Completion of shop expansion brings more contract work for Durango & Silverton

People in shop building with passenger car in the background

DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has completed expansion of its shop facilities to accommodate contract work, and is seeing enough demand as a result that the railroad is looking to add five welders and machinists. The Durango Herald reports the $3.25 million, 10,000-square-foot shop expansion was completed at the end […]

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Great ride, modest ridership on the ‘Gotthard Panorama Express’

Red locomotive with passenger train

Gotthard Panorama Express It’s hard to imagine that a Swiss train ride through a spectacular and historic mountain pass can be underrated — particularly when it features what may be the last open-window coach on the Swiss Federal Railways system, specifically for the benefit of photographers. But that may well be the case for the […]

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By caboose to Silverton and back

Black & white photo of conductor and brakeman by desk in caboose.

It does not matter how many times you have traveled the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad between its namesake cities. Every time you ride is a new adventure. The scenery evolves over time and is dependent on the season at hand. The people you ride with change. The purpose of the ride is different. […]

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Travel with Trains: New England Fall Colors by Rail

A maroon railroad diesel crosses a short timber trestle

The Trains New England Fall Colors by Rail tour checks a lot of boxes. Memorable train rides, great food and lodging, colorful fall foliage, and time to explore picturesque towns. What’s it like to visit New England with Trains Magazine? Follow along with this day-by-day journal from Editor Carl Swanson. Friday, Oct. 4th, 2024 Volunteering […]

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U.S. Sugar 148 enjoys the spotlight

A color photograph of a steam locomotive pulling more modern passenger cars

I haven’t counted every last owner one time or another of Florida East Coast 4-6-2 No. 148, but it must be close to a record. For a mainline-size engine, the Pacific was incredibly peripatetic, sort of like former Burlington 2-8-2 No. 4960 before it landed at the Grand Canyon Railway. The 148 emerged from Alco’s […]

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Cass Scenic announces schedule for winter 2025 Greenbrier Express trains

Shay locomotive with passenger train in snow

CASS, W.Va — Cass Scenic Railroad operator Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad has announced its 2025 winter Greenbrier Express excursions from Cass to Durbin, W.Va., and return, beginning Jan. 18. Trains will operate Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 18 to Feb. 23, 2025, departing at 10 a.m. for a round trip of about 5 hours. […]

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‘Cameron Christmas Train’ to visit Ohio, Indiana, Michigan

Logo of Cameron Christmas Train

ANGOLA, Ind. — A three-day holiday train operation in northeast Indiana, southeastern Michigan, and western Ohio has been announced for next Monday through Wednesday. The Cameron Christmas Train, sponsored by Cameron Hospital, will be operated by the Indiana Northeastern Railroad, Little River Railroad, and Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Nov. 18-20. “As the region’s healthcare […]

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Woodstown Central 0-6-0 set for Nov. 30 debut

Steam locomotive operates with diesel switcher attached

WOODSTOWN, N.J. — The Woodstown Central Railroad, the heritage rail operation of SMS Rail Service, has announced that its restored Alco 0-6-0 locomotive No. 9 will make its revenue debut Nov. 30 in Santa Claus Special passenger service. The locomotive, built for the U.S. Army in 1942, also worked for the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway […]

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White Pass & Yukon runs train with all-female crew

Three women posed next to passenger car and diesel locomotive

SKAGWAY, Alaska — The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway marked a milestone in its well over a century of operation earlier this month when it operated a train with an all-female crew for the first time. The event occurred on Oct. 15 with a crew of Lindsay Breen, the railroad’s first woman engineer; conductor […]

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Shop Tails: Spooky from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

black cat in boxcar

A Spooky tail… The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad carshop in Durango, Colo., had a notorious mouse problem. During Halloween 2019, Assistant Car Shop Foreman Wes Akers and Car Shop Foreman (now carman) Sean Jackson were given permission to adopt two kittens to address the issue. These little kittens were to become new D&SNG […]

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One-of-a-kind Climax locomotive donated to Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Black-and-white photography of geared steam locomotive with cab enclosing most of engine

GARIBALDI, Ore. — The world’s only surviving standard gauge Class A Climax locomotive, Cabin Creek Lumber Co. No. 1, has been donated to the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, the railroad announced today (Oct. 24, 2024). The family of the late Victor C. Monahan donated the locomotive, which Oregon Coast Scenic intends to restore to operating […]

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