Northern Pacific Railway locomotives

  All through May 2021, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the style, glamour and grit of the Northern Pacific Railway. Please enjoy this NP locomotive photo gallery sourced from the archives of the David P. Morgan Library at Kalmbach Media. Only from Classic Trains! […]

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Iron mule

Coal hopper moves along unloading trestle alongside ship

Iron mule An unseen “iron mule” between the rails propels a coal car, with a brakeman aboard, toward a dumper at Newport News, Va. The C&O, along with rivals Norfolk & Western and Virginian, moved millions of tons of coal to be transloaded to ships in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Chesapeake & Ohio […]

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Digest: BNSF seeks eminent-domain authority to acquire land for Colorado intermodal terminal

BNSF Railway logo

BNSF asks to use eminent domain to complete land acquisition for Denver-area intermodal terminal BNSF Railway is asking officials in Colorado’s Weld County for eminent-domain authority to obtain land for a new intermodal facility. BizWest reports the railroad has submitted 10 requests at Weld County District Court in Greeley to acquire land to build a […]

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Digest: Canadian government announces $21 million in rail safety funding

Transport Canada logo

Canadian government announces $21 million in funding for rail safety projects The Canadian government announced it would spend more tha C$21 million to help fund 135 projects across Canada under the Rail Safety Improvement Program — Infrastructure, Technology, and Research. The funds will address grade crossing improvements, small projects such as fencing and pedestrian crossings, […]

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GE diesel donated to Kentucky Steam

Gray diesel with red and yellow trim

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. has added a C30-7 diesel to its collection, a gif from the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society. The locomotive is one of 44 of the road-switchers ordered by the Louisville & Nashville from General Electric in 1979-80, and spent most of its operating life with CSX Transportation. Retired […]

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New Photo: CSX repaints F40PH locomotive

Diesel locomotive in fresh gray, blue, and black paint

CSX Transportation has repainted one of its executive fleet F40PH locomotives in a paint scheme inspired by predecessor Baltimore & Ohio. The city of Baltimore chartered the railroad on Feb. 28, 1827, to build west to a suitable point on the Ohio River. Ground was broken on July 4, 1828, at Carrollton, Md. By 1929 […]

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Kansas City Southern selects Canadian National as merger partner (updated)

Canadian National and Kansas City Southern logos

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Southern has officially terminated its merger agreement with Canadian Pacific and chosen to partner with Canadian National in a $33.6 billion deal to create the first railroad linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. “We are thrilled that KCS has agreed to combine with CN to create the premier railway for […]

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The Trains Interview: MTA Capital Construction President Janno Lieber

Overhead view of escalators

Janno Lieber, president of MTA Capital Construction, oversees East Side Access, one of the largest transportation projects in America, which will bring Long Island Rail Road trains to Grand Central Terminal for the first time. He’s also directing future plans that include renovating Penn Station and enabling it to serve Metro-North New Haven line commuters. […]

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Illinois steam survivor

Profile of steam-powered freight train on truss bridge over wide river

Illinois steam survivor Wabash 2-6-0 576 creeps west across the Illinois River at Meredosia, Ill., in September 1954. The bridge famously limited the use of diesel locomotives on the railroad’s branch to Keokuk, making this operation a late era Midwest steam outpost. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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CN-KCS merger would make Canadian Pacific an acquisition target, Creel says

Train with three engines on straight track

CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel says that if rival Canadian National acquires Kansas City Southern, the merger will destabilize the North American rail network and make CP a target for acquisition by another Class I railroad. CP today made a last-ditch effort to convince the KCS board to abandon its agreement to […]

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Thimble cactus

Thimble cactus in a garden railroad

Common name: Thimble cactus Latin name: Mammillaria gracilis fragilis Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 Cultural needs: Gravelly or sandy well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun Plant size: 1″ high, spreading to 6-12″ As might be expected, this miniature mammillaria cactus hails from south of the border in Central or Eastern Mexico, […]

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