The Erie’s super locomotive

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Erie No. 2603, later No. 5014, was built in 1914 by Baldwin in Philadelphia. None of these 850,000-pound-plus locomotives were preserved. Herb Broadbelt Q With so much talk about Union Pacific’s Big Boy, I was wondering about other North American “big steamers.” Do you know the current location of any of the Erie Railroad’s three […]

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GO, west

  A former GO Transit locomotive that once plied freezing-cold rails near Toronto, Ontario, cozies next to palm trees in Riverside, Calif., in October 2013. Photo by Steve Sweeney […]

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Thomas’ newest friend is an Aussie 4-8-4 NEWSWIRE

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South Australian Railways No. 520, a 4-8-4 Northern-type 520-class steam locomotive traverses track in Australia in 1994. Toy-maker Mattel is introducing “Shane,” a new friend of Thomas the Tank Engine, based on the locomotive. Courtesy: Peter Michalak MOUNT BAKER, Australia — More promotional pictures released by Mattel reveal that one of the new characters soon […]

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VIA sets new rules for ‘Park’ car access NEWSWIRE

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‘Yoho Park’ brings up the markers on the eastbound ‘Canadian’ at Fenwood, Saskachewan, in December 2012. Thomas R. Schultz TORONTO – In an apparent effort to mediate access to its popular Park-series observation cars on its famed Canadian, VIA Rail Canada has announced new rules for passengers traveling in two sleeping-car classes. Travelers in Prestige […]

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Color coordination

  A loaded crude oil train with BNSF Railway power passes a line of matching orange trees on Norfolk Southern’s Chicago Line near Otis, Ind., on Oct. 20, 2014. Photo by Brian Schmidt […]

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Colorado’s scenic tourist lines

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Railroads included in this map: Manitou & Pike’s Peak; San Luis & Rio Grande; Denver & Rio Grande; Cumbres & Toltec Scenic; Leadville, Colorado & Southern; Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge; Royal Gorge Route This map originally appeared in the May 2013 issue of Trains Magazine. Be sure to check out our Colorado Railroads special […]

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A new short line to savor NEWSWIRE

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A Puget Sound & Pacific locomotive working for the recently created Olympia & Belmore Railroad in and around Olympia, Wash. Miguel Guzman OLYMPIA, Wash. — Make way for the Pacific Northwest’s newest short line: the Olympia & Belmore. The new operation was possible after G&W signed a lease agreement with BNSF Railway to operate the […]

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R.J. Corman’s ‘new’ Baldwin NEWSWIRE

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Former Texas South-Eastern No. 301 in R.J. Corman colors in Diboll, Texas, on Monday, April 4. Mike Harbour Texas’ Mike Harbour heard rumors that R.J. Corman was about to do a nice thing for a member of an older generation. Turns out, he heard right and arranged to meet up with a vintage Baldwin formerly […]

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Two signals ‘wigwag’ their last in Wisconsin NEWSWIRE

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Wigwag signals protect a highway crossing in Baraboo, Wis., for the last time on Monday, March 28. When a Wisconsin & Southern train passed the crossing the next day, the signals were inactive. Crews took down the signals later that day on March 29. John Gruber A pair of rare, former Chicago & North Western […]

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