Eagle River Canyon

Smoking steam locomotive with train along river

Eagle River Canyon Winding through the Eagle River Canyon west of Redcliff, Colo., Rio Grande 2-8-8-2 3603 helps a 4-8-4 train 2, the Scenic Limited, in 1939. Eight years later, author Hamilton passed this way on a similar train. R. H. Kindig photo […]

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Reading Company freight trains photo gallery

Black-and-white photo of steam locomotive with freight train

Reading Company freight trains are Classic Trains editors’ focus in this photo gallery.   All through October, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the gritty, coal-hauling, Pennsylvania-based Reading Company railroad. Please enjoy this photo gallery of Reading freight trains selected from the image archives of Kalmbach Media‘s David P. Morgan Library. Reading Company, as a railroad, […]

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Highest rails in New York

Electric locomotive brings passenger train around curving bridge

Highest rails in New York Having just crossed the 1,017-foot Hell Gate Bridge, Penn Central GG1 4913 begins the long descent to ground level with a Boston-bound Amtrak train in February 1973. Diesels will take over at New Haven. Victor Hand […]

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Powerful PAs persevere

Streamlined passenger diesels haul freight cars along a waterfront

Powerful PAs persevere Four Alco PAs roll Champlain Division local SC-20 along the shore of Lake Champlain just out of Port Henry, N.Y., en route south to Whitehall, N.Y., on May 7, 1977. Jim Shaughnessy photo […]

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Great Yellow Fleet

Yellow ice-cooled refrigerator car with silver roof and brown ends

Great Yellow Fleet Many older Western Fruit Express wood cars were rebuilt in the late 1940s. No. 72316 received steel sides with straight sills, a diagonal-panel roof, and improved 3/3 Dreadnaught ends. Jeff Wilson collection […]

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Erie ‘Limited’

Rear of heavyweight passenger train on bridge

Erie Limited The westbound Limited crosses the New York-Pennsylvania state line as it bridges the Delaware River at Mill Rift, Pa. An ordinary Pullman, not a fancy observation car with a tail sign, brings up the rear of the Erie’s unpretentious but comfortable flagship. Wayne Brumbaugh photo […]

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Hell Gate Bridge

Electric locomotive brings passenger train around curving bridge

Hell Gate Bridge Having just crossed the 1,017-foot Hell Gate Bridge, Penn Central GG1 4913 begins the long descent to ground level with a Boston-bound Amtrak train in February 1973. Diesels will take over at New Haven. Victor Hand photo […]

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Automobile boxcar

Steel boxcar with end doors for automobile loading

Automobile boxcar Northern Pacific no. 4914 is a 50-foot, single-sheathed, double-door car built in the late 1930s and shown here in 1940. Note the Dreadnaught end door. Jay Williams collection […]

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Santa Fe 2926: A grade crossing ahead for the big 4-8-4

People admire restored steam locomotive

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The buzz at an open house for Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 wasn’t all about the locomotive last run in 1953 and moved for the first time under its own power on July 25. A grade crossing and a spur track also figured into the conversations. With the restoration of the locomotive […]

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Tickets, please

Tickets, please Passengers riding New York Central’s deluxe 20th Century Limited sleeper-observation car required two tickets, one for rail travel and one for the sleeping accommodations. Don Wood photo […]

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