Washington short line receives funds for track work

Logo of Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The 33-mile Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, owned by Clark County, Wash., and leased to two operators, will receive $4.7 million in state funding for line rehabilitation work, the Columbian newspaper reports. The first $1.5 million will improve the 14-mile section between Vancouver and Battle Ground, Wash., leased to the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad, […]

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Trains Trackside Trailer

Follow Trains.com videographer Kevin Gilliam as he explores U.S. railroading action from a trackside perspective. And when the opportunity arises, you’ll also find other notable contributors capturing footage of contemporary railroad operations – everything from steam-powered tourist train to Class I heavy haulers to Amtrak Northeast Corridor high speed Acela sets. Of course, you’ll never know […]

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Western Maryland Scenic Railroad acquires dining car

Red and silver passenger train

CUMBERLAND, Md. – The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has added former New York Central grill dining car No. 456 to its fleet. The car was part of the Chattanooga Choo-Choo hotel complex for over 50 years. WMSR said in a Facebook post it will be relocating the diner to Cumberland as soon as possible. The […]

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Photographers special to feature Boston & Maine F7s

Maroon and Gold F unit locomotives on passenger train

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts is sponsoring a winter photo excursion Jan. 7, 2023 on the Conway Scenic Railroad featuring the 470 Railroad Club’s restored Boston & Maine F7A’s Nos. 4268 and 4266. The “Covered Wagons in the Snow” trip will feature multiple photo stops and run-bys. No. 4268 was returned to service […]

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Minnesota museum acquires dome car, restores EMD F9

museum logo with black steam engine in a green circle

  DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Railroad Museum has added a third dome car to its fleet and completed the overhaul of its former Erie Mining Co. F9A No. 4211. Puget Sound Dome car Puget Sound was donated to the museum this summer and arrived in Duluth this month. The car was constructed for […]

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Strasburg details 96-hour repair to engine No. 475

Front view of locomotive with weld repairs visible

STRASBURG, Pa. — Strasburg Rail Road’s ex-Norfolk & Western 4-8-0 steam engine No. 475 returned to excursion passenger duty this week after the company’s mechanical department worked overtime to repair smokebox damage from a Nov. 2 collision with a tracked excavator. The locomotive was back in service on Monday [see “Strasburg No.475 back in service […]

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Strasburg No. 475 back in service after accident

Steam locomotive passes standing passenger cars

RONKS, Pa. — Strasburg Rail Road 4-8-0 No. 475, damaged in a Nov. 2 collision with a piece of track maintenance equipment, is back in operation on the railroad’s trains today (Monday, Nov. 7), Strasburg General Manager Jim Hager reports in a note to Trains News Wire correspondent Dan Cupper. The locomotive suffered damage to […]

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Coming at East Broad Top: the new Colgate Grove

Diesel and open-air passenger car on curve next to picnic aea

SHIRLEYSBURG, Pa. — A new generation of facilities is planned for next summer at East Broad Top Railroad’s time-honored Colgate Grove picnic area, the line’s historic tourist-era turnaround point. Sometime during the coming season, the EBT Foundation Inc. will open two small pavilions and restrooms, along with something that the location never had before, a […]

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Strasburg collision damages No. 475, no one hurt

Steam locomotive passes standing passenger cars

PARADISE, Pa. — Strasburg Rail Road’s 4-8-0 steam engine No. 475 collided with a tracked excavator or “trackhoe” parked on a spur Wednesday morning, Nov. 2, punching a hole in the engine’s smokebox. No injuries resulted and the engine, running light, remained on the track. A combination of a misaligned switch — apparently left open when […]

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Seven injured when theme-park train derails in Missouri (updated)

Two-foot gauge steam locomotive at theme park

BRANSON, Mo. — Seven people were injured Wednesday evening when a 2-foot gauge train derailed at the Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson. The park said on its Twitter feed that six guests and one employee were transported by ambulance for medical treatment. Stone County Emergency Management Director Tom Stone said three cars from […]

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