CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad will hold a steam-powered fundraiser Oct. 14 to benefit restoration of the Railroaders Memorial Museum’s Pennsylvania Railroad K4s-class 4-6-2 steam locomotive No. 1361, based in Altoona, Pa. An evening dinner train will be pulled by WMSR’s ex-Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 2-6-6-2 engine No. 1309 (Baldwin, 1949), temporarily […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – Work continues on preparing East Broad Top’s 2-8-2-type engine No. 16 (Baldwin, 1916) for a return to active service. The narrow-gauge railroad, a National Historic Landmark, last used steam power in 2011, just prior to the shutdown that put the 33-mile railroad into a deep freeze for more than eight years. […]
EUREKA, Calif. — Short line Mendocino Railway, which purchased the California Western Railroad and its Skunk Train operation after that company went bankrupt, has filed suit in federal court to over efforts by the City of Fort Bragg, Calif., and California Coastal Commission to apply state and local regulations to the railroad. The railroad is […]
SKAGWAY, Alaska — Two rockslides in a three-day period last week have led to the full closure of the White Pass & Yukon dock at the Port of Skagway, and the dock is expected to remain closed for the remainder of the 2022 sailing season. The website Cruise Hive reports slides on Wednesday, Aug. 3, […]
ALNA, Maine — Volunteers have been working nearly non-stop for several weeks, finishing a number of last-minute details leading up to the Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, opening of the Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum’s Mountain Extension and Trout Brook Station. Two special trains will make the first official runs over the three-quarter-mile extension of […]
SKAGWAY, Alaska — One berth at the White Pass & Yukon Railway’s cruise-ship dock in Skagway has been closed because of concerns over rockslide risk, forcing Princess Cruises to change plans for some scheduled visits by its ships. Travel Weekly reports the forward berth on the Railroad Dock has been closed following a report by […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – “The newest passenger car in the United States.” That’s how Brad Esposito, general manager of the East Broad Top Railroad, described the rolling stock that arrived Tuesday, July 19, at the narrow gauge tourist line and National Historic Landmark. It is the railroad’s first new passenger coach in more than a […]
STAUNTON, Va. — Virginians will soon enjoy a regularly scheduled tourist train. The commonwealth’s Buckingham Branch Railroad, a 275-mile short line freight railroad, has expanded into tourist railroading with the launch of its Virginia Scenic Railway. Diesel-powered climate-controlled passenger trains will join local freight, overhead CSX Transportation trains, and Amtrak’s triweekly Cardinal on the scenic […]
CHICAGO — Tourist railroads continue to see strong summer demand despite record inflation and high fuel prices. Railroads note, however, that the tide may be turning as mounting economic uncertainty may change consumer buying decisions. According to the U.S. Travel Association, American consumers reached a new pandemic high of $101 billion in travel spending in […]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — After a lengthy period of modified operations because of riverbank erosion along its route, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will return to its regular schedule this Saturday, July 16. Since March, the railroad had been running 16-mile trips instead of offering its full 52-mile round trip, and departing only from its Rockside […]
CHEHALIS, Wash. — The Chehalis-Central Railroad and Museum remains unable to operate trains because of insurance issues, but it is finding ways to again hold events. The Centralia Chronicle reports the railroad is holding an “Escape Room Dinner Train” event on five dates beginning July 16, with two sessions each day. Reflecting the railroad’s lack […]
CHAMA, N.M. — Facing high fire danger and a water emergency in the village of Chama, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has delayed the start of its 2022 season to July 1. The tourist railroad had been scheduled to open its season June 11. A message on the railroad website says the move was […]
