Compared to their traditional reciprocating rod-driven counterparts, geared steam locomotives can be seen as “oddballs” to the casual eye. They certainly fit that bill with their unique styles of running gear consisting of cylinders positioned at different angles and connected to the drive shaft through a series of gears to ultimately power every wheel […]
Train Topic: Narrow Gauge & Industrial
Restoration continues for rare geared locomotive featured in movie marking 70th anniversary
MISSOULA, Mont. — An obscure but classic motion picture about logging in the Northwest, and the unique log-hauling locomotive that starred in it, are returning to the spotlight. In February 1955, “Timberjack” made its world premiere on the screens of the Roxy and Fox theaters in Missoula, not far from where the movie had been […]
British and European rail enthusiasts travel abroad
Let’s travel abroad During a Trains Magazine photo charter at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in fall 2024, a group of British and European photographers decided to travel abroad to the U.S. to join Trains staff at the D&SNG and, in the days following, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic with Pete Lerro of […]
News Wire top stories of 2024, No. 10: East Broad Top revival continues
For a fifth straight year, the revival of the much-loved narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad in Pennsylvania has made Trains News Wire’s year-end Top 10. The rebirth of this 33-mile-long coal-hauler turned preservation tourist railroad began in 2020 with the formation of the nonprofit EBT Foundation, Inc. by industry leaders Henry Posner III, Wick […]
Reminiscing on five prolific narrow gauge railroads in Colorado
The silver and gold bonanza of the late 19th Century led to a boom in narrow gauge railroad startups across Colorado. But out of the plethora that’ve come and gone, which left an impact in the Centennial State and sparked our enthusiasm to visit what’s left today? Let’s find out by reminiscing about five prolific […]
Completion of shop expansion brings more contract work for Durango & Silverton
DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has completed expansion of its shop facilities to accommodate contract work, and is seeing enough demand as a result that the railroad is looking to add five welders and machinists. The Durango Herald reports the $3.25 million, 10,000-square-foot shop expansion was completed at the end […]
By caboose to Silverton and back
It does not matter how many times you have traveled the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad between its namesake cities. Every time you ride is a new adventure. The scenery evolves over time and is dependent on the season at hand. The people you ride with change. The purpose of the ride is different. […]
OmniTRAX to serve P&G plant in Ohio
LIMA, Ohio — Rail and logistics firm OmniTRAX has been selected to provide switching for Procter & Gamble’s laundry-products factory in Lima, the third P&G manufacturing served by the OmniTRAX network. The new agreement became effective Nov. 1. OmniTRAX affiliate OmniTRAX Lima Industrial will switch daily inbound cars to the plans and return empty cars […]
White Pass & Yukon runs train with all-female crew
SKAGWAY, Alaska — The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway marked a milestone in its well over a century of operation earlier this month when it operated a train with an all-female crew for the first time. The event occurred on Oct. 15 with a crew of Lindsay Breen, the railroad’s first woman engineer; conductor […]
Friends of EBT opens art exhibit, mine-tour path, extends railbike run
ROBERTSDALE, Pa. — While the Friends of the East Broad Top volunteers received lots of praise for over-the-top fundraising and aggressive track restoration at the group’s recent Fall Reunion, they’re pressing ahead with a dizzying array of other projects. All of it goes hand-in-hand with the EBT Foundation’s goal of restoring an entire 33-mile narrow-gauge […]
Iowa provides $5.1 million in loans, grants for rail projects
DECORAH, Iowa — The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved loans and grants totaling $5.1 million for six rail infrastructure and development projects under the state’s Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant program. The agency says the projects will support creation and retention of 55 jobs within the three years of project completion. Receiving funding as Targeted […]
Knoxville Locomotive Works delivers Tier 4 switcher for ADM facility in Texas
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Knoxville Locomotive Works has delivered a Tier 4 switcher to agricultural firm ADM for use at the company’s Corpus Christi facility, a locomotive funded by a state grant to address emissions reduction. “KLW is pleased to deliver the first successfully integrated a Cummins Tier 4 QST 30 Module to power a […]
