The Lancaster & Chester Railway Company’s origins date back to 1873 when the Cheraw & Chester was chartered to build a line between its namesake cities. Twenty-nine miles of track were built from Chester to Lancaster before the company had financial problems and went bankrupt. In June 1896, 130 years ago, the railroad was foreclosed […]
GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. — The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has granted the Genesee County Parks & Recreation Commission $1.3 million for restoration work on its narrow-gauge 2-8-2 No. 464, according to an M Live report. The locomotive, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Denver & Rio Grande in 1903, is one of two surviving […]
READING, Pa. — A clear, crisp Pennsylvania winter day greeted passengers and enthusiasts for the Reading & Northern’s winter Iron Horse Ramble. The excursion traveled the Reading Division main line between Reading Outer Station and Jim Thorpe, Pa., on Saturday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. This was the second time the former Reading T-1 4-8-4 No. 2102 […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – More than $10 million has been invested to date in rescuing and restoring the narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad in central Pennsylvania. EBT Foundation General Manager Brad Esposito didn’t hesitate to name that figure in response to a question during his state-of-the-railroad review, part of the Foundation’s Winter Spectacular event […]
BALTIMORE — The Washington — a 1949 Pullman-Standard observation-tavern car — has been cosmetically restored inside and out by the B&O Railroad Museum. This is the museum’s first interior restoration project. The car will be unveiled on Saturday, Feb. 21. “The No. 3316 is a showpiece both in terms of the incredible Art Deco interior […]
MENDOCINO, Calif. — A California appeals court has reversed the decision of a lower court and has granted the Skunk Train tourist railroad the right of eminent domain — the authority to condemn and acquire private property, according to reports in the Mendocino Voice. The legal battle began in 2020 when Skunk Train owner Mendocino […]
SUISUN CITY, Calif. — The Western Railway Museum is currently evaluating Kennecott Copper No. 407, a rare GE 125-ton center cab electric locomotive, to ascertain if it can be returned to operation. “Based on our initial inspection and the work completed over the last two weekends, 407 is shaping up to be a very solid […]
GREENVILLE, Pa. — Greenville officials aim to save the town’s former Erie Railroad brick depot, which last saw passenger service in 1970. The depot property is now owned by Norfolk Southern, which may raze the building. Greenville Mayor Jean Carr-Fisher would like to see it saved, if possible. Carr-Fisher on Feb. 4 presented a plan […]
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is appealing for public assistance after funds in the museum’s donation box were stolen on Feb. 3. In a Facebook post, Tabitha Lusk, the museum’s food and beverage director, posted photos and videos related to the break-in and is asking that anyone who can provide information contact […]
ELY, Nev. — On the night of Feb. 3, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum successfully fired No. 81, a 1917 Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-8-0. The locomotive had not been fired for more than two years due to ongoing repairs. For the firing, 1,000 pounds of coal was placed in the 5-foot-by-9-foot firebox, which had been […]
STRASBURG, Pa. — A new year brings new resolutions. For RJD America LLC, a group of railroaders and businessmen who purchased Chesapeake & Ohio No. 614 in 2024, its 2026 resolution hopes to go above and beyond the ongoing restoration to return the Class J3a 4-8-4 to service. 2025 recap In an interview with Trains.com, […]
At the dawn of the 20th century, dusk was approaching for the narrow gauge (3 feet or smaller between the rails) fad that began roughly 30 years prior. As 4’ 8 ½” officially became the “standard” gauge, as it remains to this day, retaining multiple rail lines in different gauges no longer made sense for […]
