‘Wanna ride along with us?’

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The engineer of Southern SD35 3007, preparing to depart East St. Louis in April 1968, invited me up for a cab ride—but logistics intervened. J. David Ingles Over the years, I’d bet most of us non-railroaders who’ve been out taking train pictures have received a spontaneous invitation from an engine crew we encountered. And how […]

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Tracking train lengths

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Controls for measuring the length of a train (circled) are integrated into the touch screen Video Information Display on an EMD SD70ACe. Tom Danneman Q If an engineer has a train with 100 or more cars and he gets a signal to take the siding, how does he know when he and all the cars […]

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Trains Presents: Butler, Ind., hot spot

Norfolk Southern diesel locomotive

Join Trains Presents video contributor Chris Wehman for a look at Norfolk Southern’s busy junction at Butler, Ind., northeast of Fort Wayne. There, the former Conrail Cleveland to Chicago main crosses the former Norfolk & Western Detroit to Fort Wayne line. You’ll see trains at all angles, including the Triple Crown RoadRailer! […]

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Trains Presents: Peru tour, Day 1

Join us as we travel with Special Interest Tours to Peru! On the first day of our September 2017 tour, we visit Lima, check out the Ferrocarril Central Andino shop at Chosica, dedicate a locomotive for Conrail’s James A. Hagen, and spin the unit on the turntable at San Bartolome. Let’s go! […]

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BNSF’s Willow Springs

Trains Magazine columnist Fred W. Frailey takes a look inside BNSF Railway’s busy Willow Springs intermodal yard, near Chicago. In this free download, you’ll get a peek behind the security fence to experience the rush to move priority UPS traffic into and out of the Windy City. […]

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Trains Presents: Albany & Eastern Winterail 2017 excursion

Southern Pacific SD9 No. 5399 pulling a mix of passenger equipment

Take a look at the Albany & Eastern’s March 2017 excursion between Lebanon and Sweet Home, Ore., coinciding with the annual Winterail multimedia show and sale in nearby Corvallis. You’ll see the privately owned and restored Southern Pacific SD9 No. 5399 and the short line’s own power with an eclectic mix of passenger equipment. Also […]

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Trains Presents: Nashville steam restoration update

Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis 4-8-4 No. 576 steam locomotive

Work continues on Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis No. 576! Restoration of this fabled 4-8-4 continues in Nashville’s Centennial Park while organizers raise money to relocate the engine to a shop. A matching challenge grant through the end of 2017 will boost the project. Organizer Shane Meador explains the latest developments for “the stripe.” For […]

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Western Allegheny at dusk

Western Allegheny Railroad 2-8-0 with Bessemer and Lake Erie hopper cars

Ex-Pennsy H10s 2-8-0 No. 85 of the 21-mile Western Allegheny Railroad heads a train of big Bessemer & Lake Erie hopper cars loaded with coal and limestone out of Kaylor, Pa., in September 1955. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Railroad business trains

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On June 8, 2015, Montana Rail Link’s business train soars high over the white waters of Fish Creek, near Rivulet, Mont. During this trip, the railroad’s owner, Dennis Washington, hosted business partners aboard the train. Steven Welch Q What is the purpose of railroad business and inspection trains, and who would use them? – Dennis […]

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