CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Arizona Railway Museum has acquired former Santa Fe hi-level lounge No. 576. The car arrived at the museum last month Six hi-level lounge cars with curved glass roofs were built for Santa Fe by Budd in 1956. They were numbered 575–580 and operated on the all-coach El Capitan streamliner between Chicago […]
BOONE, Iowa — A former Chicago & North Western F7 donated by Union Pacific has arrived at the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, where it will eventually be restored to operation. Locomotive No. 401, built in 1949 and stored in Cheyenne, Wyo.., since the 1990s, saw service as one of C&NW’s executive train units in […]
The American Freedom Train steam locomotives were stars in their own right during the U.S. Bicentennial tour. From 1975 to 1976, a total of three each took turns leading the 26-car exhibit train full of American artifacts through 48 contiguous states. What were these patriotic steam stars and where are they now? Southern Pacific No. […]
East Broad Top Railroad passenger cars have been vital to the narrow gauge railroad’s 150-year history. Today’s fleet is a mixture of old and new, waiting for you to climb aboard the next time you visit this National Historic Landmark in Rockhill, Pennsylvania. Coach passenger cars Since the beginning of passenger service on August 30, […]
Big Blue diesel locomotives were ubiquitous for those living in the Northeast and upper Midwest for many years of the last century. Although Consolidated Railroad Corporation has been gone for over 20 years now, let’s take a look back at 1990s Conrail freights in the state of Pennsylvania! […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — Genesee Valley Transportation has agreed to acquire the Alco PA locomotive restored by preservationist Doyle McCormack and will run the unit on main line passenger excursions, the short line company announced today. McCormack and GVT Rail President Michael D. Thomas finalized the agreement in a meeting Wednesday at the Oregon Rail Heritage […]
If you are in the Midwest, visiting the Monticello Railway Museum is a great idea. The Midwest is often overlooked when it comes to railway preservation. The Monticello Railway Museum is located in central Illinois about 20 miles west of Champaign. Overlooked, it should not be. Here’s why. First off, at every turn are volunteers […]
NASHVILLE — The seven-year effort to take former Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis 4-8-4 No. 576 from static display in a Nashville park to operating locomotive and regional tourist attraction is entering its final phase, with caretakers Nashville Steam Preservation Society Inc. launching a new matching campaign to raise $350,000 to finish the job. “We […]
Jeff Schmid was an unusually versatile railroader. Over more than a half a century with BNSF and two of its predecessor railroads, he moved from track worker to locomotive engineer to safety officer, the latter bringing him special satisfaction. If that wasn’t enough, along the way he mastered the art and craft of running one […]
In December 2022, near Tamaqua, Pa., it’s no surprise the Reading & Northern Santa Trains are big business! Of course, the Reading & Northern is no stranger to giving the public what they want. The railroad does a brisk business with these runs with its Lehigh Gorge Scenic railway operation, based out of Jim Thorpe, […]
Major 2020s steam locomotive restorations (so far!) will take a look at five locomotives that returned to service in the early part of the decade. Even in these challenging times, the restoration efforts show no signs of slowing down. Check out our list: U.S. Sugar No. 148 Restoration completed in 2020: Built in April 1920 […]
Major 2010s steam locomotive restorations will take a look at five revived locomotives you have to know about. While preserved rail equipment is tweaked and repaired all the time, it is a rare event when a steam locomotive is overhauled and returned to service. Check out our list: Southern Railway No. 4501 Restoration completed in […]
