Norfolk & Western shop forces have just completed the building of Class J 4-8-4 streamlined steam locomotive #611 on May 30, 1950 and are showing it off to families and friends. The J was rolled o... (more)
After being moved from the turntable to one of the pit tracks, Norfolk and Western no. 611 is positioned on a set of Norfolk Southern Business Cars. This engine was one of many used during the nig... (more)
N&W 611 sits coupled to Norfolk Southern maroon coaches for the first time in twenty years while attending the Streamliners event in Spencer.
N&W 611 and NS 4271 sit side-by-side at the Bob Julian roundhouse as NS employees prepare to wash their F-unit.
Norfolk and Western class J number 611 takes its very first spin on the turntable at Spencer's North Carolina Transportation Museum, while the Museum's excursion train passes in the background wit... (more)
On the return journey to Los Angeles, ATSF 3751 passes another veteran of the Santa Fe. Scenes like this are becoming harder and harder to find, as most of the Santa Fe units are kept out of south... (more)
One of Santa Fe's large 4-8-4s, 3782, is seen at the railroad's Redondo Junction roundhouse facility, just a couple miles south of downtown Los Angeles. The exact date, and the photographer, are u... (more)
Quittin' Time. Pacific Railroad Preservation Association Engineer Jim Abney (left) debriefs the evening's activities with Fireman Jeff Honeyman (right) upon completion of a Lerro Production... (more)
Union Pacific 8444 sits in Denver on a rainy Valentine Day's evening prior to an excursion the following day.
After backing out of Duluth, MILW 261 is now pointed for the Grassy Point swing bridge which separates Minnesota and Wisconsin. The 261 will cross the bridge and begin the trip back to Minneapoli... (more)
Looking like a scene from the Fifties, two steamers wait during the night for their next respective freight run. But alas it's National Train Day 2013 and the SOO 2719 is fired up for the occasio... (more)
Its journey is just about done, as engineer Ed Dickens brings Santa Fe 3751 (owned by the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society) to a stop on the old Santa Fe turntable at Amtrak's Redondo Ju... (more)
There maybe not be stranger bedfellows on any railroad in the world... FEF3 844 and DD40X 6936. Notice that 844 has its smokebox door removed as part its regular maintenance.
There isn't much here to give away the year as 2013 rather than 1948, other than the Santa Fe logo and safety slogan on the turntable being a bit too worn. Santa Fe 3751 takes a spin on the turnt... (more)
With the 2013 San Bernardino Railroad Days coming to a close, ATSF 3751 gets the highball to depart the station for Los Angeles.
A grand old steamer in need of some serious restoration.
Southern pacific 4449 Waits to board NRHS members for the return trip over Stampede Pass to Tacoma.
Former Reading 2101, dressed up as the Chessie Steam Special rests in Camden Yards between assignments during the summer of 1977. The B&O warehouse in the background now sits beyond the right fiel... (more)
ATSF 3751 and GCRR 4960 await the next days Grand Canyon run.
Union Pacific # 844 waits at the old Southern Pacific Shops while waiting for the track to be realigned into the California rail museam.
After derailing while trying to back into the museum the evening before, just about every maintenance crew from Oakland to Truckee is on hand to make sure there aren't any more mishaps, before 844... (more)
Here you see Reading No. 2124 after her recent asbestos abatement project sporting a fresh paint job bathing in the warm setting Scranton sun. A few hours before I was part of the crew that placed... (more)
"Nice and easy now" says steam engineer and manager Dickens(far left) as he radios the onboard engineer to ease her into the spur track to tie up for the night. Moving onto this track at a bone ch... (more)
A UP steam crew member grinds away on one of 844's damaged wheels while another monitors engine status i the cab. While disappointed at the delays to 844's schedule, the opportunity to witness fi... (more)
While UP 844 is stopped for routine maintenance, "Lurch" talks with some kids about Steam railroading.
Following restoration for American Freedom Train service, SP4449 makes her early morning debut at BN's Hoyt Street roundhouse in Portland where the work was done. She had actually been out and abo... (more)
Putting what little bit of a winter behind us and looking ahead to Spring, we look back from the February of this month, during the one and only significant snowfall of the 2011-2012 Winter season... (more)
844 walks into the Phoenix Yard. First steam in there in over 50 years.
