Chicago & North Western equipment testers used their own weight

Man beside Chicago & North Western covered hopper car

In 1981, I was Director, Freight Car Engineering, for Berwick Forge & Fabricating, a railcar manufacturer. The company decided to start producing grain covered hopper cars, which seemed to still have a significant market. I developed a prototype car that weighed more than desired, reducing the available load capacity. Although we stenciled the car with […]

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New York Central 4-6-4 “Hudson” No. 5344 in four photos

Streamlined 4-6-4 steam locomotive

New York Central’s 275 4-6-4 Hudson-type engines are among the most celebrated of all steam locomotive classes. As the top passenger power of one of the most passenger-oriented railroads from the late 1920s to the early 1950s, the J-1, J-2, and J-3 classes were in the public eye like few other groups of engines. That […]

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Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp’s C&O No. 2716 restoration

Kentucky Steam Heritage steam engine 2716 restoration in shop

The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., based in Ravenna, Ky., is hard at work to restore its prized possession, Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 No. 2716, while also making improvements to its property to better serve the engine. Volunteers installed new tracks to be able to move No. 2716 outside the shop to better accommodate disassembly. President […]

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Less Than Carload

Delivery truck backed up to side of rail motorcar

Less Than Carload Buffalo Creek & Gualey motor “B’s” awaits departure from Dundon, W.Va., for Widen, in 1948. A truck has arrived with LCL freight, including a new tire, which is being leaned against a rattan seat. After loading was complete, freight filled the front of the car back into the second row of seats. […]

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East Broad Top Chief Mechanical Officer Dave Domitrovich discusses his job

Man standing beside steam locomotive boiler in shop

East Broad Top Chief Mechanical Officer Dave Domitrovich found himself in limbo when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. Just three weeks from completing a three-month Amtrak locomotive engineers’ training school in Wilmington, Del., the pandemic suddenly shut down the program in March 2020. He’d been notching 98-to-100 scores on tests. He’d just left […]

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Martinsburg, W.Va., roundhouse receives locomotive, seeks funds for move

Brick circular roundhouse

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority has been given a former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Alco S-2 switcher for display and interpretation at the former B&O roundhouse in Martinsburg. The non-profit authority is seeking funds to transport the locomotive from West Chester, Pa., to Martinsburg. Due to several factors, the locomotive must be […]

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Words of Wisdom from CSX’s first CEO

Yellow, blue, orange painted "Chessie" locomotives and a caboose appear in a rail yard.

Last fall, Editor Jim Wrinn posed a few questions to retired CSX Chairman Hays Watkins. Living in retirement in Virginia, Watkins answered by email. Here’s what he wrote us about his own experiences, Amtrak, precision scheduled railroading, and other issues of the day. The text has been lightly edited for style or clarity. What’s the […]

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Remembering New York Central locomotives

A streamlined steam locomotive on a track.

All through January 2021, Classic Trains is celebrating the majestic and mystique of the New York Central. Please enjoy this photo gallery of NYC locomotives selected from the David P. Morgan Library at Kalmbach Media. Only from Classic Trains! […]

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