Young Guns in Preservation: Braden Brickman

Young individual standing in front of a yellow diesel.

Growing up, the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City has been Braden Brickman’s avocation. It’s now his vocation as the 23-year-old is employed as the restoration specialist to not only oversee said restorations, but also the maintenance and operation of the museum’s railroad and historic equipment. How did you get involved in rail preservation? […]

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From the Cab: A stray New Haven RR FL9 didn’t add up

Seaboard System GP16 in Acca Yard

A stray New Haven RR FL9 didn’t add up when the commuter locomotive encountered a Seaboard System equipment detector. When I entered engine service on the Seaboard Coast Line in 1979, the railroad was replacing many of its first generation locomotives, mostly aging Alcos and Electro-Motive Division road switchers. These locomotives had been ideally suited […]

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New South Shore route to South Bend airport advances

Train at station platform

CHESTERTON, Ind. — The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District board has agreed to commit $6 million in capital funding for the new South Shore Line route to the South Bend, Ind., airport. Approval came at a board meeting on Monday, Jan. 27, WBAA radio reports. The long-discussed project was also the subject of an open-house […]

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Friends of Cumbres & Toltec names new executive director

Logo of the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the organization that serves as the heritage rail line’s museum arm, has hired Rick Marsden as its new executive director. The Friends board announced the move Jan. 24. The hiring is effective Feb. 13. Marsden will replace Tim Tennant, retiring after 20 years […]

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East River Tunnel work to sideline Hudson River rail excursions with former New York Central lounge cars

BOONTON, N.J. – Construction work in Amtrak’s East River Tunnels will indefinitely sideline the United Railroad Historical Society’s Hudson River Rail Excursions after trips scheduled for February and March with the group’s former New York Central lounge cars. The historical society will operate “Farewell (For Now) Excursions” from New York Penn Station to Albany-Rensselaer, N.Y., […]

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Alaska museum, city combine to win auction for gold spike

Gold railroad spike engraved with message to Col. Frederick Mears

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An Alaska museum and city, with help from donors including the Alaska Railroad, have won the auction for a 14-karat gold spike that was part of the railroad’s completion ceremony in 1923. The Anchorage Museum and city of Nenana will take turns displaying the spike, which was purchased for $201,600, according to […]

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Naugatuck Railroad acquires former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars

Interior of Hi-Level lounge car

THOMASTON, Conn. — The Naugatuck Railroad has purchased three former Santa Fe Hi-Level railcars for its excursion operations, the short line has announced. The cars, two lounges and one coach, were acquired from the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, Mich., operator of Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225. The Institute acquired the cars in 2019 and […]

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Kentucky Steam to auction off Nickel Plate 2-8-2

Steam engine crossing small wooden bridge

IRVINE, Ky. — A former Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive is going to the auction block to settle a legal judgment. The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. said today (Jan. 23) in a public notice that NKP No. 587, a Class H-6o 2-8-2 built by Baldwin in 1918, will be the subject of a sealed-bid auction […]

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