Chicago & Eastern Illinois history remembered

Black-and-white diesel locomotive with freight train in urban setting

Chicago & Eastern Illinois history was special to those to watched the railroad firsthand.     In the pantheon of great railroad names, “Chicago” was so often the magic word. Think of all the carriers with Chicago on their letterhead, railroads with thousands of miles on their system maps, railroads whose names imply vast, continental […]

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Classic Trains Film Archive | Pacific Northwest and California, J. David Ingles Reel 103

Classic Trains Film Archive | Pacific Northwest and California, J. David Ingles Reel 103 – Through the lens of J. David Ingles, you’ll see the Canadian Pacific, Great Northern, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific; and other roads as he ventured into the Pacific Northwest and California too. Dave rides along Puget Sound with his sights set […]

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Pullman-built private varnish again featured at ‘Railroad Days’ event

Three private cars on back of passenger train

CHICAGO — Four private cars have made their way to the Windy City to participate in this weekend’s “Pullman Railroad Days: People, Progress and Innovation.” The event Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, is sponsored by the Historic Pullman Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. […]

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Unstoppable on the Santa Fe

black and white Santa Fe locomotive

Unstoppable Thursday, June 20, 1968, began simply enough — clear, sunny, and warm. As a newly minted Santa Fe acting trainmaster working vacation relief out of Newton, Kan., I had been assigned by Superintendent Jimmy Fitzgerald — who later became vice president of operations — to monitor and expedite the movement of grain trains from […]

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Preston Cook archive finds home at Barriger Library

Blue-and-white diesel locomotives with freight train in mountains

Some careers are more than just a way to make a living. Sometimes they represent history itself. The trick is to recognize that about yourself and plan appropriately. Anyone who cares about railroading in general over the past half-century, or about motive-power technology in particular, can be grateful that Preston Cook came to that realization […]

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From the Cab: Careful, I might break your camera

A man in a white cap and red shirt stands in the doorway of a locomotive

Photography has been my hobby since I retired as Amtrak’s company photographer in December 2012. In addition to trains, I shoot events of all kinds. There never fails to be at least one self-deprecating soul who grins at me and says, “Careful, I might break your camera.” Imagine their surprise when I respond, “Someone already […]

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EMD NW5: a light road-switcher diesel that didn’t

Orange-and-green diesel locomotive approaching street crossing

Although some units proved long-lived, the EMD NW5 sold just 13 copies.     Although the pre-World War II EMD NW3 was not a stellar seller, after cessation of hostilities in 1945, the builder was keen on revisiting the idea in order to mine the light switcher market dominated by the Alco RS1 and Baldwin […]

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Valpo Dummy commuter train

An amtrak train passes in front of industrial structures

Indiana’s Valpo Dummy commuter train could not garner the public support and funding needed to survive into the modern era. In the 1890s, the Pennsylvania Railroad began operating commuter trains between Chicago and Valparaiso, Ind. Over the next century the service remained largely frozen in time, with operations changing relatively little as the trains passed […]

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If you can’t get trackside, check out the virtual tour of Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816

If you’ve seen Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 charge through your town this spring — or if you’ve been lucky enough to chase Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s Final Spike Steam Tour — I’m envious. Thus far I’ve had to settle for being an armchair railfan as the steam spectacle of the year unfolds. Now, don’t […]

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Tank car history 101

White tank cars pass a railroad signal showing a red light. A green tree is behind the signal

Tank car history traces back more than 150 years. Today, tens of thousands of tank cars are in service on North American railroads. They are used for various liquids and gasses, and their cargos include petroleum products, chemicals, and food-grade substances. Tank cars can be pressurized or non-pressurized, insulated or non-insulated, and — depending on […]

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Lionel learned from Athearn’s Rock Island boxcar

Silver model boxcar

Lionel brought out its first No. 6464 near-scale boxcars in 1953. The models it developed were strongly influenced by what Athearn, a manufacturer of O scale trains, had already been doing, especially with a Rock Island prototype. Little wonder that toy train enthusiasts of every age praised the four new 6464 boxcars. Experienced O gauge […]

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Archives center dedicated as part of C&NW Historical Society meeting, museum’s C&NW Days

Two green and yellow diesels meet

UNION, Ill. — Dedication of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society’s Archives Research Center at the Illinois Railway Museum highlighted the society’s 50th anniversary celebration during its three-day 2024 convention at Union and Crystal Lake, Ill. The research center joins the replica 1950s street scene on the museum’s Main Street, and replaces the society’s […]

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