William N. Deramus III and Deramus red locomotives

Red-and-white diesel locomotives by shop facility

The three railroads that shared Deramus red locomotives also shared the leadership of William N. Deramus III. He began working on the Wabash in 1939 and served in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps in British India before becoming general manager of the Kansas City Southern after the war. He died Nov. 15, 1989, at age […]

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Meridian & Bigbee Railroad history

Black Meridian & Bigbee Railroad diesel locomotive passing small wooden station

The Meridian & Bigbee Railroad “possessed all the credentials required for admittance to the Typical Southern Short Line Club,” wrote J. Parker Lamb in Trains’ July 1959 issue. Those included secondhand steam locomotives, a leisurely schedule, and insufficient revenue tonnage. Yet, the road was able to overcome those deficiencies to become a sought-after bridge route […]

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GTW gathering place

20150618

Four Grand Trunk Western passenger trains meet at Durand, Mich., in July 1950. A streamlined 4-8-4 has just arrived with No. 17; visible east of the depot is a car from No. 38, in from Alpena; Pacific 5633 is on No. 21; and Pacific 5629, having cut off from No. 56 to take water, waits […]

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BNSF Railway sets date for taking control of Montana Rail Link

A blue Montana Rail Link train works alongside a river with mountains in the background.

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway aims to take over Montana Rail Link operations on Jan. 1, 2024. Federal regulators in March approved the early termination of Montana Rail Link’s lease of the former Northern Pacific main line between Jones Junction, Mont., and Sandpoint, Idaho. Although the Surface Transportation Board’s green light meant that BNSF […]

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New York tourist railway’s new flatcar has lengthy history

Flatcar with railings and seats added for open-air passenger use

CORINTH, N.Y. — The Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway has introduced its newest piece of equipment, a flatcar that proved to have an extensive and significant history. SC&H car No. 16151 was unveiled on June 3 for the Alco Historical & Technical Society’s annual “Alco Adventure” day. During restoration for use as an open-air excursion […]

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Flagging for a PRR 0-6-0

20160620

The conductor of Union Transportation Co.’s daily train raises his hand in warning to an approaching motorist as 0-6-0 5244, leased from UT parent Pennsylvania Railroad, eases over a road crossing in Hornerstown, N.J., on Aug. 28, 1958. Aaron G. Fryer photo […]

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Western Maryland group seeks donations for relocation of S2

Yellow end-cab switcher with some body rust

The non-profit Western Maryland Rail Heritage Foundation is seeking donations to relocate the last remaining Western Maryland Railway Alco S2 locomotive, currently located in Capreol, Ontario. The foundation is partnering with a museum in Capreol to move the locomotive from its current location, a siding slated to be torn up, to the museum. The long-term […]

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News photos: Former BAR F unit bound for Calgary

F3A locomotive in vintage paint scheme on bridge

A former Bangor & Aroostook F3A, which became Canadian Pacific property with the purchase of the Central Maine & Quebec, is on its way to CPKC headquarters in Calgary. A CPKC spokesman confirmed the locomotive, shown in Galt, Ontario, on June 2, is en route to Calgary, but said he had no information on future […]

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DL&W’s Delaware River Viaduct

20160621

In May 1950, a lone 2-8-0 runs west across the Lackawanna Railroad’s bridge across the Delaware River, one of many concrete structures built as part of the road’s early 20th century line improvements. William D. Middleton photo […]

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Model a merger-era caboose fleet

Color photo of transfer caboose.

When the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Great Northern; Northern Pacific; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle merged to create the Burlington Northern on March 2, 1970, the new railroad had an interesting fleet of cabooses. While there were plenty of cars built by commercial builders, mainly International Car Co., BN’s fleet was also filled with cabooses […]

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