Summer 2025 left fans of big steam wanting more, with Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 being the sole Class I representative — and with a limited appearance at that. The remaining locomotives on the scene were few and far between, staying on short lines and tourist railroads. Good news, though: For those disappointed in the summer offerings, there’s a more promising lineup this fall.
Operations along Class I railroads will be reserved for non-passenger moves, though some upcoming excursions will still have the allure of mainline steam railroading. Both the Reading & Northern and Buckingham Branch/Virginia Scenic railroads fit the bill with the former’s T-1 4-8-4 No. 2102 scheduled to solo on heavy trains across Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, the latter will host Norfolk & Western J Class 4-8-4 No. 611, returning to service after a 2024 absence for an encore of the showstopping Shenandoah Valley Limited.
Other locomotives will make their 2025 debuts in significant ways. Having run short trips to St. Paul Union Depot for the North Pole Express and other events, Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 will make its first extended excursion in three years along the Twin Cities & Western Railroad in October. Meanwhile, though currently scheduled for a short run to downtown Albuquerque in late September, Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 is poised for more miles with access to 40 miles of mainline trackage.
From east to west, several locomotives will conclude their seasons in the coming months: Grand Canyon Railway 2-8-2 No. 4960, Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 and Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501, to name a few. However, not every big steam will be ending 2025 in a fall finale, as some will have extended operations into the Holiday Season.
Of course, more locomotives may be added to the list as additional news and announcements are publicized. Keep checking back for an updated schedule, and stay tuned for which locomotive will be under steam when the snow starts to fly.
Fall Schedules
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad No. 8419
According to Iowa’s Boone & Scenic Valley, the 2-8-2 is scheduled to operate on Saturdays from Sept. 20 to Oct. 25. No. 8419 will power the tourist railroad’s classic Boone-Fraser excursions. Visit the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad website for more information.
Canadian Pacific No. 2816
The 4-6-4 is planned to be in attendance at the Calgary International Film Festival (Royal Canadian Pacific Pavilion), Sept. 20, for the public screening of the documentary, Pulse of the Continent: Final Spike Steam Tour. Visit the CIFF website for more information.
Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960
Williams to Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.
- Sept. 6 and 20 (Grand Canyon Railway’s Anniversary)
- Oct. 4
Visit the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotels website for more information.
Milwaukee Road No. 261
The 4-8-4 and E9A diesel No. 32A are scheduled to power the Harvest BBQ Express each day out of Chanhassen, Minn., Oct. 4 and 5. The all-day excursions will traverse the Twin Cities & Western Railroad along a portion of the route of the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha. Visit the Friends of the 261 website for more information.
Nickel Plate Road No. 765
Indiana Rail Experience on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad
- Oct. 11 — Hillsdale Railroad Festival; Hillsdale, Mich.
- Oct. 17-19 — Fall Color Steam Special; Pleasant Lake, Ind., to Hillsdale
Visit the Indiana Rail Experience website for more information.
Norfolk & Western No. 611
Virginia Scenic Railway’s Shenandoah Valley Limited on the Buckingham Branch Railroad; Goshen, Va.
- Sept. 26-28
- Oct. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, and 24-26
Visit the Virginia Scenic Railway website for more information.
Reading & Northern No. 2102
- Sept. 13 — Mountain Top Rotary Club; Penobscot to Jim Thorpe, Pa.
- Oct. 4, 18, and 25 — Fall Foliage; Reading, Pa., to Jim Thorpe
Visit the Reading & Northern Passenger Department website for more information.
Santa Fe No. 2926
The massive 4-8-4 will visit Albuquerque’s downtown Rail Yards for New Mexico Railroad Days, Sept. 27 and 28. No. 2926 will make its mainline ferry moves to and from the facility, before and after the event, while staged for display, cab tours, and a Saturday night photo session during the festivities. Visit the New Mexico Heritage Rail website for more information.
Santa Fe No. 3751
“Train Festival 2025: LA’s Spirit in Motion!” will be held Sept. 20 and 21 at Los Angeles Union Station. No. 3751 will be under steam while displayed during the event. The only movements will occur during the ferry runs between Union Station and the locomotive’s home base at the nearby Amtrak maintenance facility of Redondo. Night photo sessions on Sept. 19 and 20 are also planned at the station.
Soo Line No. 1003
A private photo freight with the 2-8-2 is currently planned for Oct. 26 with organizer A-Train4014 Productions. Visit the event page for more information and to purchase tickets.
Southern Railway No. 4501
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Summerville Steam Special; Chattanooga, Tenn., to Summerville, Ga.
- Sept. 27
- Oct. 4, 11-12, 18-19, and 25
- Nov. 1, 2 (Doubleheader with Southern 2-8-0 No. 630), and 8
Visit the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum website for more information.
Union Pacific No. 4014
- Sept. 30 — Cheyenne, Wyo. to Denver
- Oct. 1 — Denver to Cheyenne
Visit the Union Pacific Steam Program website for more information..
U.S. Sugar No. 148
Sugar Express; Central Florida
- Oct. 10 — Sugar Express Spritzer; Clewiston
- Oct. 11 — Lake Placid Limited; Clewiston to Lake Placid
- Nov. 7 — Sugar Express Spritzer; Clewiston
Visit the Sugar Express website for more information.
Western Maryland No. 1309
The former Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 will continue to lead the Frostburg Flyer daytime excursions from Cumberland to Frostburg, Md., every Saturday and Sunday until Nov. 2. However, No. 1309 will not be on the all-day excursions during the Western Maryland Scenic’s Maryland Railfest, Sept. 13 and 14, as it’ll be operating the shorter Helmstetter’s Highball and BBQ Choo Choo excursions. The locomotive will still be on the point for remaining “Sunset on the Mountain” evening excursions, every Friday until Oct. 31. Visit the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad website for more information.
View the list of all the 2025 active steam locomotives in Trains’ Feb. 2025 issue.
While it is great that we still have some big steam operations in the United States in 2025, Amtrak’s ban on excursions is an unnecessary shame. Perhaps steam operators and historical societies can work together to have Amtrak or congress repeal it.
Full steam ahead in the name of railfanning…
Dr. Güntürk Üstün