ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Santa Fe No. 2926 will make its second visit of the year to Albuquerque’s downtown Rail Yards – a former ATSF facility with sections redeveloped as a multi-use venue, and future home for the 4-8-4. New Mexico Railroad Days is scheduled on Sept. 28 and 29, with the locomotive to make an […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The 2024 summer season has concluded at Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel, yet its steam season presses on with 2-8-2 No. 4960. The Mikado-type was at the head end on Sept. 7 for its seventh “First Saturday” excursion of the year — between Williams and Grand Canyon National Park. “Overall, No. 4960 […]
WITTMANN, Ariz. — Residents of the unincorporated communities of Wittmann and Circle City say they oppose BNSF Railway’s efforts to build a new intermodal and carload logistics hub northwest of Phoenix. BNSF said earlier this year it would build the project on more than 4,300 acres in northwest Maricopa County, 36 rail miles from downtown […]
WICKENBURG, Ariz. — A June wildfire that destroyed 15 structures near the town of Wickenburg and cost nearly $1 million to fight was caused by BNSF Railway work, according to fire officials. The 266-acre Rose Fire, which began on June 12 and was contained five days later, was started by sparks from a welder, grinder, […]
LAMY, N.M. — The last segment of U.S. mainline railroad still using semaphore signals has gotten smaller. Railroad officials in New Mexico replaced five semaphores with modern day CTC signals on Saturday, Aug.17, on a stretch between Lamy and Cerrillos on a section of original Santa Fe now owned by the state of New Mexico. […]
CN DC to AC Canadian National is receiving its next DC-to-AC rebuilds this summer. The first conversions already on CN’s roster are 50 former Canadian National C44-9Ws converted to AC-traction AC44C6Ms by Wabtec in its Ft. Worth, Texas, facility in 2022 and 2023. The latest group of rebuilds on order include additional AC44C6Ms and EMD […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — In stark contrast to the maxed-out trains of 15 cars in June and July, steam locomotive No. 4960’s operations on the Grand Canyon Railway Aug. 3 and Aug. 12 included a more-modest consist. According to chief mechanical officer Eric Hadder, the 2-8-2’s birthday excursion on Aug. 12 had 11 passenger cars, along […]
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Trains News Wire has obtained an 1,160-page “Limited Remarketing Memorandum” issued earlier this month announcing the $1 billion availability of bonds by California and Nevada authorities. The financing is part of Brightline West’s quest to secure operating capital for its proposed 218-mile high speed venture between Las Vegas, Nev., and Southern […]
As a teacher in Oklahoma, the sharing and showcasing of history is nonstop for 25-year-old David Weston. This includes serving as a seasonal conductor for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad during the summer break, while also documenting the life and times along the narrow gauge line through Instagram with approximately 45,000 followers digitally going […]
CHICAGO — The lack of stand-by operational Superliners at Amtrak’s Chicago maintenance facility led to the cancellation of the westbound Southwest Chief on Monday, July 15, less than five hours before it was to depart, Trains News Wire has learned. With additional equipment unavailable on the West Coast, the eastbound Chief scheduled to leave Los […]
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 has reached the westernmost point of its current tour, beginning the first of two days of public display today in Roseville. Information on the display is available here. Here are a few images catching up on recent days of the “Westward Bound” tour, with Elrond Lawrence […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Against the backdrop of a long, busy, and hot holiday weekend, it was business as usual for Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960. The 2-8-2 Mikado-type led a July 6 round trip from Williams to the national park’s South Rim as part of the railway’s “First Saturday” steam excursion. Coinciding with the Fourth […]
