Rio Grande Southern steam locomotive returned to service in Colorado

Steam locomotive moves out of a roundhouse.

  Follow along with Trains Editor Jim Wrinn as he gets a close look at Rio Grande Southern No. 20 — a newly restored narrow-gauge 4-6-0 steam locomotive now homed at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colo.  Before 2020, No. 20 had not steamed since the 1950s and required more than a decade of […]

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Heisler geared steam locomotives in operation today (2020)

Geared steam locomotive leading a train across a bridge.

  One of the big three of geared steam power, the Heisler was a favorite of loggers and miners from the late 1800s through the 1940s. Propelled by two cylinders powering a crankshaft running under the locomotive, the Heisler provided power and more speed than its competitors, the Shay and the Climax. We’ll look at […]

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Heisler geared steam locomotives in operation today (2020)

Geared steam locomotive leading a train across a bridge.

  One of the big three of geared steam power, the Heisler was a favorite of loggers and miners from the late 1800s through the 1940s. Propelled by two cylinders powering a crankshaft running under the locomotive, the Heisler provided power and more speed than its competitors, the Shay and the Climax. We’ll look at […]

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Black Hills Central Railroad steam powered double-header

Close view of steam locomotive emitting steam.

The Black Hills Central tourist railroad operated a doubleheader with its two Baldwin tank engines in October 2020. This was the first time these 1920s brutes joined forces to pull a train on this mountainous railroad. Join us for a look trackside and a ride along. […]

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Black Hills Central Railroad steam powered double-header

Close view of steam locomotive emitting steam.

The Black Hills Central tourist railroad operated a doubleheader with its two Baldwin tank engines in October 2020. This was the first time these 1920s brutes joined forces to pull a train on this mountainous railroad. Join us for a look trackside and a ride along. […]

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Strasburg Rail Road at 60

Steam locomotive hauling a passenger train under a clear sky.

One of the nation’s iconic tourist railroads, Pennsylvania’s Strasburg Rail Road, reached a major milestone in 2020. The railroad reached its 60th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, it returned 2-10-0 Decapod No. 90 steam locomotive to its original tourist paint scheme. It also ran trips with its tiny Plymouth diesel. Join us for a […]

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Strasburg Rail Road at 60

Steam locomotive hauling a passenger train under a clear sky.

One of the nation’s iconic tourist railroads, Pennsylvania’s Strasburg Rail Road, reached a major milestone in 2020. The railroad reached its 60th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, it returned 2-10-0 Decapod No. 90 steam locomotive to its original tourist paint scheme. It also ran trips with its tiny Plymouth diesel. Join us for a […]

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Cass Scenic Railroad, a glance at logging locomotive in summertime

Logging steam locomotive moving through a grade crossing, showing smoke and steam, surrounded by forest.

Join Trains editors on a brief tour of the historic Case Scenic Railroad in Cass, West Virginia. See video of restored and operating Heisler and Climax logging locomotives in dense foliage in the Appalachian Mountains. […]

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