. 12, 2015. Photo by Brian Schmidt […]
Pulling the correct lever is an important matter for operators of Metra’s Tower A2 in western Chicago in September 2013. This pneumatic lever machine uses brass rods to trigger air pulses to switch more than 100 points on Union Pacific headed due west out of downtown. Photo by Steve Sweeney […]
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. – The Reading & Northern Railroad, through its Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway operation, will offer a number of RDC fan trips over its lines during the summer months. This marks the first use of the silver Budd-built cars in 15 years. Nos. 9166 and 9168 have been overhauled […]
LAS VEGAS – Railroad wheels wear over time. When they do, they affect the performance and reliability of the freight or passenger car or locomotive that they help carry down the tracks. Gordon Bachinsky, founder of Wheel Rail Seminars and the Wheel Rail Interaction conference lays out the basics for Trains‘ Steve Sweeney with model […]
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is preserving a piece of southern shortline railroading history with the unveiling of its newly restored Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway EMD GP38 No. 80. The blue-and-yellow-painted high-nose GP38 was posed outside of the railroad’s Soule Shops over the weekend. “TAG 80 has […]
Southern Railway 2-8-0 No. 630 on a Norfolk Southern excursion carries 10,000 gallons of water in its tender and an additional 12,500 gallons in its auxiliary tender to negate the need for additional water between stops. Allyson Praytor Q I saw a television show where steam locomotives were operating with two tenders instead of just […]
