BOOTON, N.J. — NJ Transit will be operating a special, one-day shuttle service on Sept. 28, 2025, to connect Denville and Boonton, thus facilitating access to the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey’s annual Railroad Museum [for a day] event. This temporary service aims to accommodate and attract event attendees who’re looking to travel […]
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LONDON — Greetings from London, where I am preparing for my third international Trains Magazine/Special Interest Tours, following earlier trips to Germany and Switzerland. This one begins Sept. 23 and was scheduled to mark the bicentennial of modern railroading, which began in September 1825 with the first steam-powered train on the Stockton & Darlington Railway. […]
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50 years ago in Trains: Bombarding Beaumont in 1948 WHAT a grand and extraordinary depiction this photograph is of Standard Railroading in full and final flower! For the flagship of Southern Pacific’s New Orleans-Los Angeles Sunset Route the Sunset Limited, which is destined to become the last of America’s great passenger trains to be dieselized […]
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John G. Kneiling, by profession a consulting engineer, wrote Trains Magazine’s Professional Iconoclast column for many years. His column called out perceived problems with the rail industry and suggested new ways of thinking about solutions. Fifty years ago, in the September 1975 issue, Kneiling took aim at the government-supported Conrail, then newly created from several […]
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In August 2025, my wife and I planned a trip to the Pacific Northwest to visit family and friends. While we frequently travel by air and rental car, and have taken shorter train trips in the U.S. and Europe, we’ve never done a long-distance rail experience. So, we decided to take Amtrak’s Empire Builder from […]
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SCRANTON, Pa. — The Lackawanna Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society has donated $10,000 to the Iron Horse Society for restoration of a World War II troop sleeper built by Pullman. The Iron Horse Society is the non-profit organization supporting Steamtown National Historic Site, where Delaware, Lackawanna & Western car No. 3621 — […]
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CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC has turned the 2024 Final Spike Tour, featuring No. 2816, the Empress 4-6-4 steam locomotive, into a 50-minute documentary that will premiere on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 at the Calgary International Film Festival. Titled The Pulse of the Continent, this breathtaking film chronicles the 76-day journey marking the first anniversary of […]
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Summer 2025 left fans of big steam wanting more, with Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 being the sole Class I representative — and with a limited appearance at that. The remaining locomotives on the scene were few and far between, staying on short lines and tourist railroads. Good news, though: For those disappointed in […]
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Andrew Ossler grew up visiting one of North America’s largest railroad museums, located just a short drive from his home. That helped cultivate a passion for railroading in the now 26-year-old, who has since joined the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Ill., as a key volunteer. A teacher by day, Ossler spends his spare time […]
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CINCINNATI — Nickel Plate Road GP9 diesel No. 532 is set for a return to the Midwest and eventual revival. Ownership of the EMD unit, built in 1958, was recently transferred from the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society to the Cincinnati Scenic Railway. The Cincinnati Scenic also recently acquired ex-NKP express boxcar […]
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In every issue News, p. 4 Newly merged CPKC faces service issues on the former Kansas City Southern Bill Stephens, p. 10 CPKC’s tech troubles cast doubt on new mergers History with Hankey, p. 12 Pullman porters and their long fight for equity Brian Solomon, p. 46 Fathers, sons, and a lifetime love of trains […]
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This summer, my wife Kris and I took a three-day railroad-themed mini-vacation to Scranton, Pa. This fascinating place is a wonderful way to experience history. Scranton is a complex, layered city with many fascinating elements of railroading to explore and enjoy, but you need to take the time to seek it out — both at […]
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