Georgetown Loop Railroad profile

Georgetown Loop profile

The Georgetown Loop Railroad shows how engineering overcame mountains when it came to reaching precious minerals in the Colorado Rockies. As the name states, the railroad’s highlight is a loop where the tracks cross over themselves on a massive bridge to gain elevation. The reconstructed Devil’s Gate Viaduct stands no less spectacular than when it […]

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Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum profile

Two small locomotives under steam with trains

Rebuilt on the original right-of-way near Alna, the Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum is home to one of the most authentic recreations of Maine’s 2-foot gauge railroads that operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Choices The Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum offer excursions on 3 miles of rebuilt tracks through […]

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Remembering the Sandfly Express

High-contrast black-and-white image of two locomotives

Sandfly Express Go ahead, talk about the glitzy Orient Express. Or the extended run of the Trans-Siberian Express. But what about the Buffalo & Fort Erie Ferry & Railway Co.? This early 1900s Canadian railroad, born antiquated, ran a 3-mile course in Fort Erie, Ontario, which is across the Niagara River from Buffalo, N.Y. Its […]

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Vancouver’s West Coast Express expands service

Blue, yellow, and white locomotive at station

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Commuter rail service West Coast Express has expanded service to and from Vancouver as of Monday, June 19, thanks to introduction of a trainset with a newly refurbished locomotive. It marks the first time WCE has offered five weekday round trips since 2020. The new equipment will make two round trips […]

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Santa Fe No. 3415 headlines tourist railroad’s anniversary

Steam locomotive with passenger car and gondola for riders in field with trees in background.

ABILENE, Kan. — In commemoration of the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad’s 30th anniversary, steam locomotive No. 3415 was in full operation on June 17 and 18. The Pacific was sidelined the previous Sunday due to feedwater issues with repairs completed last week in preparation for the Father’s Day weekend. “The feedwater issue last week […]

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When is a locomotive not a locomotive?

silver front hood of train

Real or fake? It’s always exciting to come across stuff you didn’t know existed. So, imagine my surprise when driving through Fillmore, Calif. one day and spying not one but two steam locomotives: vintage ones at that! Sunning themselves in the small yard of a tourist railroad were a pair of 19th century creatures that […]

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News photos: Northern Central’s celebration

Passenger train with replica vintage steam locomotive and 0-4-0T engine.

NEW FREEDOM, Pa. — Northern Central Railway of York hauled more than 500 passengers on six trips during the weekend-long 10th anniversary celebration for the non-profit operation [see “Pennsylvania’s Northern Central Railway to mark 10th anniversary,” Trains News Wire, June 14, 2023]. Trips were powered by the railway’s Kloke 4-4-0 No. 17; Northern Central GP9 […]

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Investigation begins after autonomous ore train derails in Australia

Image of derailed ore hoppers

KARRATHA, Australia — Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has begun an investigation after 30 cars of one of its autonomous iron ore trains derailed Saturday. National broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corp. reports the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator had been notified. The ONRSR told the Australian Associated Press that initial indications were that onboard […]

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Honolulu rail system to be known as ‘Skyline’

White light rail train with green trim

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s new rail transit system has a new name. The long-delayed, much troubled light rail project — known throughout construction by the name of the agency responsible, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation — was rebranded as “Skyline” on Friday by city officials. A city press release says Skyline was “one of many […]

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