Compared to their traditional reciprocating rod-driven counterparts, geared steam locomotives can be seen as “oddballs” to the casual eye. They certainly fit that bill with their unique styles of running gear consisting of cylinders positioned at different angles and connected to the drive shaft through a series of gears to ultimately power every wheel […]
LOVELAND, Colo. — The Great Western Railway’s Loveland depot, built in 1902, will be preserved following a short move from railroad to city property on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. The Loveland Historical Society began working with Great Western owner OmniTRAX in 2012 to preserve the building, and eventually accumulated the funds necessary to move the […]
NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — The Mid-Continent Railway Museum has launched a fundraising effort to return its celebrated steam locomotive, Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 No. 1385, to the museum to continue the effort to restore the 1907 Alco to operation. The locomotive, out of service for more than a quarter-century and away from the museum […]
Growing up, the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City has been Braden Brickman’s avocation. It’s now his vocation as the 23-year-old is employed as the restoration specialist to not only oversee said restorations, but also the maintenance and operation of the museum’s railroad and historic equipment. How did you get involved in rail preservation? […]
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Public TV series Great Scenic Railway Journeys has joined with the restoration effort for Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-8-0 No. 734, launching a $10,000 donation-match program for the restoration project. The program is offering a dollar-for-dollar match up to $10,000 for the effort to return the locomotive to operating condition. The 2-8-0, […]
DERBY, England — Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom was forced to halt ticket sales for an event celebrating the 200th anniversary of railroading this week because the system handling ticketing was overwhelmed by demand from around the world. The company is planning to open its Derby Litchurch Lane Works to the public for the first time […]
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The photo and film collection of the late rail photographer and author Michael A. Eagleston has been donated to the Industrial Archives & Library, a private nonprofit foundation in Bethelem. The Eagleson collection spans more than 60 years and helps document the end of the steam locomotive in the U.S. and worldwide. […]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the organization that serves as the heritage rail line’s museum arm, has hired Rick Marsden as its new executive director. The Friends board announced the move Jan. 24. The hiring is effective Feb. 13. Marsden will replace Tim Tennant, retiring after 20 years […]
BOONTON, N.J. – Construction work in Amtrak’s East River Tunnels will indefinitely sideline the United Railroad Historical Society’s Hudson River Rail Excursions after trips scheduled for February and March with the group’s former New York Central lounge cars. The historical society will operate “Farewell (For Now) Excursions” from New York Penn Station to Albany-Rensselaer, N.Y., […]
THOMASTON, Conn. — The Naugatuck Railroad has purchased three former Santa Fe Hi-Level railcars for its excursion operations, the short line has announced. The cars, two lounges and one coach, were acquired from the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, Mich., operator of Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225. The Institute acquired the cars in 2019 and […]
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — The Dollywood theme park has parted with a steam locomotive that had been on display at the park, and has aided hurricane victims in doing so. Former Southern Railway 2-8-0 No. 107, built by Baldwin in 1887, had long been on display at the Dollywood entrance. Now, the engine is on […]
IRVINE, Ky. — A former Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive is going to the auction block to settle a legal judgment. The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. said today (Jan. 23) in a public notice that NKP No. 587, a Class H-6o 2-8-2 built by Baldwin in 1918, will be the subject of a sealed-bid auction […]
