Shay locomotive arrives at Oregon Rail Heritage Center

Shay locomotive on flatcar

PORTLAND, Ore. — Mount Emily Lumber No. 1, a three-truck Shay locomotive, has arrived at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland, completing its move from its former home at the City of Prineville Railway. The locomotive, built by Lima in 1923, was donated by the lumber company to the Oregon Museum of Science and […]

Read More…

From the Cab: Memories, miles, and money

A locomotive engineer in a teal-colored shirt is seen in the cab of a silver-painted Amtrak locomotive standng at a train station platform

It always bothered me that I couldn’t identify the engineer in this picture of Amtrak train No. 98, departing Main Street Station in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 14, 1974. He wasn’t the regular throttle jockey, whom I knew. Still, it’s one of my favorite images and was used to promote my first book, From the […]

Read More…

Santa Fe 3460 Hudsons: ‘Super’ 4-6-4s

Smoking Santa Fe 3460 Hudsons steam locomotive with train

Santa Fe 3460 Hudsons had an impact on the railroad much larger than their class size would indicate. Mention the Hudson steam locomotive and the name “Santa Fe” likely won’t come up right away. To be sure, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway’s roster was light on 4-6-4s, just 16 of them. And they […]

Read More…

The Southern Pacific Daylight passenger trains

Orange and red streamlined steam locomotive on passenger train

When first introduced, the Southern Pacific Daylight passenger trains shined through the dark days of the Great Depression. From the Pacific coast of California to the Heartland of Texas, learn which services flashed in the distinctive red and orange color scheme. Coast Daylight It’s easy to forget that the name “Daylight” already graced the SP […]

Read More…