An E7 backs Rock Island’s Rocky Mountain Rocket into Denver Union Station in the early 1950s. Meanwhile, five tracks to the right, a Union Pacific switcher pulls a consist from the station. Donald Sims photo […]
Rocket at Denver Union Station
Zone & Region: Mountain West
New FTs on the Rio Grande
Denver & Rio Grande Western FT set No. 541, purchased in 1942, hauls a freight up the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains at Arena, later renamed Rocky, Colo. John W. Maxwell photo […]
A bad week for the California Zephyr
CHICAGO — Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr has been cancelled this Sunday, Sept. 25 — continuing a week of disruptions for the service between Chicago and Emeryville, Calif. The sequence that led to Sunday’s cancellation began with the westbound departure of Monday, Sept. 19, which sustained delays totaling 16 hours, 35 minutes on its way to […]
Three injured in Denver-area light-rail derailment (updated)
AURORA, Colo. — Three people were taken to local hospitals with injuries after a Regional Transportation District light-rail train derailed in Aurora on Wednesday afternoon, the Denver Post reports. The accident occurred about 3:45 p.m. on a tight curve through the intersection at South Sable Boulevard and East Exposition Avenue. That location is about a […]
OmniTRAX has agreement in principle to buy San Luis & Rio Grande, bankruptcy trustee says
ALAMOSA, Colo. — Denver-based short line operator OmniTRAX has signed an agreement in principle to purchase the bankrupt San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, Colorado’s Valley Courier newspaper reports. Bankruptcy trustee William Brandt told the newspaper that a letter of intent has been signed but negotiations are continuing to purchase the former Iowa Pacific Holdings […]
Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs
Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs. Burlington Northern (BN) had more than 2,000 diesel locomotives on its roster. With a fleet of that size, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there were more than a few Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs. Paint scheme variations, wreck rebuilds, and test subjects were among the examples I found when searching […]
A Big Boy adventure photo gallery
“Been there. Done that.” In no way does this saying apply to standing trackside as Union Pacific No. 4014 — Big Boy — rumbles by. Every trip taken by the world’s largest operating steam locomotive is a new adventure. Here is a spectacle that doesn’t get old. It’s time for a Big Boy adventure. Although […]
Amtrak insider travel tips from Marc Magliari
Trains.com Director David Popp sits down with Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari for a casual conversation about traveling aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder, one of America’s premiere, long-distance passenger trains. On the Empire Builder route between Chicago, Ill., and Seattle, Wash./Portland, Ore., passengers get to experience bustling urban centers and the natural beauty of two mountain ranges. […]
Amtrak insider travel tips from Marc Magliari
Trains.com Director David Popp sits down with Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari for a casual conversation about traveling aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder, one of America’s premiere, long-distance passenger trains. On the Empire Builder route between Chicago, Ill., and Seattle, Wash./Portland, Ore., passengers get to experience bustling urban centers and the natural beauty of two mountain ranges. […]
Utah’s FrontRunner adds new station
VINEYARD, Utah — The Utah Transit Authority has opened the first new station in a decade for its FrontRunner commuter rail service, with ceremonies Friday marking the opening of the stop in the fast-growing community of Vineyard. The Salt Lake Tribune reports Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, appearing at Friday morning’s ceremony, noted the commuter rail’s […]
A Mikado out West, a Reading diesel in Pennsylvania, and a UP freight on the Plains
September 2022 Trackside Photos Send us your photos Trackside Photos is a showcase for the work of Model Railroader readers. Send your photos (digital images 5 megapixels or larger) to: Model Railroader, Trackside Photos, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612; or upload them to fileupload.kalmbach.com/contribute. For our photo submission guidelines, contact senior associate editor […]
A northwest mountain garden railroad
A northwest mountain garden railroad: The Pacific Northern Railway was formed when the Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railroads merged in the early 1960s. I chose the name “Pacific Northern” because it included parts of the names of both of the original railroads. The two-tone green passenger-train colors were used because famous designer Raymond Loewy […]
