A visit to John Staschak’s O gauge layout

Overview of John Staschak's toy train layout with superimposed cover of September 2021 Classic Toy Trains

John’s layout appears in the September 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains. It features tremendous trackwork and wonderful scenery (see the plan here), in addition to some spectacular modern trains. Watch and hear freight and passenger consists work their way around it. […]

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Chinese-built 2-10-2 set for series of Iowa excursions

Steam locomotive leaves shop building

NEWTON, Iowa — If there wasn’t enough going on in August 2021 for the steam locomotive enthusiast, here’s one more special event to keep an eye on, or maybe even attend: An Iowa-based Chinese-built QJ 2-10-2 is starting its public tour. On Friday, Central States Steam Preservation No. 6988 made a deadhead freight move from […]

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UP updates plans for Big Boy display in New Orleans

BigBoy_Speer_Wrinn

NEW ORLEANS — Union Pacific is adjusting plans for Saturday’s display of Big Boy No. 4014 in New Orleans in light of local COVID-19 guidelines. The railroad has announced the locomotive will be on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Audubon Riverview Park, 6500 Magazine Street. However, the “Experience the Union Pacific” rail […]

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Western Pacific Railroad: Locomotives

Black-and-white view of diesel road-switcher locomotive

  All through August 2021, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and splendor that was the Western Pacific Railroad. Please enjoy this photo gallery of locomotives selected from Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. Only from Trains.com! […]

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News Photo: Big Boy departs Houston

Steam locomotive and diesel pulling yellow passenger train

HOUSTON — After a display day on Tuesday, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 resumed its 2021 tour on Wednesday, resuming its trek toward New Orleans. The 4-8-8-4 and its train is show here leaving Houston on Wednesday’s move to Beaumont, Texas. Today, it is scheduled to continue to Livonia, La., where it will lay […]

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News Photos: RGS No. 20 arrives at Cumbres & Toltec

Smoke comes from stack of locomotive on trailer

ANTONITO, Colo. — The Colorado Railroad Museum’s Rio Grande Southern 4-6-0 No. 20 has arrived at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad for its visit including a role in the upcoming Victorian Iron Horse Roundup. The locomotive, restored to operation in 2020,. arrived Sunday by truck from the museum in Golden, Colo. (The tender will […]

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Minnesota museum repairing firebox on DM&IR 2-8-0

Steam locomotive pulling vintage freight cars

DULUTH, Minn. — The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is moving ahead with repairs to return Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-0 No. 332 to service. Repairs are being made to the firebox of the locomotive, where a crack had developed near an old weld. The museum plans to remove this and another existing weld in […]

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Iowa Interstate steam locomotive to offer Labor Day weekend excursions

Night photo of steam locomotive

DES MOINES, Iowa – Central States Steam Preservation Association and the Iowa Interstate Railroad, in partnership with Operation Lifesaver and the Science Center of Iowa, will run short passenger trips out of downtown Des Moines with the Iowa Bolt 2-10-2 steam locomotive No. 6988 Labor Day Weekend. This event will put Operation Lifesaver at the […]

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Locomotives on Big Boy’s 2021 route

Steam locomotive with passenger train paused underneath a signal bridge in a black and white image.

  These are the steam locomotives on Big Boy’s 2021 route. In August and September 2021, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 will travel from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to New Orleans through Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, among other places. Classic Trains offers this photo gallery of steam locomotives from railroading’s high-period, showcasing those […]

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West Point Route

Steam-powered heavyweight passenger train on curve

West Point Route Atlanta & West Point and Western Railway of Alabama — together known as the West Point Route — handle the Southern Crescent between Atlanta and Montgomery. On February 28, 1948, WofA 4-8-2 No. 185 heads a 13-car train 38 east at Hogansville, Ga. David W. Salter photo […]

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SMS 0-6-0 returns to steam

Front of steam locomotive

BRIDGEPORT, N.J. — A well-known 1960s and 1970s short line and tourist railroad steam locomotive is back. SMS Rail 0-6-0 No. 9, an Army brat built by Alco in 1942, test-fired Saturday for the first time following a 12-year restoration, just two days shy of when it was taken out of service in 1981. The […]

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