Steam excursions in the United States are like taking center stage. Star-studded locomotives arrived with some staying while others received curtain calls. Of those that have taken their final bow, here are five former U.S. steam excursion locomotives that left an impact. Grand Trunk Western No. 5629 Excursion service 1959-1973: The class K-4a, 4-6-2 No. […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — As part of the 2023 steam schedule of operating the “First Saturday” excursions, Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s 2-8-2 No. 4960 was fired up for the special occasion. The former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad locomotive, with assistance from F40 diesel No. 4128, headed the railway’s round-trip excursion train from Williams to […]
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Transportation Museum is moving ahead with plans to repaint several pieces of passenger equipment at its Jackson Street Roundhouse Museum in St. Paul. If plans come to fruition, MTM will achieve a long-time goal of assembling a Great Northern streamliner in Omaha orange and Pullman green. MTM operates the […]
DUNCANSVILLE, Pa. – A rare anthracite-region steel heavyweight office car has been rescued by the Everett Railroad, which intends to restore it for first-class service on its excursion trains. The only known surviving passenger car from the Lehigh & New England Railroad, car No. 100 was built by American Car & Foundry Co. in September […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – The East Broad Top Railroad opened its first steam-powered season in 12 years with the return of regularly scheduled excursion trains for weekend operations Friday, May 5, through today, May 7. EBT 2-8-2 engine No. 16 (Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1916) easily handled its six-car train. Freshly overhauled, the 81-ton engine broke […]
SAN FRANCISCO – This weekend sees the launch of a civic celebration to mark 150 years of cable car service in San Francisco. Scotsman Andrew S. Hallidie, an experienced maker of wire rope (steel cable), employed his expertise to construct a cable car on Clay Street in San Francisco, with the first run on August […]
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — The Everett Railroad will run a steam-powered fundraiser trip to support the restoration of the Railroaders Memorial Museum’s Pennsylvania Railroad Class K4s steam locomotive No. 1361. On Saturday, May 6, the railroad will operate a 1-hour passenger excursion as part of the museum’s “Juniata Jewel Jubilee” to mark the 105th anniversary of […]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 will take leave its restoration yard for the first time in more than 20 years next Saturday, May 6, making a short trip for a display at a brew pub about a half-mile away. The New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society will display the locomotive […]
KINGSTON, N.Y. — A railcar from the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority has joined the collection of the Trolley Museum of New York, arriving at the museum on Tuesday, April 25. Car No. 510, built in 1981 by Société Franco-Belge, will be on display when the museum opens for the 2023 season on Saturday, May […]
EATONVILLE, Wash. — Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad will resume operation by offering a RailCycle attraction at its Eatonville site, and is finalizing negotiations to operate steam excursions this summer at the Chehalis Centralia Railroad and Museum, Mt. Rainier officials have announced. Mt. Rainier’s plan is to bring its steam engine, Polson No. 70, and several […]
MADISON, Wis. — A longtime collector of worldwide railroad art has announced the donation of 250 pieces amassed over the last 40 years to the Center for Railroad Photography & Art. Peter Mosse, a CRP&A board member since 2016, and his wife Christine offered the collection to the center, which announced its acceptance at its […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel provided an Earth Day celebration with some steam added to the mix in the form of their 2-8-2 No. 4960. The former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad steam locomotive, with assistance from F40 diesel No. 4128, pulled the railway’s round-trip excursion train from Williams to the […]
