The last 500 pictures chosen as Editor Picks by our site administrators.
a IAIS Interchange train lead by an BNSF 7719 an H2 ES44DC rounds Firth curve as they start their descent to KC
Four SD40s on the Jamestown Local
MILW 606 switching near Harlem Avenue
A note on the back states "Handling "Pacific Limited". Alco-Schenectady built this beautiful streamlined 4-6-4 Hudson in March of 1938 as CNW 4001. The streamline styling is reminiscent of NYC's Commodore Vanderbiltand Milwaukee Road "inverted tub" design. Much later in 1947, the loco received a new boiler and was convertedf to an oil burner. After only 15 years of service, the loco was scrapped in 1953. Specs - 84" drivers, impressive 300 psi boiler pressure, 25x29" cylinders, engine wt of 412,000 lb and tractive force of 55,000 lb. No date in 1938 or photographer was listed for the photo so an approximate date was used.
FM. Here is a duplicate 35mm B&W slide of a photo by Fred McLeod that was taken at the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, Pennsylvania, c. 1949. Shown here (R to L) is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #5827 and another "Centipede" whose road number is not recorded. Both are BP-60's built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works as BP-60 passenger engines rated at 3,000 horsepower each, but later regeared and reclassified as 2,250 horsepower BH-50's for freight and helper service only. #5827 was built in October of 1948 and retired in September of 1962 after just 14 years of revenue service. They're pulling a passenger train around the Curve and down the Allegheny Mountains to Altoona and points East. This photo comes from a B&W slide set entitled "Horseshoe Curve, Pennsylvania Railroad" that's produced and distributed by Blackhawk Films of Davenport, Iowa (22-4).
FM. Here is a duplicate 35mm B&W slide of a photo by Fred McLeod that was taken near Altoona, Pennsylvania, c. 1949. Shown here is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #6333, an I-1SA "Decapod" built in Juniata as an I-1S in August of 1919, rebuilt as an I-1SA in October of 1944, and retired in February of 1958 after 39 years of service. It's pulling a fully-loaded mineral train down the Allegheny Mountains to the Eastbound Receiving Yard in Altoona. Wave to the Engineman! This photo comes from a B&W slide set entitled "Horseshoe Curve, Pennsylvania Railroad" that's produced and distributed by Blackhawk Films of Davenport, Iowa (22-27).
Mann. Here is a photo by C.W. Jernstrom that was taken near Newport, Pennsylvania, on 21 April 1955. Shown here is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #6793, an M-1A (4-8-2) "Mountain" built by the Lima Locomotive Works during April of 1930 and retired in September of 1959 after 29 years of faithful service. In this context, it's pulling a "high & wide" extra train to the Enola Yards. Brad Mann Collection.
CP 7307 at Toronto
CN 5773 at Paris
Running westbound between Dunellen and Bound Brook Stations
at West end as Eastbound Train takes the siding - Nov. 1981
Westbound WM F-unit leads a Train past where Torch Station once was - Oct. 1977
CPKC 456
The JB-2 is continuing south though Lakewood over the Metedeconk River Bridge.
L070 with CSXT 8089 - 7807 - MEC 501 - MEC 505 passes through some marshes just east of Blake in New Gloucester, ME.
A rare GP38-2 leader is found leading the days L070 east to Waterville, running alongside Lake Maranacook in Winthrop, Maine on a sunny spring afternoon.
Oil Power. Here is the second of two duplicate 35mm color slides of photos by Don Flynn that were taken near Lakeville, Indiana, on 11 October 1952. Prominent here (R to L) is Pennsylvania Railroad engine #5793 and another unit whose number is not recorded. Both are EP-22's built by GM-EMD and rated at 2,250 horsepower each. #5793 was built in June of 1952. In this context, they're pulling a "Football Special." Note that the first car in the train is an observation car!
Passing under the former home signal bridge for JO Tower. JO controlled the Pennsylvania, B&O & EL.
Coaling Tipple. Here's the view from atop the Pennsylvania Railroad's East Altoona Coaling Tipple in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on 11 September 1965. We're facing railroad west. It consists of two original telephotos of mine that have been expertly spliced together by Mr. Lance Myers (AltoonaWorks.info). At the far left is a yellow work train with a 250-ton wrecking crane. Beyond Juniata's 17th Street Bridge are the orange Railroader's YMCA and the eastbound Classification Yard. The square building in the center is the Power House. Further to the right is the East Altoona Roundhouse, now just half of its original 50-stall size. The large structure at the far right ~ beyond Juniata's 8th Street Bridge ~ is the Erecting & Machine Shop. Also note the presence of two locomotives heading this way.
4.18.25. Ivy, VA.. Milepost 189.0. CSX 988 leading an empty grain train back to the midwest for reloading.
AMTK 169
Davidson Road is at the top of a long climb out of a section called Sleepy Hollow, a dip between here and Gentry down into a creek valley. Unit trains really work here, and this 101 car grain train is no exception, and it shows as the leader smokes from a bad turbo as it makes a final push to crest the grade.
CP 3040 - CP 7307 - CP 4506
Charlotte Western's daily freight rumbles through Gastonia, NC on the former Piedmont & Northern line with a decent cut of cars in tow. This train is headed to interchange cars with CSX in Mount Holly, NC.
KCS 4795 heads west in the morning
CPKC 541
Oil Power. Here is a duplicate 35mm color slide of a photo by Charles Houser that was taken near Trenton, New Jersey, on 25 November 1965. Shown here (L to R) are Pennsylvania Railroad engines #8590 and #8676. Both were built by the American Locomotive Company. #8590 is an AS-16M constructed in December of 1955 and rated at 1,600 horsepower. #8676 is an AS-18AM built in March of 1958 and rated at 1,800 horsepower.
Saginaw Timber #2 takes on water for a photo op during the snow train weekend at the Mid-Continent Museum.
Vermont Railway local backs down the hill from the Rock of Ages Quarry with 6 loads of granite
UP-844 and the New Mexico/Arizona Centennial Special at Echo Canyon, UT
AMTK 179 blasting out of Rochester passing over High Falls
Randy Curlin Collection
Train #26 crosses the Fraser River just outside of Lillooet. An original slide by Glen P. Koshiol, from the collection of N. Carpenter. MCSA:002:04:063
This SP transfer run came by right after the SP 6652 passed.
(Date approximate)
Three SD40-2s roar up West Salem hill with a loaded coal train bound for the Columbia Power Station
GN E7A #502 with train #8, the eastbound WINNIPEG LIMITED, departing the GN station in Minneapolis, at about 6:25 in the morning. Scanned with an Epson V550 from a duplicate 35mm slide, brand is unknown.
Southern Pacific office car 150 <I>SUNSET</I> was on the westbound <I>SUNSET</I> at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal. The <I>AUTOMAT</I> car just ahead provided a contrast in dining accommodations! (approximate date)
01054 brings up the end of SCL train 277 at Barnwell, SC.
UP had a group of SD40-2s that were known as "snoots" due to their lengthened short hoods. These were set up to carry radio equipment for remote power, then a novel idea which required some specialized equipment. Heres one of them leading a train on the ex Wabash.
Westbound manifest descends between the Loop and Woodford at the fifth crossing of Tehachapi Creek. ATSF 5030 was later BNSF 6345. Date of photo approximate.