UP deal with RRHMA took over a year to complete

Aerial view of large railroad shop

SILVIS, Ill. — Negotiations between Union Pacific and Railroading Heritage Of Midwest America took over a year to complete before the deal was inked that transferred two UP steam locomotives, including Challenger 3985, and other equipment to the preservation group. The deal, which will see No. 3985 and 2-10-2 No. 5511 returned to steam, was […]

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Spring TCA York 2022 show report

Spring TCA 2022 York show

Spring TCA York 2022 notes from the field. CTT Editor Hal Miller visits the April 28-30 Eastern Division of the Train Collectors Association event in York, Pa. He checks out the O, S, and Standard gauge trains and talks to some of the personalities at the show, including YouTubers Chris’s Trains & Things, Sid’s Trains, […]

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St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad remembered

Black and yellow streamlined diesel locomotives on freight train

The St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad was a survivor and an innovator. It weathered some very rough times, including at least five bankruptcies. It started running unit coal trains from Fort Smith, Ark., the city across the Arkansas River from my hometown of Van Buren, in the 1930s. It helped move Texas and Oklahoma oil east […]

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Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, Union Pacific agree to donation of Challenger, other locomotives, cars

Large steam locomotive with yellow passenger cars

OMAHA, Neb. and MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Union Pacific Railroad and the non-profit Railroading Heritage of Midwest America today announced an agreement that will see Challenger No. 3985, 2-10-2 No. 5511, DDA40X No. 6936, and other equipment from UP’s Heritage Fleet donated to RRHMA, which plans to restore both steam locomotives to operating condition. Also being […]

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M&StL at Roland, Iowa

Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway

Minneapolis & St. Louis 2-6-0 310, power for the Marshalltown–Story City, Iowa, mixed train, switches at Roland, the biggest source of traffic on the 38-mile Story City branch line, in the late 1940s. William F. Armstrong photo […]

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Steam faces diesel at Salida

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad

Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 1138 watches as four brand-new GP9s bring an eastbound freight into Salida, Colo., on the Tennessee Pass line in December 1955. Trains for the narrow-gauge Monarch Branch operated out of this yard, hence the dual-gauge track. Jim Shaughnessy photo […]

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The Ferdinand’s 4-4-0

Ferdinand Railroad

In southern Indiana, handsome 4-4-0 No. 9 of the 7.4-mile short line Ferdinand Railroad poses in late afternoon sun for photographers visiting from New Jersey in May 1952. Built by H. K. Porter in 1920, she was scrapped in 1953. Ed Theisinger photo […]

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Reading & Northern sets 2102 test run

Steam locomotive blowing out steam

NORTH READING, Pa. — The Reading & Northern will conduct another test run of 4-8-4 No. 2102 on Tuesday, April 26, the railroad announced on the Facebook page for its passenger operations. The test train is slated to leave North Reading at 9 a.m. en route to Jim Thorpe, Pa. The T-1 locomotive built by […]

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Grand Canyon excursion honors late Trains editor

Side view of black steam locomotive

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Arizona’s Grand Canyon Railway honored late Trains editor Jim Wrinn during a Saturday, April 23, excursion to mark Earth Day, adding a message, “Steam on, Jim Wrinn,” to the tender of 2-8-2 No. 4960. The locomotive is an appropriate one to use for an Earth Day event because the locomotive, built by […]

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