Historical society, Cumbres & Toltec reach agreement on 15-year inspection for D&RGW No. 315

Older steam locomotive pulling a train along a grassy flat area.

ANTONITO, Colo. — The Durango Railroad Historical Society and Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will perform the Federal Railroad Administration-required 15-year inspection on D&RGW C-18 locomotive No. 18, the 2-8-0 built by Baldwin for the Florence & Cripple Creek. The work will be performed in the Cumbres & Toltec’s Antonito shops, with historical society volunteers […]

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East Broad Top plans spring reopening for regular operation

Man in high-visibility clothing squats near rust covered rails of a switch in a rail yard.

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Regularly scheduled tourist passenger service is set to resume on the East Broad Top Railroad for the first time since the historic narrow-gauge line shut down in 2011. This will occur in May or June 2021 “with or without steam (locomotives)” said Brad Esposito, the railroad’s general manager, in an interview […]

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West Virginia rail agency buys former Buffalo Creek & Gauley

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By Alan Byer The West Virginia Rail Authority will purchase all 18 miles of the storied Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad, ending a 20-year saga to preserve the route that began in 1999 when the Elk River Railroad — which included the BC&G right-of-way — ended operations. The authority’s purchase will be effective on or […]

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News Photos: New York gathering of Alcos; S1 preservation effort

Three older diesel locomotives aligned on yard tracks for a night time photo session.

GREENWICH JUNCTION, N.Y. — A group of railfans gathered three preserved and operational Alco locomotives for a night photo at Greenwich Junction on Dec. 6, 2020, and are also seeking to promote an effort to preserve a former Alco plant switcher. Photographed at Greenwich Junction, where the Greenwich & Johnsonville Railroad interchanged with the Delaware […]

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Maine museum to get 2-foot gauge tamper donated by Australian sugar firm

Vibratool tamper on a flat rack in Brisbane, Australia

ALNA, Maine — A 2-foot gauge tamper is on its way from Australia to the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, culminating an 18-month effort by the museum to secure an operational narrow gauge tamper. In a moment of serendipity, the WW&F approached the Wilmar organization just a few days after it decided to retire […]

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Monticello Railway Museum acquires Illinois & Midland RS1325, Illinois Terminal SW1200

Older orange locomotive leading a train in late afternoon sunlight.

MONTICELLO, Ill. — One of the only two RS1325s built by Electro-Motive Division, Illinois & Midland No. 31, has been acquired by the Monticello Railway Museum. The museum purchased the diesel from Larry’s Truck and Electric, the Ohio firm that rebuilds, resells, leases, and scraps locomotives. The museum announced the addition of two locomotives to […]

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Digest: ‘Rhythm of the Rails’ concert lifts locomotive restoration project past matching-funds milestone

Rhythm of the Rails concert logo

More Thursday morning rail news: 

Concert helps NC&StL No. 576 project reach matching-funds goal
 The “Rhythm of the Rails” online concert featuring Marty Stuart, Harry Stinson, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Cristina Vale has been viewed more than 50,000 times and has put the fundraising effort for Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis No. 576 over […]

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Digest: NS donates historic car ‘Marco Polo’ to Georgia museum

office car

Tuesday morning preservation and museum news:

 NS donates historic ‘Marco Polo’ to Southeastern Railway Museum
 Norfolk Southern is donating private car Marco Polo, used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt while in office, to the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Ga. The car is scheduled to arrive at the museum at 11 a.m. on Nov. 14 […]

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Tours, restoration progress highlight ‘Mark Twain Zephyr’ anniversary weekend

TREGO, Wis. — More than 100 visitors, some from as far away as Ohio and Kansas, were on hand at the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad this weekend to mark the 85th anniversary of the christening of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy’s Mark Twain Zephyr and see progress in the restoration of the shovel-nosed streamliner. The train’s dedication […]

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Digest: Online concert will raise funds for restoration of NC&StL No. 576

Monday rail preservation and museum news: Marty Stuart, Old Crow Medicine Show to hold online concert for No. 576 restoration project Grammy-winning Nashville musicians will hold an online concert Nov. 8 to raise funds for the ongoing restoration project of Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis 4-8-4 locomotive No. 576, which is in $10,000 of its […]

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80-year-old former London Tube equipment to be replaced on Isle of Wight

RYDE, England — Railcars originally built for London’s “Tube” subway during World War II but still in service are about to be retired. The 80-year-old trains are used on the railway on the Isle of Wight — a large island just off England’s south coast near the naval port city of Portsmouth. In January 2021 […]

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