Silvis shop continues work on several projects

Two steam locomotives in shop building. CB&Q turntable to be installed at Silvis shop.

SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) continues to make progress on several projects at its former Rock Island shop in Silvis. The group is planning to return to service former Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985, 2-10-2 No. 5511, and “Centennial” DDA40X diesel No. 6936. National Railway Equipment, which shares the Silvis shop complex […]

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Rochester, N.Y., museum will be new home of NYC shop switcher

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A 0-4-0T locomotive that served as a shop switcher for a New York Central subsidiary will be preserved by the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Despatch Shops No. 5, built in 1924 by the Vulcan Works in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was purchased by Merchants Despatch Transportation Corp. for use at its freight […]

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NJ Transit donates ALP-44 locomotive to New Jersey preservation group

Electric locomotive leading commuter train, framed by tree

BOONTON, N.J. — NJ Transit has donated ALP-44M electric locomotive No. 4424 to the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey for preservation, the URHS has announced. The first public display following the donation, made by NJ Transit to commemorate its 40th anniversary, will be Sept. 24 at the URHS Railroad Museum [For A Day] […]

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Fully funded, new firebox work advances on PRR K4s No. 1361

Men discuss work on steam engine behind them

ALTOONA, Pa. — Work to construct a new $425,000 firebox for Pennsylvania Railroad Class K4s steam locomotive No. 1361 (PRR Juniata Shops, 1918) is moving along rapidly, with the inner wrapper sheets scheduled to be assembled late next month or in early September. The locomotive is in the midst of a $2.6 million restoration to […]

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Norfolk & Western 611 Update

After almost twenty years on static display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Va., Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 returned to operation in 2015.  Her time on the mainline was very brief though, lasting only three years.  Since then, new venues have been needed to operate the large engine.  Let’s get […]

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News photos: Illinois Railway Museum marks 70th anniversary with electric equipment parade

Green and orange streamlined electric interurban train

UNION, Ill. — The Illinois Railway Museum, which is marking its 70th anniversary in 2023, celebrated the milestone on Saturday, July 1, with its 70 for 70 Trolley Pagaent, a parade of 70 pieces of electric equipment from the museum’s collection. The event reflects the roots of the museum, which began in 1953 as the […]

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Railroading Heritage of Midwest America sells car to CPKC

Maroon passenger car

MINNEAPOLIS — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America has sold one of its passenger cars to CPKC. The baggage-dormitory car, once used on trips pulled by Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261,  will be used as a dormitory on steam trips this summer behind Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816. The car, which RRHMA had named Grand Canyon […]

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Center for Railroad Photography & Art launches online image archive (updated)

Logo of Center for Railroad Photography and Art

MADISON, Wis. — The Center for Railroad Photography & Art has unveiled its online archive of digital images from the center’s expansive collection. Odyssey, the CRP&A’s new online portal, is now available here. A downloadable search guide PDF is available here. The image management system was selected by the CRP&A staff in June 2022, and […]

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‘Shay It Forward’ fundraiser at Illinois Railway Museum honors Wrinn

Woman with shovel in cab of steam locomotive

UNION, Ill. — The Illinois Railway Museum on Saturday played host to “Shay It Forward,” a preservation fundraising event held to honor the memory and legacy of late Trains Magazine editor Jim Wrinn, who died March 30, 2022, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Fundraising activities included throttle time with the museum’s three-truck Shay locomotive, J. […]

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Summer season in full steam for Santa Fe No. 3415

Steam locomotive with passenger car and gondola for riders in field with trees in background.

ABILENE, Kan. — Steam locomotive No. 3415 turned in another weekend of successful operations on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. This comes after headlining the railroad’s 30th anniversary during Father’s Day weekend, which followed multiple sidelines to the locomotive due to unforeseen repairs in late May and issues with the injector in early June. […]

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Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 undergoes stationary steam test

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 underwent a stationary steam test last week as part of its overhaul before a trip this summer to Mexico City in celebration of the CP-Kansas City Southern merger. The locomotive also moved out of the shop under its own power and moved about the yard. CPKC’s steam […]

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