Georgia Railroad locomotives remembered

Dark blue streamlined Georgia Railroad diesel locomotives

Georgia Railroad locomotives included a mix of small steam designs and EMD models.     By 1914 the Georgia Road was powered by an assortment of 4-4-0s, 0-6-0s, Moguls, Ten-Wheelers, four modern Lima 2-8-2s, and a pair of light Pacifics. A handful of all-steel baggage cars, RPOs, and coaches shared the car roster with a […]

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Most distinctive articulated: Southern Pacific cab-forwards

Freight train with smoking Southern Pacific cab-forwards

In the steam era, perhaps no sight was as unconventional as an encounter with one of the Southern Pacific cab-forwards. These monstrous AC class 4-8-8-2 steam locomotives turned engine design almost literally on its head by flipping the position of the cab and the firebox to the front. As they would in the diesels that […]

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A smooth ride for Pere Marquette 1225

Steam locomotive lifted off its wheels

  When I began writing this Mileposts blog seven years ago, I told myself to avoid saying much about my favorite steam locomotive, Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225, which I worked on in college at Michigan State. The 1225 led me to a career, and I wrote a book about it. But there are plenty […]

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Atlantic on a local

20160916

Chesapeake & Ohio 4-4-2 No. 281, stands at the Monon’s Hammond, Ind., station, ready for the 8:45 a.m. departure on Oct. 5, 1946, of the C&O’s local train to Cincinnati. L.B. Herrin photo […]

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

Steam locomotive on 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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Rods-down roster shot

Stationary steam locomotive with man leaning out of the cab window

Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 6312 poses for a classic roster shot portrait with her right-hand side rods in the “down” position favored for such photos. She was one of 60 SOU class Ms-1’s built to the USRA light Mikado design in 1918 and 1922. “CNO&TP” lettering on the can designates assignment to SOU’s Cincinnati, New […]

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News & Products for the week of September 11th 2023

News & Products for the week of September 11th 2023   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of September 11th […]

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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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