WILMINGTON, Del. — Heritage railroad Wilmington & Western, which shut down suddenly earlier this year, has announced it is returning to operation, with its first trips scheduled for later this month. A pop-up message on the railroad website says, “After a spring and summer dedicated to maintenance and improvements, we’re ready to welcome back riders. […]
ASHWAUBENON, Wis. — The National Railroad Museum has opened its new Fox River Expansion, a 21,000 square foot, climate-controlled exhibit hall, which faces the waterway running along the museum campus. The $17 million project is the first of four museum expansion phases and has been nearly 10 years in the making. The new facility, says […]
ROANOKE, Va. — As Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 gears up for fall excursions on the Buckingham Branch Railroad, having arrived at the short line from Roanoke on Sept. 18, the Virginia Museum of Transportation has recently geared up for a new fundraising initiative in preparation for the 4-8-4’s anticipated 1,472-day boiler inspection, […]
BONSAL, N.C. — From Oct. 11 to 25, the New Hope Valley Railroad, also known as the Triangle Trains, is inviting the public to board its annual Track or Treat Halloween Express. “October is always a special month for us here at New Hope Valley Railway,” said North Carolina Railway Museum President John Morck, “We’re […]
UNION, Ill. — The Illinois Railway Museum has announced ambitious plans to restore its Union Pacific DDA40 “Centennial” No. 6930 to full operational status. The “Revive the Centennial” campaign was publicly unveiled on Sept. 17 via the museum’s social media channels. This significant undertaking will involve extensive upgrades and repairs, including the crucial acquisition and […]
WOODSTOWN, N.J. — On Saturday, Sept. 20, steam locomotive No. 9 of the Woodstown Central Railroad will re-debut to the public, following an extensive period of repairs. In April, the Alco-built 0-6-0 was sidelined by an overheated journal on its central axle during an excursion, necessitating repairs beyond the capabilities of the tourist railroad’s South […]
HANOVER, Md. — The Maryland Department of Transportation has awarded $1.2 million in funding as part of the inaugural awards under its Freight Rail Grant Program launched this year. Five projects have received funding under MDOT’s Office of Rail and Intermodal Freight as part of a program to help preserve railroad corridors, support economic development, […]
CLEVELAND — The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association plans to honor Cleveland’s railroad history and American Freedom Train steam locomotive No. 250’s 80th birthday with an open house on Saturday, Oct. 11. The event will take place at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society’s roundhouse — 2800 W. 3rd St., Cleveland. Proceeds will benefit the ongoing […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The family responsible for saving the East Broad Top Railroad has been honored by the EBT Foundation for its role in preserving the narrow gauge line. In a Saturday ceremony, the EBT dedicated a monument to Fannie and Nick Kovalchick and their family. The Kovalchicks, who operate a scrap metal firm, […]
Time capsule When construction of Pennsylvania’s iron ore and coal-hauling East Broad Top began in 1872, more than 150 years ago, its builders decided it would be a narrow gauge line, with rails set 3-feet apart instead of the North American standard gauge of 4-feet, 8.5-inches. Narrow gauge offered significant advantages, as the smaller locomotives […]
Steam over Cumbres Pass On a sunny June morning in Antonito, Colorado, Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad’s 4-6-0 No. 168, built by Baldwin in 1883, is readied for another run over the mountains. Its relatively tall 46-inch drivers made it suitable for fast passenger service. Carl Swanson The 64-mile-long Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is […]
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has acquired former Conemaugh & Black Lick Railroad SW7 locomotive No. 111, a fully functional EMD end-cab switcher which the railroad plans to use on some of its seasonal excursion trains. The locomotive built in 1949 is the last of 25 such locomotives that served the railroad […]
