Transcontinental Railroad history: the Pacific Railroad Act, US Civil War, and Manifest Destiny

Union Pacific directors pose at the 100th Meridian, 247 miles west of Omaha, Neb. There were still many miles to go to reach Ogden, Utah.

Union Pacific directors pose at the 100th Meridian, 247 miles west of Omaha, Neb. There were still many miles to go to reach Ogden, Utah. Library of Congress collection Many railroads have had their share of drama and intrigue, but it is hard to recall another railroad with the narrative complexity and heroic scale of […]

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First block of May 10 Promontory tickets sold out; second block set for April 1 NEWSWIRE

Promontory119WrinnPS

The National Park Service replica of UP No. 119 moves at Promontory in June 2018. Trains: Jim Wrinn PROMONTORY SUMMIT, Utah — The first block of individual vehicle passes for May 10 has sold out in two weeks. A second block will be available starting at 10 a.m. Mountain Time on April 1, Spike 150, […]

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Prototype drawings of Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive

Bigboy1954

Click on the image or link to download a PDF of this drawing of the Union Pacific Big Boy In 1941 the Union Pacific RR took delivery of its first 4-8-8-4 single-expansion articulated steam locomotives. Aptly named “Big Boy,” these 7,000 hp, 386-ton locomotives were the heaviest and among the most powerful simple articulateds ever […]

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Utah prepares for busy spring celebrating 150 years of transcontinental railroading NEWSWIRE

Spike150

The Spike 150 website already lists about 100 events across Utah. SALT LAKE CITY – While railroad enthusiasts and history buffs are anxiously awaiting news of when Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 will hit the main line in May, officials in Utah say there are already dozens of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary […]

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Tickets go on sale Monday for May 10, 2019 150th anniversary event NEWSWIRE

Promontory

Tickets go on sale Monday for May 10, 2019 transcontinental railroad anniversary events. Trains: Jim Wrinn PROMONTORY SUMMIT, Utah — Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. mountain time Feb. 4 for 150th anniversary events at the Golden Spike National Historic Site on May 10, 2019. Participants can pay $20 per car that are good […]

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Crisis at the coal chute!

CN3503

The engineer of Canadian National 2-8-2 3503 enjoys the breeze as he hurries a freight east at Lorne Park, Ont., in August 1955, a year after the author’s experience on another CN Mikado some 700 miles to the northwest. W. H. N. Rossiter A steam locomotive fireman’s duties go far beyond the actual firing of the […]

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Changing times and familiar faces

As we mark our 250th issue, a familiar name returns to our masthead. Bob Keller, who served as associate editor of Classic Toy Trains for more than 20 years, returns as contributing editor. Bob joined the staff in 1996, following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, where he held the rank of major. In […]

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‘Leviathan’ to play role of Lincoln Funeral Train locomotive

1800s replica steam locomotive in rail yard. The astonishing 5-week transformation of No. 331.

Leviathan will get a new role in Pennsylvania this spring. Trains: Jim Wrinn ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. — Good bye Central Pacific No. 63, Leviathan! Hello Pennsylvania Railroad No. 331. The operating 4-4-0 replica of one of the locomotives in the first transcontinental railroad 150 years ago is being redecorated to represent the PRR engine that pulled […]

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