Wilmington & Western Railroad operations indefinitely paused

Steam locmotive outside of enginehouse with diesel switcher inside

WILMINGTON, Del. — Volunteers on the Wilmington & Western Railroad say railroad staff have notified them that operations on the long-time heritage railway are paused indefinitely. Volunteers seeking information about the railroad’s March schedule were notified of the decision in an email earlier this month. The railway depends on its all-volunteer crew to staff trains. […]

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Ohio Rail Experience announces 2025 schedule

Passenger train led by black and yellow GP30

LEBANON, Ohio — Cincinnati Scenic Railway’s Ohio Rail Experience has announced its 2025 tour schedule, marking the return of a series of excursions last held in 2022. Trips — operated in partnership with local historical societies, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, and the Cincinnati Railway Co. — will run on six different routes are planned […]

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Young Guns in Preservation: Braden Brickman

Young individual standing in front of a yellow diesel.

Growing up, the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City has been Braden Brickman’s avocation. It’s now his vocation as the 23-year-old is employed as the restoration specialist to not only oversee said restorations, but also the maintenance and operation of the museum’s railroad and historic equipment. How did you get involved in rail preservation? […]

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Friends of Cumbres & Toltec names new executive director

Logo of the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the organization that serves as the heritage rail line’s museum arm, has hired Rick Marsden as its new executive director. The Friends board announced the move Jan. 24. The hiring is effective Feb. 13. Marsden will replace Tim Tennant, retiring after 20 years […]

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East River Tunnel work to sideline Hudson River rail excursions with former New York Central lounge cars

BOONTON, N.J. – Construction work in Amtrak’s East River Tunnels will indefinitely sideline the United Railroad Historical Society’s Hudson River Rail Excursions after trips scheduled for February and March with the group’s former New York Central lounge cars. The historical society will operate “Farewell (For Now) Excursions” from New York Penn Station to Albany-Rensselaer, N.Y., […]

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Naugatuck Railroad acquires former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars

Interior of Hi-Level lounge car

THOMASTON, Conn. — The Naugatuck Railroad has purchased three former Santa Fe Hi-Level railcars for its excursion operations, the short line has announced. The cars, two lounges and one coach, were acquired from the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, Mich., operator of Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225. The Institute acquired the cars in 2019 and […]

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Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 nears reassembly

Nose of black steam locomotive and train coming around a bend

CUMBERLAND, Md. — Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is poised for reassembly after spending the 2024 season sidelined for planned maintenance work, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad officials say. The Mallet has undergone a laundry list of in-house projects and subcontracted work aimed at positioning the locomotive for long-term operation. The tourist railroad tapped D&G […]

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Strasburg Rail Road ordered to reinstate employee, pay more than $220,000 after whistleblower complaint

Locomotive and train in countryside

RONKS, Pa. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered the Strasburg Rail Road to reinstate an employee fired for refusing to issue locomotive and conductor licenses to an untrained, unqualified management official. The Department says OSHA investigated a whistleblower complaint by the employee, who claimed the firing came after […]

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