A Napoleon, Defiance & Western train passes the former Wabash Railroad freight house in Napoleon, Ohio, on Oct. 19, 2014. At far right is reminder of another previous owner of the line. Photo by Brian Schmidt […]
No trespassing
Section: Railroads
Escarpment
You don’t need to go west to find the mountains. Canadian Pacific ES440AC No. 8800 is down to hardly a crawl going up and over the Niagara Escarpment on the Galt Sub between Milton and Guelph Junction, Ontario. Photo by Brandon Muir […]
Tortoise and the hare
A southbound Amtrak Acela Express overtakes an outbound empty Norfolk Southern oil train on the Northeast Corridor lead by the Central of New Jersey-painted heritage unit near Elkton, Md., on Jan. 4, 2015. Photo by Michael S. Murray […]
Tread lightly
Recent heavy rains have caused standing water in many parts of central Ohio. Here, Norfolk Southern No. 5228 shoves local L55 over the former Pennsylvania Railroad “Panhandle” main line to pick up some cars at Circleville Ag, just east of downtown Circleville, Ohio. Photo by Carlos Ferran […]
10,000th
On Feb. 18, 2018, the 10,000th delivery of a Boeing 737 fuselage manufactured in Wichita, Kan., arrived in Seattle on car MTTX 971483. Note the “10,000 Deliveries” marking spray-painted ahead of the wing base. Photo by David Honan […]
Operating in push vs. pull
An eastbound express Metra train, operating in push mode, pauses at Western Springs, Ill., on Sept. 10, 2009. You can see the engineer in the window of the cabcar. Paul Hoffmann Q What’s the difference in touch or feel for an engineer running in push mode versus pull mode? Is there a limit to the […]
Trains Presents: Big Boy No. 4018 at the Museum of the American Railroad
Take a look at Big Boy No. 4018 at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas, with Trains correspondent Hayley Enoch and museum President Bob LaPrelle. You’ll learn what makes the Lone Star State’s lone preserved Big Boy special! For more Big Boy video, check out Big Boy: On the Road to Restoration, […]
Taking Care of Business: Copper Basin Railway, Part 2
Our insider look at Arizona’s Copper Basin Railway continues, with Charlie Conway focusing his cameras on the real pride of the CBR — its employees! In part 2 of 2, you’ll follow inspectors, mechanics, dispatchers, conductors, engineers, and others who are busy Taking Care of Business. Enjoy this video, and then learn more about the […]
Water tanks in winter
Duluth & Northeastern No. 14 fills up at Cloquet, Minn., in 1958. William D. Middleton Q How did railroads in northern states keep water in tanks from freezing in the winter? Were the tanks heated and insulated, or filled just before use? – James Alain, Chassell, Mich. A Many water towers in colder climates had […]
Watermelon Extra
Russell Tedder’s 16-hour 70-tonner ride occurred in July 1955, when he was dispatching for the Live Oak, Perry & Gulf and South Georgia, two affiliated short lines recently acquired by the Southern Railway. Watermelons were an important source of revenue for the Live Oak, Perry & Gulf and South Georgia in the early 1950s. The […]
Earliest recollections
“Wee Jimmie” Brown examines a Canadian Pacific switch stand beside the Don Mills Road crossing in North Toronto. His fascination soon turned to fear when a doubleheaded freight came along. Alvin Brown Despite his son’s concern for their safety, Alvin Brown managed to photograph an eastbound freight coming and going at the crossing. Two photos, […]
Canadian National’s SD60Fs
CN SD60Fs meet train 393 as they move eastward at Aldershot West, Burlington, Ont., on May 5, 2006. Greg McDonnell Q I recently saw Canadian National Railway diesel No. 5553 switching a cut of cars in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was unable to determine who built this locomotive. It had six axles and no running […]