One of Santa Fe's large 4-8-4s, 3782, is getting serviced at the railroad's Redondo Junction roundhouse facility, just a couple miles south of downtown Los Angeles. The date, and the photographer... (more)
Chicago Burlington & Quincy O-5-A 4-8-4 5632 is seen at Kansas City, Missouri, on May 29, 1960. (Frank "Woody" Woodburn photo, Craig Walker collection)
It's Christmas in Southern California & a local legend is steamed up & decked out for the holiday. Amtrak asked for the big 4-8-4 to be on display along side their 40th Anniversary Train & one cre... (more)
The 80" tall drivewheels dwarf a worker performing maintenance after the 844 arrived from Tucson.
Union Pacific sure knows how to put a show on. UP 844 has just arrived in Colorado Springs and employees struggle to maintain safety and order while the less glamorous work horses of the company i... (more)
The Crew looks over 603 as it's being serviced in Williamson, WV Yard
Norfolk and Western 603 is being serviced and taking on water
A rainy evening in Clifton Forge finds the freshly painted 614 resting at the C&O Railway Heritage Center. Thanks to Rick Tabb and Chase Gunnoe for their assistance.
UP 844 heads to the turntable to turn to face south while Conductor Coker dismounts to operate the table.
SP 4449 has reached Wishram on it's second excursion of the weekend and is off-loading its hungry passengers for a BBQ lunch at the Amtrak station. From my vantage point high above along Hwy. 14,... (more)
C&O employees poses on the pilot of C&O 614 in the Smiths Creek Yard of the C&O Historical Society.
Holding short of JD Cabin, the engineer of C&O 614 awaits for a clear board to continue east out of Clifton Forge.
The Reading Ramble has arrived at Gettysburg and while riders tour the sites the engine is turned on the wye for the trip back to Philadelphia. This Ramble left Philly with diesel power, later th... (more)
The rain has paused for just a moment and a hint of blue skies have appeared, making for a dramatic spring background on the recent addition of C&O 614 at the Heritage Center in Clifton Forge.
A mail train draws a steam assignment on this September day.
Here you see Reading Railroad 4-8-4 No. 2124 just outside Steamtown's paint shop. Most famous for pulling the Reading Rambles in 1959-1961, No.2124 is in the final stages of its Steamtown asbestos... (more)
Here you see Reading Railroad 4-8-4 No. 2124 being pushed into the Steamtown paint shop. Most famous for pulling the Reading Rambles in 1959-1961, No.2124 is in the final stages of its Steamtown a... (more)
On the evening of January 14, 2011, C&O 614 left Vardo yard at approximately 7:35 behind NS 8792. With a 25 mph speed restriction, the train didn't arrive in Shenandoah until 3:15 in the morning. ... (more)
Sleek looking CN class U-2-g #6226, only 12 years old at the time, is just in off a CN intercity passenger train run, seen h... (more)
CN class U-2-f 4-8-4 #6185 waits for work.
The lines of shrouded 6407, seen here well after her halcyon days hauling the 1st-class varnish over the system, still have an eloquence.
The waiting is the hardest part. -Tom Petty
Class U-4-b #6407 waits for a train to pull.
The American Freedom Train #1 (SP 4449) is assisted west by (then) UP 8444, after some TLC on the 4449's drivers by UP forces in Omaha. The rest of the AFT consist has already moved west, on sche... (more)
During the eighties, before I became a locomotive engineer, I occasionally had days off in which to do human activities! One of the things I loved to do was ride behind steam locomotives, especial... (more)
Burlington's big O-5B 4-8-4 5632 is serviced at Galesburg enroute from Lincoln, NE to Chicago. I rode the NEBRASKA ZEPHYR from Chicago to intercept the excursion during daylight.
The sun glints past the headlight of 261 as it prepares for a double-header with the 2816 the next morning. As with many of the Fall trips, an early frost came that evening, almost freezing the ho... (more)
Don Crimmin and an unidentified Amtrak conductor tromp to the pocket track's manual switch. Once thrown, the headlight will illuminate on the (then) 64-year-old beast and it will begin its journey... (more)
All South African Steam Locomotive Sheds had blowdown tunnells. No 3467, operated by Steamnet 2000 performs the regulation blowdown before working a "plandamph" freight to De Aar.
With 261 hovering overhead, volunteer Pat and long-time employee Jim French (eyeing the camera) hold a cable together until the electric hoist used to pull the 14,000 lb main driver engages comple... (more)
In May of 1981, #4449 journyed to Sacramento to participate in the opening of the California State Railroad Museum. As part of that, it was used in "performances" outside of the Museum with a musi... (more)
The doubleheaded T-1s back down to the waiting Iron Horse Ramble for the return to Philadelphia. The steam train line under 2100's tender looks fairly new and may have been since the locomotive ha... (more)
The two T-1 steam locomotives have been serviced at Tamaqua and are running up to be coupled on to the Ramble once more. This September Saturday was just perfect in terms of both the train and the... (more)
Reading T-1 2124 has been cut off from the Iron Horse Ramble as 2100 takes over for the run to Gettysburg. The direct broadside was shot from the open coach window during the engine change.
