Southern Railway FP7 6141 and an F3 roar uphill into the hamlet of Saluda, N.C., top of famous 4.7-percent Saluda Grade, with the Charleston, S.C.–Cincinnati Carolina Special in the early 1950s. Linn H. Westcott photo […]
Cresting Saluda Grade
Section: Railroads
Magic carpet to Durham
Southern Railway 2-8-0 No. 400 powered a boy’s “magic carpet” mixed train to Durham, N.C. Curt Tillotson Jr. collection What an adventure this was for a 7-year-old, impressionable young man, already a lover of trains. Indeed, every minute of the 4-hour trip from Stovall to Durham, N.C. (approximately 45 miles), is still fresh in my […]
Headed north on the Southern main line
Norfolk & Western J-Class 4-8-4 No. 611 rolls north on the Southern Railway main line, Aug. 22, 1982 during the engine’s three-day move from its restoration in Birmingham, Ala., to its birthplace in Roanoke, Va. The engine has an eight car train high above the James River. William D. Middleton photo […]
End of the Line
N&W’s eastbound Pocahontas descends Christiansburg Hill toward Roanoke on April 21, 1971 – ten days before Amtrak. J. David Ingles The air was chilly and damp as I stood beneath the eaves of the weather-beaten depot in Lynchburg, Va. I was waiting for the train that would take me back to Cincinnati one last time. […]
Auxiliary tender and steam generator cars
These two cars at Steamtown National Historical Site look similar but had different uses. Hank Ickes Q In the yard at Steamtown National Historical Site in Scranton, Pa., are two cars that I couldn’t identify. Do you know what purpose these cars had? — Hank Ickes, Arlington, Va. A One is an auxiliary tender or […]
DPU rear markers
Rear-end locomotives on distributed power trains may run with or without flashing rear end devices. Steve Schmollinger Q I see distributed power on BNSF freights inbound into San Diego, and some have flashing rear end devices attached to the coupler at the end locomotives. What are the circumstances for using a FRED on end-of-train locomotives?— […]
Rule “X”
Q While listening to the scanner during bad weather, I heard the Canadian National Rail Traffic Controller remind train crews that Rule “X” was in effect. What is Rule X and who can issue it? — Patrick Lallensack, Green Bay, Wis. A CN’s Rule X governs train operations during and after severe weather. Chief dispatchers […]
Tennessee Pass
The activity level of this track belies its once important status as part of D&RGW’s Tennessee Pass. Michael Humphreys Q In December 2010, I noticed a little-used rail line running through Eagle, Colo. What can you tell me about it? The mainline rail dated from the 1950s. — Michael Humphreys, Berryville, Va. A The tracks […]
Ride ‘Em While You Can
Eastern trip, April 20–26 PC No. 66, Chicago–Cincinnati, April 20 PC E7 4211 (ex-PRR), PRR B60 baggage car, PC coach 2926 (ex-PRR) N&W No. 4, Pocahontas, Cincinnati–Roanoke, April 20–21 N&W GP9’s 508/501, 4 head-end cars, coach 532, dome coach 1610, sleeper Buchanan County; diner 493 added at Williamson, W.Va. (train left Roanoke with GP9’s 519/517, […]
The Indiana Hi-Rail’s best and worst of days
Indiana Hi-Rail GP20 No. 203 leads two Alcos and an Evansville-Olney train of empty Consolidated Grain & Barge cars northwest of Griffin, Ind., on Nov. 27, 1993. Scott Muskopf Alco C420 Nos. 334 and 315 sandwich GP7u No. 2097 heading south on the IHR’s Newton line (now abandoned) south of Newton, Ill., on May 29, […]
Cruel and inhuman punishment
Low-drivered 2-8-0 No. 2174 struggles to keep up with 4-6-0 No. 1389 on CN train 48 for Winnipeg. Hal Lewis In the 1950s, Canadian National, as a government-owned railroad, was forced to operate many money-losing passenger trains because these trains were the only available mode of transportation in the areas they served. Such was the […]
Through the Selkirk Mountains
Westbound Canadian Pacific train No. 813, led by AC4400CW 8543, exits the west portal of Mount Shaughnessy Tunnel in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, on June 9, 2007. This coal train is bound for Roberts Bank in Vancouver, B.C. Mark Jackson photo […]
