A Dakota Southern SD7 sits on rebuilt track at Chamberlain, S.D. Pat Malone CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. — A shortline railroad is boosting its grain business after reopening more than 40 miles of main line in South Dakota. The Dakota Southern started hauling unit grain trains to the Wheat Growers Cooperative in Kennebec, S.D., earlier this harvest […]
An on-time eastbound Empire Builder pauses at Minot, N.D., for servicing on Aug. 20, 2014. Bob Johnston RUGBY, N.D. — Snow and ice are burying much of North Dakota this week, but Amtrak’s Empire Builder soldiers on. While national TV news and published reports recounted how thousands of flights were cancelled, trucks jackknifed all over […]
Union Pacific 4-8-4 Northern-type No. 844 pictured at LaSalle, Colo., in 2009. The famed locomotive made a triumphant come back in 2016 after repairs and a 1,472-day overhaul. Bruce A. Daugherty WAUKESHA, Wis. — When Union Pacific 4-8-4 No. 844 returned to the rails under its own power this year, we were reminded of what […]
FULL SCREEN John Bjorklund, collection of Center for Railroad Photography and Art A Burlington Northern commuter train arrives at Chicago Union Station in July 1971, as seen from Roosevelt Road. FULL SCREEN John Bjorklund, collection of Center for Railroad Photography and Art A Burlington Northern commuter train arrives at west suburban Riverside, Ill., in July […]
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Ron Ziel as he appeared in 1975 for a wedding announcement. The announcement includes a note that he and his wife, Elizabeth McAtic, had no time for a real honeymoon since they were about to spend six weeks in Africa imaging steam locomotives. Ron Ziel IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Ron Ziel, whose book “The Twilight […]
In this last leg of their trek to the Columbia River Gorge, Charlie and Tom Danneman keep the cameras rolling to capture the various tunnels and trains along the BNSF main line. You’ll enjoy the numerous run-bys they captured before returning to Portland, Ore. […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — Progress Rail is shipping the first two production SD70ACe-T4s to Union Pacific this week. They will be the first EMD Tier 4 units ordered by a customer to be placed in revenue service. The locomotives, UP Nos. 3012 and 3014 were shipped from Bombardier’s Sahagun, Mexico, plant, arriving in Laredo on […]
This coal hopper, seen in Butler, Wis., has a main body built from aluminum and a center sill made of steel. Freight-car makers use non-conductive materials to separate the metals and prevent galvanic corrosion. Steve Sweeney Q There are aluminum-body Talgos and aluminum-body coal cars, both with steel center sills. High school chemistry teaches that […]
A special Brightline train is set to complete its more than 3,000-mile journey from California to south Florida this week. The train was on Florida East Coast rails for the first time today in Jacksonville, Fla., with FEC milepost 0 immediately behind the train. Eric Hendrickson JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The first new trainset for a […]
Chicago is still the North American railroad capital, and Trains Magazine takes you there with this all-new DVD production. You’ll see heavy freights, fast passenger runs, and the transit system that takes a major city to work. Be sure to check out the companion issue: Chicago, America’s Railroad Capital. Both are available in January! […]
Trains Magazine Assistant Editor Brian Schmidt takes you along for a look at the North Shore Scenic Railroad‘s operations in September 2016. The railroad, part of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, operates excursion trains on its line between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minn., with historic equipment from the Upper Midwest’s fallen flags. You’ll see Duluth, […]
