Nashville Steam announces $100,000 matching-grant drive, ‘Big Payback’ one-day fundraiser

Portion of steam locomotive lifted by cranes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville Steam has announced two major fundraising efforts for its campaign to return Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway 4-8-4 No. 576 to operating condition, one of which will honor late Trains Editor Jim Wrinn. Following a successful ten-week matching grant last year, the Nashville Steam has announced a second $100,000 matching […]

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Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, Union Pacific agree to donation of Challenger, other locomotives, cars

Large steam locomotive with yellow passenger cars

OMAHA, Neb. and MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Union Pacific Railroad and the non-profit Railroading Heritage of Midwest America today announced an agreement that will see Challenger No. 3985, 2-10-2 No. 5511, DDA40X No. 6936, and other equipment from UP’s Heritage Fleet donated to RRHMA, which plans to restore both steam locomotives to operating condition. Also being […]

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Reading & Northern No. 2102 hauls coal hoppers in test run (updated)

Steam locomotive spewing black smoke while crossing bridge

NORTH READING, Pa. — It is appropriate that the Reading & Northern, which calls itself The Road of Anthracite, would road-test its recently rebuilt 4-8-4 by putting it on the head end of a 50-car train of coal hoppers. R&N’s 77-year old former Reading Class T-1 No. 2102 departed the railroad’s North Reading yard at 9:00 a.m. […]

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Reading & Northern sets 2102 test run

Steam locomotive blowing out steam

NORTH READING, Pa. — The Reading & Northern will conduct another test run of 4-8-4 No. 2102 on Tuesday, April 26, the railroad announced on the Facebook page for its passenger operations. The test train is slated to leave North Reading at 9 a.m. en route to Jim Thorpe, Pa. The T-1 locomotive built by […]

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Grand Canyon excursion honors late Trains editor

Side view of black steam locomotive

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Arizona’s Grand Canyon Railway honored late Trains editor Jim Wrinn during a Saturday, April 23, excursion to mark Earth Day, adding a message, “Steam on, Jim Wrinn,” to the tender of 2-8-2 No. 4960. The locomotive is an appropriate one to use for an Earth Day event because the locomotive, built by […]

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Nevada’s Great Western Steam Up to feature nine operating locomotives

Ornate steam locomotive

CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada State Railroad Museum will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad July 1-4 with the “Great Western Steam Up,” slated to include 17 steam locomotives, with nine operating locomotives representing six Nevada railroads. “We are excited to offer a lineup of historic steam locomotives unlike anything […]

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The Shay Locomotive: An Illustrated History book review

The Shay Locomotive book review

The Shay locomotive was a widely used North American geared steam locomotive, built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who is credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive. Shay’s early locomotives differed from later ones, but there is a clear line of development that joins all Shays. Shays were especially […]

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Union Pacific postpones Big Boy tour to Northwest

BigBoy_Speer_Wrinn

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific has postponed its planned tour this summer for Big Boy No. 4014, citing a need to “focus on efforts to ease supply chain congestion.” The trip to the Pacific Northwest via Northern California had been scheduled to begin June 26. The railroad said it would announce updated plans once service […]

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