Nevada Northern Railway Museum to host Iron Horse Symposium

Black and white photo inside a railroad shop with steam and diesel locomotives. Nevada Northern Railway Museum to host Iron Horse Symposium.

ELY, Nev. — A longstanding tradition for the Nevada Northern Railway Museum will be held again this fall. The 2023 Iron Horse Symposium is scheduled from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 as an immersive experience with steam locomotives Nos. 81 and 93 in operation alongside the museum’s other historic equipment, including vintage Alco and Baldwin […]

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Swiss Spectacular, Part 13: Steaming up the mountainside

Steam locomotive and one car on curving line on mountainside, as seen from above

LUCERNE, Switzerland — We went up another mountain today. Once again, our view from the top was almost completely obscured by clouds. And once again, no one minded much. This time around, the Trains/Special Interest Tours “Majestic Switzerland” tour made its way up the Brienz-Rothorn Bahn, a 7.6-kilometer, 800-mm gauge, steam-powered rack railway (that’s 4.7 […]

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Ontario tourist railroads you must visit

Streetcar decorated with holiday lights at station

Ontario tourist railroads you must visit include a locomotive shop-converted museum, a scenic destination only accessible by train, and everything in between. From the Tourist Trains Guidebook, here are the tourist railroads, museums, and historic sites you must visit across this Canadian province. Ontario Tourist Railroads and Museums Bruce Peninsula, Southern Georgian Bay and Lake […]

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Swiss Spectacular, Part 10: Steam and a summit

Cog railway train rounds curve with clouds in background

ZERMATT, Switzerland — Finally getting back up to date on events on the Trains/Special Interest Tours “Majestic Switzerland” tour: Sunday, Sept. 17 This was our longest day, leaving Chur at 6:25 a.m. and getting to Zermatt at 6:14 p.m. Those times were dictated by our trip on the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway, the all-volunteer steam […]

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PCC cars return to the streets of Philadelphia (updated)

Cream, green and maroon PCC trolley car running in street. PCC cars return to the streets of Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA — Fans of the Presidents’ Conference Committee trolley car, we direct your attention to Route 15 on the SEPTA system. This fall six refurbished PCC cars will return to the route occupied by buses since 2020, according to an AXIOS Philadelphia story. The PCC cars were to begin operating this week, however, SEPTA is […]

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Santa Fe No. 3751 stars at LA Union Station Train Festival

Steam locomotive on a turntable

LOS ANGELES. — Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 3751’s appearance at last weekend’s Los Angeles Union Station Train Festival 2023 saw multiple firsts. It was the first public outing for the locomotive this year, the first visit to the passenger terminal since 2017, and the first public night photo session since returning to service in […]

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Cass Scenic Railroad’s “Big Six” to return to service

Giant geared steam locomotive pulls a freight train.

CASS, W.Va. — Former Western Maryland Railway geared steam locomotive No. 6 (“Big Six”) has recently completed its FRA 1,472-day inspection and boiler recertification. According to the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad (DGVR), the massive Shay-type will undergo final break-in runs and adjustments before returning to excursion service on the Cass Scenic Railroad. “Big Six” […]

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Grand Canyon Railway’s 4960

A black steam locomotive pulls passenger cars down a single-track line under a blue sky

Builder: Baldwin Locomotive Works Wheel arrangement: 2-8-2 Mikado Build date: March 1923 Why it’s important: Grand Canyon Railway’s 4960 was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. The O-1A class 2-8-2 Mikado No. 4960 was ideally suited for powering fast freight trains across Burlington’s mostly level Midwest routes. With the arrival […]

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