GP30s stand in the foreground as F9s lead the westbound Rio Grande Zephyr up the Front Range toward the Moffat tunnel in the 1970s. Classic Trains coll. […]
Action on the Front Range
Zone & Region: Mountain West
Steam and diesel on the Union Pacific
June 13, 1950, finds three Fairbanks-Morse H20-44 end-cab road-switchers and 4-8-2 No. 7019 at Union Pacific’s San Bernardino (Calif.) engine house. The F-Ms had taken over Cajon Pass helper chores in 1948. When they were found wanting, UP brought steam back for a spell in 1950–51. Chard Walker photo […]
STB turns down request to review approval of Utah short line
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has turned down a request to reconsider its approval of construction of Utah’s Savage Tooele Railroad. In a decision issued today (March 3, 2025), the board’s four members agreed that those who had petitioned for reconsideration — the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Erda Community Association, and two […]
The Rio Grande’s Farmington Branch
It was an oddball branch line with a just-as-odd history that is still worth recounting. The Rio Grande’s Farmington Branch was built in 1905 to connect Carbon Junction, Colo. (just outside of Durango to the southeast), and Farmington, N.M. It was a modest, 47.68-mile standard gauge line (later narrow gauge) that followed the […]
Classic Toy Trains new products for March 2025
Locomotives & rolling stock METCA offers an MTH custom-run 4-Bay Hopper as part of the RailKing line. The cars feature O-27 operation and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey graphics (30-75762 shown). Expected delivery in March 2025. Price: $64.95. Order from metca.org Public Delivery Track is selling a custom-run MTH RS1 locomotive as part of the RailKing […]
News photo: Covered wagons return to the Royal Gorge
Colorado’s Royal Gorge Route Railroad has returned its F7A and F7B locomotives to service. With an impressive plume of smoke, F7A No. 403, built for the Chicago & North Western in 1949, and former Alaska Railroad F7B No. 1503 led a train out of Cañon City, Colo., on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. It was the […]
BNSF train derails in Montana (updated)
MILES CITY, Mont. — Approximately 25 to 27 cars of a BNSF train derailed Monday night (Feb. 24, 2025) west of Miles City, Custer County Fire Chief Cory Cheguis said in a press release. The derailment occurred about 11 p.m. No injuries were reported; county emergency officials and BNSF were working to address the situation, […]
Fighting snow on the Rio Grande narrow gauge
Rio Grande rotary plow OY stands with 2-8-2 494 at Osier, Colo., on January 4, 1952, during one of the worst winters to hit the D&RGW narrow gauge. John Norwood photo […]
F7s in Glenwood Canyon
Five Denver & Rio Grande Western F7 diesels roll a westbound freight through scenic Glenwood Canyon between Dotsero and Glenwood Springs, Colo., in April 1965. Classic Trains coll. […]
Start-up Lunatrain plans private night trains in East, Midwest
PHILADELPHIA — A new company has announced plans to develop a private sleeper-train service connecting major destinations, and says it aims to have a demonstration unit in the second half of 2026. Lunatrain, which describes itself as “a private, early-stage company,” says it will develop a network of express, non-stop night trains in the Midwest […]
Amtrak cancels trains in Northeast and Virginia, again scrubs Empire Builder (updated)
CHICAGO — Add westbound Empire Builder for today (Feb. 19, 2025) to Amtrak’s cancellation list, making for a fifth straight day that the Chicago-Seattle/Portland train will have been cancelled in both directions. The company has also canceled several Northeast Corridor trains today and tomorrow (Feb. 20), as well as Wolverine and Hiawatha trains in the […]
Weld failure led to broken rail that caused fatal Colorado derailment
WASHINGTON — A rail that broke because of the failure of a weld led to the Oct. 15, 2023, derailment of a BNSF coal train at a bridge over Interstate 25 near Pueblo, Colo., leading to the death of a truck driver, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The investigation report was released […]
