The Midwest Old Threshers Reunion is the largest of its kind in the U.S. Farmers and old tractor enthusiasts gather for fun and demonstrations of steam tractors, early gas tractors, and other period farm implements. In 1959, a group of Old Threshers Board Members wanted to establish a steam railroad at the site. A separate […]
The Minnesota Transportation Museum’s former Great Northern Jackson Street Roundhouse was built in 1907 to service passenger locomotives. Closed in 1959, the roundhouse was converted to non-railroad use and the tracks were removed. In 1985 it was purchased by the Minnesota Transportation Museum and renovations began. One of the highlights was the reinstallation of the […]
One of Chicago’s premier attractions, the Museum of Science and Industry in Jackson Park is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. It features the famous Pioneer Zephyr from 1934, a coal mine adventure, interactive exhibits, and a huge model railroad. Choices The museum has many railroad-themed exhibits. […]
The Florida Railroad Museum offers diesel-hauled excursions over its 6-mile line between Parrish and Willow, 35 miles south of Tampa. Train rides take museum visitors through a stretch of rural Manatee County, which features sights of old Florida: farmland, piney woods, and palmetto flats. The train ride includes a trip to Willow—an old lumber mill […]
The Gold Coast Railroad Museum has an impressive collection of rolling stock and locomotives. Its collection includes quite a few surprises. Located on the site of a former World War II military airship base, the Gold Coast’s collection includes the Pullman private car Ferdinand Magellan, U.S. No. 1, the railroad equivalent of today’s Air Force […]
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A hopper car loaded with 30 tons of ammonium nitrate — a chemical used as fertilizer and as a component in explosives — was empty by the time it arrived at its destination last month, triggering investigations by state and federal authorities, as well as the manufacturer and Union Pacific, the railroad […]
WASHINGTON — Record funding for large-scale infrastructure spending will make Amtrak more vulnerable to fraud, the passenger operator’s Office of Inspector General says in a report released this week, identifying four areas in which the company will be particularly at risk. “Industry research estimates that 10% of infrastructure investments could be lost to fraud,” Inspector […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad will donate $10,000 to the Downtown Pittston Partnership, a nonprofit group advancing the revitalization of downtown Pittston, Pa., the railroad has announced. “I would like to thank the owners [the Muller family] and administration of the Reading & Northern Railroad for not only their significant capital […]
Norfolk Southern and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have reached a sick time agreement, the railroad and union have announced. The deal announced today (May 18) will provide NS engineers with five new days of paid sick leave per year while also offering the flexibility to use up to two additional days of […]
OTTAWA — VIA Rail Canada no longer needs to run unoccupied “buffer” cars on trains with stainless steel Budd “HEP-1” and “HEP-2” passenger cars and rail diesel equipment, Transport Canada has announced. The order, effective at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 17, repeals a previous order issued last October after questions surfaced about the […]
BOSTON — Norfolk Southern’s remediation work at the site of the February derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, is on pace to allow reopening of the second main line early next month, CEO Alan Shaw said today. “What’s important is we’re making progress there,” Shaw told an investor conference. To date, NS has distributed $34.5 million […]
The North Shore Scenic Railroad offers rides along Lake Superior between downtown Duluth and Two Harbors, Minn., a 27-mile trip on the former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway. Trains run from May to late October. In December, holiday specials operate from the Fitger’s complex in Duluth’s east end to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. […]
