CP 2816 begins Final Spike tour

Steam locomotive surrounded by people

CALGARY, Alberta — After its first public display on Wednesday, Canadian Pacific No. 2816 begins the CPKC “Final Spike Steam Tour” today, traveling from Calgary to Medicine Hat, Alta., on the first leg of a two-day trip to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where its next display event is scheduled. The first U.S. display date is April […]

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ATSF No. 2926 set for another visit to Albuquerque’s Tractor Brewing

Large crowds around steam locomotive

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 will return to Tractor Brewing on May 4, marking the first anniversary of its first public trip, the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society has announced. The locomotive built by Baldwin in 1944 will again make the half-mile trip from its restoration site at 1833 […]

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News photos: First part of steam engine arrives at Wisconsin Great Northern

Cranes move part of steam locomotive

TREGO, Wis. — Duluth & Northeastern No. 27 — or at least part of it — has arrived at its new home at the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. The boiler and rest of the superstructure of the Alco 2-8-0, long displayed at the Carlton County Fairgrounds in Barnum, Minn., arrived at the WGN in Trego […]

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Grand Canyon No. 4960 concludes April operations with Earth Day excursion (updated)

A crew member in blue coveralls checks the front of a parked black steam locomotive on a bright, sunny day.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — While the busy steam season for most locomotives is beginning to build up around this time, 2-8-2 No. 4960 is already in full form on the Grand Canyon Railway. The Mikado-type recently completed three April round trips from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park. While the locomotive performed well during the public […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Sidetrack Ep. 4 | A horse apiece

Back on the sidetrack, David resumes construction of the drivers, plus the horses and mules used to pull the various wagons and carts he’ll place into his On30 layout scenes. Initial efforts in this episode involve the basic material prep and assembly of all the white metal parts and pieces in the selected kits. By […]

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Abilene & Smoky Valley becomes Kansas’ state heritage railroad

steam train in field for charter

ABILENE, Kan. — Kansas now has an official state heritage railroad and a state steam locomotive. House Bill 2481, which bestows the railroad honor on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad and the locomotive distinction on the railroad’s Santa Fe Pacific No. 3415, was one of seven bills signed into law on Thursday, April 18, […]

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CPKC releases travel schedule for tour by No. 2816

Schedule for tour by CPR steam locomotive 2816, from April 24 in Calgary to May 28 in Laredo, Texas

CALGARY — CPKC has filled in many of the blanks on the upcoming Last Spike Steam Tour, releasing a schedule with travel days and intermediate stops for the Canadian and U.S. portions of the three-nation tour of 4-6-4 No. 2816, shown above. Locations and times for the “Event” days on the schedule were released last […]

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Wisconsin Great Northern acquires steam locomotive (updated)

Side view of steam locomotive inside display shed

TREGO, Wis. – The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad has added a steam locomotive to its expanding roster. Former Duluth & Northeastern 2-8-0 No. 27 will be moved from its display site at the Carlton County Fairgrounds in Barnum, Minn., where it has been displayed since 1968. Wisconsin Great Northern, known for its ongoing restoration of the […]

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British Columbia heritage rail operation sidelined for safety review

2-6-2 steam locomotive

FORT STEELE, British Columbia — A steam locomotive that has been a longtime attraction in southwestern British Columbia has been sidelined for a safety review, raising doubts about its future operation. Concerns over the age and increasing maintenance costs of 2-6-2 No. 1077, built in 1923 by Montreal Locomotive Works for Vancouver Island logging operations, […]

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