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STRATFORD, England — Back at my London base for the first part of this tour, a hotel adjacent to the Stratford station. Unlike my first stay a week ago, I this time asked for a room with a railway view. (Clerk: “No one has every asked for that before.” I now understand why; you can […]
GLASGOW, Scotland — Another night, another sleeper train. Tonight, I’ll be concluding my two-night experience with Scotland’s Caledonian Sleeper, taking the 11:40 p.m. train from Glasgow Central Station back to London Euston, where I started this quick excursion into Scotland on Tuesday night. Since my previous post, I have made a 418-mile, 12-hour, 45-minute trip […]
LONDON — Greetings from London, where I am preparing for my third international Trains Magazine/Special Interest Tours, following earlier trips to Germany and Switzerland. This one begins Sept. 23 and was scheduled to mark the bicentennial of modern railroading, which began in September 1825 with the first steam-powered train on the Stockton & Darlington Railway. […]
This summer, my wife Kris and I took a three-day railroad-themed mini-vacation to Scranton, Pa. This fascinating place is a wonderful way to experience history. Scranton is a complex, layered city with many fascinating elements of railroading to explore and enjoy, but you need to take the time to seek it out — both at […]
Railfanning spots with heavy rail traffic can be a magnet for enthusiasts and casual observers. The constant parade of one train after another with minimal lulls in between is alluring — and a stark contrast to places where waiting on a single train for hours can feel like watching paint dry. For those who don’t […]
There is a special bond shared by fathers, sons, and trains. My father and I share a passion for riding and photographing trains. This spring, my father’s health took a bad turn. To cheer him up, we chatted about his early experiences riding trains and our many travels together. I mentioned how the New York, […]
Autumn is a great time for railroad adventure. Give me days with cool air and sunny skies or days when a gentle rain glosses colored foliage. Decades ago, I’d embark on week-long trips in the Fall to explore my favorite railroads. I’d arrange my itinerary to make the most of the autumn foliage, carefully planning […]
GREELEY, Colo. — Union Pacific’s Big Boy began its only scheduled trip of 2025 today (July 17), heading from its home base in Cheyenne, Wyo., to Denver as part of a round trip for the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. The 4-8-8-4 is accompanied by the railroad’s Abraham Lincoln diesel, No. 1616. Today’s servicing stop […]
CHANHASSEN, Minn. — Former Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 will make its first extended excursion in three years in October, powering “Harvest BBQ Express” trains on the Twin Cities & Western Railroad, Oct. 4-5. Trips along a portion of the route of Milwaukee’s Olympian Hiawatha will originate at Chanhassen, Minn., with six classes of accommodations […]
SILVIS, Ill. — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will operate two days of fundraising trips Sept. 20-21 with Union Pacific DDA40X No. 6936, with proceeds benefiting nonprofit organizations promoting rail safety, as well as the organization restoring two Chinese-built 2-10-2 locomotives that have previously been part of fundraising efforts. The “Quad Cities Rocket” trips will […]
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The National Museum of Industrial History and Reading & Northern Railroad will offer a day-long rare mileage excursion on Aug. 6 using a pair of the railroad’s Budd Rail Diesel Cars. The trip from R&N’s Reading Outer Station to Ashland, Pa., will feature a visit to the railroad’s steam shop in Port […]
ELY, Nev. — Nevada Northern Railway has unveiled its repainted locomotive for America’s semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, coming on July 4, 2026. The design, unveiled on Friday (July 4, 2025), was chosen through a contest held by the museum railway earlier this year. SD9 No. 204, […]
