Great Smoky Mountain Railroad to restore Southern No. 722 to operation

Steam locomotive with green paint scheme and passenger cars

Southern No. 722 BRYSON CITY, N.C. — The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad has announced plans to restore operation Southern Railway No. 722, a 2-8-0 built by Baldwin in 1904. Plans are to convert the locomotive from coal to oil firing in a process estimated to be completed in 2026, the railroad said in a press […]

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Special train, ceremony mark restoration of Trout Run Bridge

Passenger train with two Shay locomotives

CASS, W.Va. — West Virginia state dignitaries were among the passengers Friday on a special Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad train to dedicate the opening of the Trout Run Bridge and with it, reopening of the northernmost 15 miles of the former Chesapeake & Ohio Durbin route. Shay No. 5, West Virginia’s official state locomotive, […]

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Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960 continues centennial year into May

GC4960

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — As part of the 2023 steam schedule of operating the “First Saturday” excursions, Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s 2-8-2 No. 4960 was fired up for the special occasion. The former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad locomotive, with assistance from F40 diesel No. 4128, headed the railway’s round-trip excursion train from Williams to […]

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Last known Lehigh & New England passenger car to be moved, restored

Black and white photo of heavyweight passenger car dated Sept. 19, 1925

DUNCANSVILLE, Pa. – A rare anthracite-region steel heavyweight office car has been rescued by the Everett Railroad, which intends to restore it for first-class service on its excursion trains. The only known surviving passenger car from the Lehigh & New England Railroad, car No. 100 was built by American Car & Foundry Co. in September […]

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EBT opens its first steam-powered season in 12 years

Steam locomotive and train at station

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – The East Broad Top Railroad opened its first steam-powered season in 12 years with the return of regularly scheduled excursion trains for weekend operations Friday, May 5, through today, May 7. EBT 2-8-2 engine No. 16 (Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1916) easily handled its six-car train.  Freshly overhauled, the 81-ton engine broke […]

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Visiting Rapido Trains Inc | Inside the U.S. Dealer Event

In 2022, Rapido Trains, Inc., founder Jason Shron, hosted U.S. and Canadian dealers on the property of the Illinois Railway Museum. Trains.com cameras captured an exclusive interview with Jason, plus various Rapido models, and even some of the prototype railroad equipment that inspires the Toronto-based company’s well-detailed N (1:160) and HO (1:87) scale offerings! More […]

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Everett Railroad to hold fundraiser for PRR K4s No. 1361

Steam locomotive with train on curve

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — The Everett Railroad will run a steam-powered fundraiser trip to support the restoration of  the Railroaders Memorial Museum’s Pennsylvania Railroad Class K4s steam locomotive No. 1361. On Saturday, May 6, the railroad will operate a 1-hour passenger excursion as part of the museum’s “Juniata Jewel Jubilee” to mark the 105th anniversary of […]

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Mt. Rainier Scenic plans excursions in Chehalis, Wash., offers RailCycle trips

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad returns to operation. Steam locomotive with passenger cars

EATONVILLE, Wash. — Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad will resume operation by offering a RailCycle attraction at its Eatonville site, and is finalizing negotiations to operate steam excursions this summer at the Chehalis Centralia Railroad and Museum, Mt. Rainier officials have announced. Mt. Rainier’s plan is to bring its steam engine, Polson No. 70, and several […]

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Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960 steams up for Earth Day

Black steam locomotive pulling passenger train around curve

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel provided an Earth Day celebration with some steam added to the mix in the form of their 2-8-2 No. 4960. The former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad steam locomotive, with assistance from F40 diesel No. 4128, pulled the railway’s round-trip excursion train from Williams to the […]

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Reading & Northern sets dates for Iron Horse Rambles, diesel excursions

Steam locomotive pulling hopper cars

PORT CLINTON, Pa. – The Reading & Northern Railroad has set dates for its popular “Iron Horse Rambles” with former Reading 4-8-4 No. 2102. Trips will operate from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe, Pa. on July 1, Aug. 13, and Sept. 2. Tickets for the Rambles go on sale May 1 at 9:00 a.m. Seating […]

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Classic Great Northern Railway Ranch Car moves to Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad

TREGO, Wis. – A former Great Northern Railway ranch car that was once part of the storied Empire Builder streamliner has been purchased and moved to the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad in Trego. The ranch car, No. 1244, named White Pines Lake, was purchased from a former conference center operation in Columbus, Ohio, in January […]

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Indiana Rail Experience announces 2023 schedule, first day of ticket sales

Passenger train with steam engine stops on straight as diesel crosses bridge in background

The Indiana Rail Experience, the rail excursion partnership of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and Indiana Northeastern Railroad, will return for its second season with an expanded schedule of events beginning May 27-28 and continuing through December. Excursions will feature diesel locomotives as well as Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 on select occasions, […]

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