Almost a road-switcher

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Missouri Pacific 4102 and 4103 were Electro-Motive’s only model NW4 locomotives. Built in 1938 using 900 h.p. Winton 201A engines, road trucks, and other components from experimental box-cab passenger units 511 and 512, the steam-generator-equipped diesels possessed some of the characteristics of a road-switcher. Electro-Motive photo […]

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Spokane Portland and Seattle passenger trains

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Spokane Portland and Seattle passenger trains: All through August 2022, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history and heritage of Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway. The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway was the product of sparring during 1905-1909 between “Empire Builder” James J. Hill of the Great Northern and Edward H. Harriman of the Union […]

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Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway remembered

Streamlined yellow and green Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway diesel locomotives with passenger train in station under bridge

The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway was the product of sparring during 1905-1909 between “Empire Builder” James J. Hill of the Great Northern and Edward H. Harriman of the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific, by which Hill’s GN, as well as Northern Pacific (which Hill controlled at the time), got much-improved access to Portland, while […]

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News photo: Demolition of Deshler, Ohio, station begins

Heavy machinery knocking down brick building

DESHLER, Ohio — After years of neglect, the former Baltimore & Ohio railroad station in Deshler, the community known as “Crossroads of the B&O,” is coming down. The building last saw a passenger train in 1971, has been closed since the 1990s, and was damaged by a coal hopper in an April 2002 derailment. The […]

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NYC’s Mercury departs Chicago

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In Chicago, trains of New York Central subsidiary Michigan Central generally used Illinois Central’s lakefront Central Station. Here a Hudson starts the Chicago Mercury on its run to Detroit. The terminal’s arched trainshed was removed in the early 1940s. Richard Luryman photo […]

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B&O Pacific in a hurry

Smoking steam locomotive with passenger train by wooden station

Baltimore & Ohio class P-5 No. 5227, a USRA light Pacific, hurries through North Bend, Ohio, with overnight St. Louis–Cincinnati local train 30 in September 1954. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Gulf, Mobile and Ohio locomotives remembered

Streamlined diesel locomotive seen from low angle

Please enjoy this photo gallery of Gulf, Mobile and Ohio locomotives selected from files in Kalmbach Media‘s David P. Morgan Library.     The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio was one of the first major railroads to completely dieselize, with the last steam locomotive dropping its fire in October 1949. The GM&O was an early Alco customer, […]

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Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad freight trains remembered

Red and white diesel locomotives with freight train

Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad freight trains remembered: All through July 2022, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the grit, panache, and charm that was the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio.     As part of the celebration, please enjoy this freight train photo gallery as the perfect accompaniment.   Each month since October 2019, Classic Trains editors have showcase one “Fallen Flag” […]

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Rock Island perishable traffic in the 1970s

Blue and white diesel locomotives with refrigerated freight cars for Rock Island perishable traffic

Rock Island perishable traffic: One thing you learn quickly as a new railroad employee is that if you can hold a regular job, it’s because nobody else wants it. In 1973 Rock Island perishable traffic stopped icing at Silvis, Ill. This coincided with Pacific Fruit Express’s exit from the iced reefer business and represented the […]

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NYC Pacemaker freight

New York Central Railroad Pacemaker train in Massachusetts

The Boston–Albany section of New York Central’s Pacemaker train for express freight service pauses at Worcester, Mass., to pick up cars in August 1949. The distinctive vermillion-and-gray boxcars were for on-line use only. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Gulf Mobile and Ohio passenger trains

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Gulf Mobile and Ohio passenger trains: The Gulf Mobile and Ohio is Classic Trains’ railroad of the month for July 2022. All this month you’ll find interesting articles detailing the history of the GM&O in text and photographs. Please enjoy this Gulf Mobile and Ohio passenger trains photo gallery, originally published in June 2016 and […]

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