The turntable may say Amtrak on it, but today its pure Santa Fe. The rail on the turntable has seen this engine and many others countless times, it dates to 1927.
Photographer- Unknown- from my personal collection. 35mm Kodachrome original slide. Frank Collins, with his trademark cigarette, turns on the air operated bell on N&W 'J' Class 611 as she prepa... (more)
An unusual view of the C.B.&Q 5629
C&O No.614 does a screaming run-by in Port Jervis, NY with Ross Rowland at the throttle. Those were great trips. May 614 do so again!
The engineer of Reading T1 2124 climbs aboard his engine after receiving his orders. Soon his long loaded coal drag with be on it's way to Philadelphia and the docks. Lighting courtesy of Lerro Pr... (more)
The newly rebuilt pony truck of the 3751 is waiting on an adjacent track for installation back on to the locomotive. Be sure to visit the new Facebook page of the 3751, the official un-official ne... (more)
Question - when is a 4-8-4 not a 4-8-4? Answer - when its pony truck has been pulled for repairs. Which I guess at this point in time, the 3751 was actually a 0-8-4. March 1st 2008. Be sure to vi... (more)
Almost 8 decades of locomotive building experience is captured in this image taken at Redondo Junction on March 1st, 2008. Steve Crise © 2010 Scrise.com
The October sun has just crept above the horizon and now casts a golden glow on Milwaukee Road 261, still disguised as DL&W 1661, as she waits to head east on the old B&OCT/B&O from the south side... (more)
UP 844 simmers overnight at the yard in Hearne, TX along the Bryan Sub. After a day of chasing with tons of other railfans, it was relaxing to have my very own night photo session with the big No... (more)
A railfan special was co-sponsored by the NRHS and N.Y. Chapter of Railway Enthusiasts to Reading in order to see stored steam power. Reading T-1 locomotives 2100 and 2124 were spotted for fans as... (more)
The joys of trying to properly expose Kodachrome on a slick, black profile such as CN 6218 waiting under US 1 at New London on the CV are realized. Remember, "make sure you open an extra half-sto... (more)
UP 8444 stands at the Cheyenne passenger station coupled ahead of Amtrak E8 330 on the headend of #6. In the early days of Amtrak, UP would ferry the big locomotive to and from Denver on the head... (more)
4449 steams through the BNSF Dayton's Bluff Yard.
Reading 2102 simmers quietly in its stall before it’s official public debut tomorrow. 2102 will be leading a 19-car passenger train, it’s first excursion in 30 years.
Although steam is an every day occurrence, these two crew members still have to stop and stair in awe at such an awesome site. A Lerro Productions event at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
"Sorry, the official count is 6,289 rivets..."
A random shot inside the roundhouse pictures a Northern type that later became famous. CNR U-2-e 6167 pulled steam excursions from 1960 until 1964.
Canadian National U-2-e 6178 is stored servicable at the freight locomotive terminal, Mimico.
Canadian National U-4-a 6402 is stored servicable at the railroad's large engine terminal in Toronto. It had recently been withdrawn from commuter service.
June 1st, 2008, San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society ex Santa Fe steam locomotive 3751 is seen here steaming off the turntable back at Redondo Junction in Los Angeles, Calif. She slowly roll... (more)
Refueling at sundown.
Just barely fits. With only inches to spare, the turntable operator gets ready to put Southern Pacific 4-8-4 4449 away at the end of another typical day hauling commuters through southern C... (more)
Before the crowds... The grounds at SRI were virtually empty the day before TrainFestival 2009 began as only steam crews milled about, taking care of the visiting engines, including (l-r) S... (more)
After a long day of pulling passengers through California, Southern Pacific Daylight 4-8-4 4449 rests on the turntable while the night hostler checks on a nearby unknown engine.
Daylight derailed. Two crew members get in position to keep an eye on 4449's lead axle, which picked a switch and derailed as she was on her way to Saturday's night photo session. Wi... (more)
Get your Lima horsepower right here! (With a "Little" Baldwin on the side.) Train Festival 2009's first night photo session with Little River 110, Pere Marquette 1225, Southern Pacific 4449, and N... (more)
SP 4449 sits in Michigan City, Indiana awaiting it's train from Chicago shortly after sunrise. It was orginally scheduled to run from Chicago but a clearance issue on the NS Chicago Line forced th... (more)