A New York Central switcher pulls a string of loaded open-rack cars in the early 1960s. The auto rack car, introduced in 1960, quickly became popular and regained finished-auto traffic for railroads. J. David Ingles collection […]
Sign of the times
Train Topic: Fallen Flags
Mother Nature’s wrath
Nature quickly began to reclaim the right-of-way at High View Tunnel soon after New York, Ontario, & Western abandoned in 1957. This 1963 view at the south portal shows rails and tie plates gone and weeds encroaching upon the weathered ties. George Weidner photo […]
Century finale
Train 26, New York Central’s eastbound 20th Century Limited, pauses at Buffalo, N.Y., on its final run in December 1967. Edward J. Joscelyn photo […]
Convertible cowl
Santa Fe requested the custom U30CG from General Electric, offering 3,000 hp and a steam generator in a distinctive cowl body considered more aesthetically suitable for passenger service than a road-switcher. The railroad carried six such units on its roster, Nos. 8000–8005, which went into freight service following the 1971 transfer of passenger service to […]
Engineer’s eye view
A clear signal over track 2 beckons the Pennsylvania’s St. Louisan near Radebaugh, Pa. On track 1, a J1 2-10-4 pushes on an eastbound freight while a set of Baldwin Sharknose helpers approaches on track 3. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Remembering Clinchfield Railroad freight trains
All this month — March 2020 — Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and images of the Clinchfield Railroad. Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include Clinchfield diesel- and steam-powered freight trains through time. You might also enjoy this Clinch history […]
Southern Pacific steam locomotive No. 1744 returns to California’s Niles Canyon Railway NEWSWIRE
No. 1477 last operated in 2007 in Colorado, shown here on the Rio Grande Scenic near Alamosa. Jim Wrinn SUNOL, Calif. – The Pacific Locomotive Association has purchased Southern Pacific 2-6-0 No. 1744, which will be rebuilt for operation on the Niles Canyon Railway. The 1910 Baldwin-built Mogul-type locomotive operated for many years out of […]
Remembering Clinchfield Railroad passenger trains
In March 2020, Classic Trains is celebrating the history, heritage, and splendor of the Clinchfield Railroad. Enjoy this photo gallery, selected from the David P. Morgan Library collections, as the perfect salute to the Clinchfield. Return each week for another salute to the railroad of the month! See what we did last week for the […]
“Most dangerous task I ever performed”
The little door below the headlight on an Alco switcher like Grand Trunk Western S4 No. 8090 led to a veritable chamber of horrors for a young roundhouse worker. J. David Ingles I know there are many dangerous occupations. My wife’s ancestors were coal miners in Pennsylvania after coming to America, having mined coal in […]
Remembering the Clinchfield Railroad
Southbound manifest train 26, three F unit diesels, pauses by the Borden Textile Mill in Kingsport, Tennessee, in March 1967 to add a three-unit rear-end pusher for the 42-mile climb to Erwin. C. K. Marsh Jr. History and major events of the Clinchfield Railroad The Clinchfield was different. It was conceived by men who had […]
News Wire Digest second section for Wednesday, Feb. 26 NEWSWIRE
Residents of Flossmoor, Ill., are unhappy with proposed changes to the Metra Electric schedule. TRAINS: David Lassen More Wednesday morning rail news: — Residents and government officials in the Chicago suburb of Flossmoor, Ill., are balking at proposed changes to the Metra Electric District schedule spurred by positive train control implementation, the Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle reports. […]
Seaboard Century
Seaboard Coast Line Alco C628 No. 2201 leads a mixed consist of locomotives at Colliers Yard near Petersburg, Pa., waiting for a cut of cars. The six-axle Alco was built in 1963 for the Atlantic Coast Line. Walter Gay photo […]
