Mikados, an 0-8-0, and an ex-Pennsylvania Railroad Consolidation are arrayed around the turntable at Detroit, Toledo & Ironton’s Flat Rock Yard near Detroit on the day before Labor Day, 1955. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Quiet Sunday on the DT&I
Tag: Steam Locomotive
Reading Co. Camelback Ten-Wheeler
As a crossing watchman stands guard, Reading Camelback 4-6-0 No. 608 brings a Newtown, Pa.–Philadelphia local into Fox Chase station in 1948. Leslie R. Ross photo […]
Steam locomotive profile: 4-8-4 Northern
With the general speed-up of passenger train schedules in the 1920s, the need arose for a more powerful version of the 4-8-2. Although it had adequate adhesion, the 4-8-2 lacked the raw horsepower to accelerate a heavy train coming out of a sag or after rounding a curve. Lima Locomotive Works had shown the world […]
Steam locomotive profile: 2-6-6-2 Mallet
In the 1890s, the Gotthard Railway in Switzerland operated the first Mallet locomotives. They were compound articulated locomotives developed by, and named for, Swiss engineer Anatole Mallet. A Mallet locomotive has two engines, which are independently mounted on an articulated frame. A high-pressure engine is located at the rear. Steam exhausted from it is conveyed […]
American Freedom Train No. 1 unveiled after cosmetic restoration
BALTIMORE — Following the completion of a year-long cosmetic restoration, American Freedom Train locomotive No. 1 was unveiled to the public in a special ceremony at the B&O Railroad Museum on Jan. 12. The engine pulled the American Freedom Train in the Northeast during its 1975-76 tour commemorating the Declaration of Independence and celebrating the nation’s […]
New publication from Classic Toy Trains
It’s my pleasure to tell you, our devoted readers of Classic Toy Trains, about our brand-new colorful and informative 100-page special-interest publication: Great Layouts You Can Visit! Packed with photos and filled with stories and details, it offers toy train enthusiasts of every age, background, and level of interest and experience something enjoyable and useful. […]
Western Maryland Scenic’s No. 1309 makes first 2026 trip
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad launched its first trips for 2026 with four excursions from Cumberland to Frostburg, Md., on Jan. 3 and 4. The trips were powered by the railroad’s former Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, which ran flawlessly. Named the Allegheny Winter Express, the 10-car trains were well patronized, […]
Milwaukee Class A No. 2
Townsfolk of New Lisbon, Wis., inspect Milwaukee Road Class A No. 2 after the 4-4-2 clipped off 14 miles at a steady 112.5 mph on a Hiawatha pre-inaugural test run on May 15, 1935. MILW photo […]
C&NW class H on a local
Dirty Chicago & North Western class H-1 4-8-4 No. 3029 departs Chicago with train 13, a local for Omaha, on June 8, 1953. R. R. Malinoski photo […]
Model Railroader’s favorite products of 2025
2025 marked another great year for new releases in model railroading. Whatever your scale or discipline in the hobby, odds are good that there was a new release that caught your eye and had you reaching for your wallet. As we look forward to 2026, Eric White, Cody Grivno, Lucas Iverson, and David Popp take […]
Tank engine with a tender
Even though it’s a tank locomotive (with the water tank around the boiler), Rayonier 2-6-6-2T No. 111 also sports a tender for additional water capacity. The fitting atop the stack is a Gerlinger spark arrestor. Whit Towers photo […]
West Side Heisler
West Side Lumber Co. two-truck Heisler No. 3 was one of about 600 geared locomotives produced by the Heisler Locomotive Works of Erie, Pa., between 1891 and 1941. Glenn W. Beier photo […]
