Digest: Georgia excursion train set for sold-out debut

Map showing route of Azalea Sprinter excursion train

‘Azelea Sprinter’ excursion train debuts in Georgia A new Georgia excursion train will debut this weekend with sold-out trips. WALB-TV reports the Azelea Sprinter, operating by CaterParrott Railnet on the Georgia & Florida Railroad, sold out its first three trips in less than two days. The train will depart from Nashville, Ga., and offer three […]

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Heritage rail digest: Colebrookdale Railroad to offer ‘sensory friendly’ ride

Colebrookdale Railroad Logo

Colebrookdale Railroad to host ride for those with autism, other sensory sensitivities The Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyerstown, Pa., will host a “Sensory Friendly Saturday” train ride, specifically designed for those with autism or other sensory sensitivities, on March 27. The Sanatoga Post reports the event planned by the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust. Features will include […]

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How to visit the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

A steam locomotive-hauled passenger train navigating a rocky slope as seen from a car in the rear of the train.

Introduction to the Durango & Silverton A trip to Colorado to see and ride a narrow gauge railroad is essential for anyone with an interest in great steam railroading in the Rocky Mountains. Colorado has several railroads worth visiting (in fact, we offer, in conjunction with Special Interest Tours, a week-long trip to visit them […]

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Kentucky steam group gains ownership of three former Indiana museum pieces

Cranes and a truck moving a piece of railroad equipment.

In a landmark deal, the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation has acquired a historic water tender and accompanying former-Pennsylvania Railroad Railway Post Office car from the Indiana Transportation Museum. Both cars, along with a former-Pennsylvania Railroad baggage car, were transported from Indiana to the KSHC property in Irvine, Kentucky, in late 2018. The cars were part […]

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All-female steam crew to help Strasburg Rail Road mark International Women’s Day

Two women railroaders pose near the pilot of a steam locomotive.

RONKS, Pa. — Strasburg Rail Road’s first-ever all-female steam engine crew will run all trips for the Pennsylvania tourist line this Saturday, March 6. The assignment coincides with International Women’s Day (March 8) and Women’s History Month. In the cab will be Andrea Biesecker as engineer and Shelley Hall as fireman. They will run the […]

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New Hope Valley Railway returns to action with ‘Hop Into Spring’

A person rides the steps of a caboose on the back of a train in a green forested landscape.

The North Carolina Railway Museum, which lost most of its 2020 season to the COVID-19 pandemic, will begin 2021 operations of the New Hope Valley Railway with a new event later in March. The all-volunteer, non-profit railway, will host “Hop into Spring,” with rides Saturday and Sunday, March 27-27. The event will feature socially distant […]

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Digest: East Troy Electric Railroad sets 2021 operating schedule

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East Troy Electric to begin season March 27; regular operations start April 24 The East Troy (Wis.) Electric Railroad has announced its 2021 schedule of regular operations and special events, opening the year with health measures including pinpoint ionizations for air filtering, socially distant seating, and mask. The first special-event trains of the year will […]

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News Photos: East Broad Top Winter Spectacular returns

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Responding to heavy demand, the East Broad Top added several trips during Saturday’s Winter Spectacular, a revival of the event held 1966-81. Scheduled trips with Brill gas-electric M-1 and a caboose all sold out within hours of tickets going on sale, so the EBT added trips, and sold all those out, […]

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Digest: CSX updates weather impact on operations

CSX logo

CSX intermodal sites remain open, some transload facilities closed In a Thursday afternoon update to customers, CSX Transportation reported all intermodal terminal are open despite recent and continuing weather issues, although subject to weather-related regional delays. Four of the railroad’s Transflo transloading sites — in Nashville, Tenn.; Richmond, Va.; Wilmington, Del; and Baltimore, Md. — […]

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News Photo: New Pikes Peak equipment begins journey from Switzerland to Colorado

New trainsets and a new snow blower for the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Colorado have begun their journey from Switzerland. The Stadler equipment, along with a snow blower built by Zaugg at its Eggiwil, Switzerland, factory, was taken by truck from Stadler’s factory in Erlen, Swtizerland, to Basel, where they will […]

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Grand Canyon Railway sets eight dates for steam operations in 2021

Steam locomotive on Grand Canyon Railway

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Steam-powered passenger trains are set to return to the Grand Canyon Railway on eight dates beginning in April 2021, with one of the railroad’s two steam locomotives powering a morning train from Williams to the Historic Village inside Grand Canyon National Park. Steam operations are scheduled for the first Saturday of each […]

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Canadian cruise ship ban has White Pass & Yukon summer plans on hold

Steam locomotive on passenger train in front of mountains

SKAGWAY, Alaska — Narrow gauge passenger rail operator White Pass & Yukon Route never ran excursions during 2020, despite maintaining hopes into June that COVID-19 travel restrictions might be relaxed. Now operations are in jeopardy for 2021 as well, in the wake of a Transport Canada decision not to allow ships carrying more than 100 […]

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