Versatility is a single word that sums up the Mikado-type steam locomotive. This 2-8-2 wheel arrangement became the “one size fits all” in terms of mass usage across North America’s railroads. When it also came to bridging the gap in advanced steam technology at the turn of the 20th century, this locomotive type delivered. […]
A Lackawanna Railroad local train is near the end of its Hoboken–Washington (N.J.) run as mail bags and other items are unloaded from its combine car during the station stop at Hackettstown, N.J., in 1947. Aaron G. Fryer photo […]
Milwaukee Road 4-6-4 No. 135 passes Tower A-2 at Western Avenue in Chicago with a suburban run to Elgin in June 1953. Robert R. Malinoski photo […]
Steam-turbine-electric No. 2300 Jawn Henry — N&W’s bid for a coal-fired future — drops down Virginia’s Christianburg Hill with its own doghouse-equipped water tender, an extra canteen, the road’s dynamometer car, and tidewater-bound coal loads. LeRoy A. Scott photo […]
Amtrak Indianapolis services exhibit more than their share of tumult through Amtrak’s five decades. No single train has served the city during this time, and, in fact, the Hoosier State’s capital city had no Amtrak service from October 1979 to October 1980. Amtrak’s Indianapolis station is, and has been, located at 350 S. Illinois […]
Freshly washed GG1 No. 4876 leaves Wilmington, Del., with the Executive. On Jan. 15, 1953, the locomotive was involved in a runaway wreck that dropped it into the basement of Washington Union Station. R.H. Braun photo Freshly washed GG1 No. 4876 leaves Wilmington, Del., with the Executive. On Jan. 15, 1953, the locomotive was involved in […]
Seaboard Air Line train No. 280 heads northbound near Aberdeen, N.C., with several piggyback trailers in 1962. Trailers include Pennsy, Fruit Growers Express, and Chesapeake & Ohio. J. David Ingles collection […]
Like some railfan contemporaries, in recent weeks I’ve been going through decades of railroad stuff, seeing what I can get rid of and what I simply can’t live without. Tough choices. In the “can’t live without” category, anything with David P. Morgan’s name on it, or anything labeled “New York Central” or “C&EI.” In the […]
In August 1958, Alco HH660 No. 409 rests on an outdoor turntable lead at Scranton, Pa. The track is now part of Steamtown. Railroad Avenue Enterprises, Bob Bahrs collection […]
Eight Santa Fe and Burlington Northern engines power a Santa Fe freight on the Rio Grande-owned northbound Joint Line track at Castle Rock, Colo., in 1973. Mel Patrick photo […]
Milwaukee Road’s EMD SDL39 diesel locomotives came from the road’s desire to replace aging Alco RSC2 units in branchline service. The Milwaukee Road custom-ordered the lightweight SDL39 specifically for use on its light-rail branch lines. The railroad bought five of the locomotives in 1969, Nos. 581-585. It followed with an order for another […]
A Santa Ana freight works upgrade on the eastbound main at Summit, Calif., on Cajon Pass on Dec. 28, 1940. Edwin A. Vail photo […]
