R. R. Wallin was trackside in Wyoming with his 8mm movie camera to capture Big Boys in their final two summers of service. […]
Big Boys on Sherman Hill, 1958–59
Zone & Region: Mountain West
Nevada Northern’s Mark Bassett answers questions from Trains
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is one of the best-preserved standard gauge railroads in North America. The former copper hauling railroad exists much like it did until regular operations ended in the early 1980s. Since that time preservationists have made a bold stand in the high desert hundreds of miles away from heavily populated areas. […]
Bankruptcy sale of San Luis & Rio Grande begins
DENVER, Colo. — With an initial offer of $7.5 million in hand, bids are now being accepted for the sale through federal bankruptcy court of the San Luis & Rio Grande railroad, the former Iowa Pacific Holdings property based in Alamosa, Colo., that operates 154 miles of former Denver & Rio Grande Western lines. In […]
Colorado Railroad Museum to have three locomotives under steam May 15-16
GOLDEN, Colo. — For the first time in its 62-year history, the Colorado Railroad Museum will have three coal-fired narrow-gauge locomotives under steam and operating for two days in May. This first-ever-of-its-kind event will offer fans of Colorado history an exciting opportunity to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of a time when steam locomotives […]
Video: Pikes Peak snow blower makes debut
MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. — The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway’s new rotary snow blower made its debut on Friday, April 9, clearing the rebuild cog rail line for the first time. The new snowblower, produced by Zaugg in Eggiwill, Switzerland, has the capability of cutting through drifts up to 10 feet tall and 20 […]
Digest: DC Metro issues new order on emergency response after March 26 incident
New DC Metro order requires full emergency response for all breakdowns DC Metro has issued an order requiring employees to initiate a full emergency response to any breakdown of a train, bus, or MetroAccess vehicle in the wake of several unreported incidents, including a small-scale runaway train incident, the Washington Post reports. An internal memo […]
Colorado bill would create Front Range Passenger Rail District
DENVER — Four Democrats and two Republicans have introduced a bill in the Colorado Senate to establish the Front Range Passenger Rail District, extending across the state from the Wyoming state line to the New Mexico line, to plan, build, operate and maintain passenger service connecting the major cities along the east side of the […]
Digest: RTD ready to revive planning for Boulder-Longmont commuter rail line
Denver RTD ready to revive planning for Boulder-Longmont commuter line The Denver-area Regional Transportation District is likely to restart planning on a commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont, seeking to capitalize on funding that may become available from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. Colorado Public Radio reports the RTD board indicated at a meeting […]
Digest: Alabama port agency asks regulators to deny Amtrak bid for Gulf Coast service
Alabama port agency asks STB to deny Amtrak effort to start Gulf Coast service The Alabama State Port Authority has asked the Surface Transportation Board to turn down Amtrak’s request for an order allowing it to start passenger service between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., instead requesting the board compel Amtrak to complete the traffic […]
Tickets now on sale for return of Pikes Peak Cog Railway
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Tickets are now on sale for the resumption of operations for the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the nation’s highest railway and one of only two cog railways in the U.S. The railway will reopen in May. Since October 2017, it has been undergoing a $100 million renovation including […]
Federal regulators reject short line plan to revive UP’s Tennessee Pass line
WASHINGTON — It’s back to the drawing board for Rio Grande Pacific’s plans to lease and revive Union Pacific’s long-dormant route over Tennessee Pass in Colorado. The Surface Transportation Board on Thursday rejected the exemption that Rio Grande Pacific sought for the transaction. Under board rules, small deals such as a lease or sale of […]
Digest: Northeast Corridor service disrupted at Providence; Hartford line also having issues
Fires disrupt service on Northeast Corridor, Hartford Line Amtrak service on the Northeast Corridor between New York and Boston has been disrupted this morning by fire department activity earlier this morning in Providence, R.I., that has affected overhead power lines. WJAR-TV reports a locomotive fire on an MBTA train in one of the underground approaches […]
