Solo ‘Blue Bird’ Crews change on the Norfolk & Western Blue Bird at Decatur, Ill., in 1967. The train was running separate from the Cannon Ball (note the green flags) owing to the winter storm having disrupted schedules. Behind GP9 510 is E8 3808, one of five Wabash passenger cabs N&W repainted. J. David Ingles […]
Emigrant Gap The caboose roof glistens with moisture as Southern Pacific Extra 6311 East climbs through the Donner Pass mist at storied Emigrant Gap, 65 miles out of Roseville and nearly a mile above sea level in October 1957. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
All through June 2021, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history, grit, and glory of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Please enjoy this Jersey Central freight train photo gallery selected from the archive files of Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. Only from Classic Trains! […]
Diesel disruptor Four U25B demonstrators climb upgrade on the Northern Pacific near Blossburg, Mont., in 1961. The U25B brought GE into the heavy diesel market, and within a few years the company had eclipsed Alco for the No. 2 spot among locomotive builders. General Electric photo […]
The Southern Railway was famous for good-quality passenger service. Here are Classic Trains editors’ picks for the five best Southern trains. Crescent Introduced on April 26, 1925, the Crescent Limited ran between New Orleans, Mobile, Atlanta, Washington, and New York. The train was operated by the Louisville & Nashville, West Point Route, Southern, and Pennsylvania […]
First man: Wow! You finished your train layout! Second man: Yeah, at least one good thing came out of this lockdown. […]
Fun-size railroading Buffalo Creek & Gauley motorcar B shows off rear door, two backup lights, and a coupler. The West Virginia short line connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Dundon. James R. Greene photo […]
Lonely Rock Island An inbound Rock Island commuter train arrives at the mostly vacant LaSalle Street Station on Dec. 27, 1972. The Chicago skyline shown here is drastically different from what visitors today would see. Denny Hamilton photo […]
Pennsy power A Pennsylvania Railroad M1 4-8-2 and a pair of PA passenger diesels, both assigned to helper service, are seen at Ralston, Pa., on a damp May 4, 1957. Note the crewman climbing the steam locomotive. Jim Shaughnessy photo […]
Scenic wonder Curved windows along the edge of the roof give the Santa Fe’s Hi-Level lounges, a signature of the all-coach El Capitan, a bright, airy feeling. A smaller lounge-buffet is on the lower level. Budd Co. photo […]
Articulated study Pittsburgh & West Virginia 1102, from the first group of 2-6-6-4s, is in as-built condition at Rook, Pa., in May 1940, with footboards and tender booster. The 132-mile railroad had seven such locomotive. Nos. 1100–1102, built 1934, had boosters on rear tender truck, which were removed in 1944. Harold K. Vollrath collection […]
Rock Island resourcefulness The Rock Island converted an old flatcar to a ramp in Sioux Falls, S.D., in 1961. One truck and coupler is still in place (note the wheel stops on the track just to the right of the ramp). D. E. Winter photo […]
