Bed Time
Following a long, hard day of work on a photographers’ special charter, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad No. 734 is bedded down on low fire for the night near the railroad’s engine house just south of Cumberland, MD in West Virginia. 734 is a 1916 Baldwin 2-8-0 “Consolidation” similar to those used by the Western Maryland Railroad up through the last days of steam. This type of engine was the most common and numerous design of the steam era, used by almost every mainline railroad.
Blow-Down
Baldwin-built engine No. 40 of the New Hope and Ivyland Scenic Railroad was photographed in 2006 at New Hope, PA. The engineer and fireman typically do a “blow-down” daily to purge the boiler of mud, foam and impurities on the water. No. 40 is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive. New Hope is located a few miles east of Philadelphia on the Delaware River. Train rides are offered on a daily schedule in season.
Grade Crossing Ghost
Shrouded in fog in November, 1996, No. 4501 creeps across a grade crossing in Chattanooga, TN, on an excursion to Chickamauga, GA. Formerly of the Southern Railway, No. 4501 is one of the best known steam excursion engines to run in the eastern US during the last third of the 20th Century. Owned and restored by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, 4501 was leased for rail-fan excursions to Southern Railway (and Norfolk Southern, following the merger with Norfolk and Western) up through the end of their steam program in 1994. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia in 1911, 4501 is a 2-8-2 “Mikado” freight engine. Following the 1996 season with TVRM, 4501 was removed from service, needing more than a million dollars of rebuild and repairs. Countless miles and 80-plus years of service had taken their toll.
The High Line – Animas River Canyon
Operating on part of the original Denver and Rio Grande Western route, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway offers thrilling (white knuckle!) rides through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. NOTE: There really is a train up on the rim, but it’s almost too small to see in this tiny version. About half of the track between Durango and Silverton lies along the rim of the Animas River Canyon, on a ledge cut several hundred feet above the wild river. Several round trips are available each day of the summer season. With vintage rolling stock, including a fleet of 3-foot gauge 2-8-2 “Mikado” steamers built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the D&SNGR takes you back 100 years to when the Rio Grande serviced the mines and remote villages of southwestern Colorado. Photographed by Vivian Stephens in 2002.
Jupiter
Central Pacific Railroad engine No. 60, the “Jupiter,” was featured in the Golden Spike ceremonies May 10, 1869, at Promentory Summit, Utah, marking completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Exact operating replicas of Jupiter and Union Pacific Railroad No 119 were built for the National Park Service for reenactments at the Golden Spike National Historic Site. The original Jupiter, scrapped early in the 20th century, was built by the Schenectady (New York) Works and delivered to California by ship, around Cape Horn. In the summer, Jupiter and 119 are driven to the ceremonial site each day for brief ceremonies. Full, costumed reenactments are done every year on May 10. Both engines are 4-4-0 “American” types, as used by most railroads in the days of lightweight wooden passenger cars during the last half of the 19th century.
Union Pacific Locomotive No. 119
This is an exact operating replica of the Union Pacific locomotive built in 1868 by the Rogers Works, Patterson, NJ, which was used in the Golden Spike ceremonies at Promentory Summit, UT on May 10, 1869, marking completion of the first transcontinental railroad. UP No. 119, coming from the east met and nearly touched pilots with Central Pacific No. 60, “Jupiter” coming from the west. After speeches and prayers, railroad officials placed golden spikes in a special tie where the two railroads joined. Photographs were taken, telegraphs flashed word around the world that the line was open, and the ceremonial spikes were immediately recovered! The famous original golden spike is in the museum at Stanford University. Both locomotives were 4-4-0 “American” types as used by all railroads of the time for passenger service, pulling “varnish” (lightweight cars constructed primarily of wood). In addition to annual full costumed reenactments on May 10th, both engines operate for visitors to see every day in the summer.
Puffy on the Trestle
Nicknamed “Puffy,” this 1896 Cooke Locomotive Works 4-6-0 “Ten Wheeler” transits the long trestle through Trinity Park in Fort Worth, TX approaching a bridge over the Trinity River. This is the oldest steam engine still in scheduled service in the US, operating a summer schedule from Grapevine, TX to the historic Ft. Worth stockyards and on to old downtown Ft. Worth.
Rock Springs Crossing
Former Southern Railway 2-8-2 “Mikado” No. 4501 crosses a gravel road and passes an abandoned house at the old community of Rock Springs in northeast Georgia in the fall of 1996. Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia in 1911, 4501 served a long career hauling freight for the Southern, and was restored for excursion service by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga. Famous and beloved throughout the southeastern US, 4501 was operated for frequent rail-fan trips by Southern (then Norfolk Southern following the merger) up through the end of their program in 1994. For these mainline excursions, old 4501 wore a faux-Southern Crescent Limited green with gold pinstripes livery. Back at TVRM, 4501 served for off-premises trips, like this excursion to Summerville, GA, and was returned to freight engine black paint for its final season in 1996. Over 80-plus years of service and millions of miles, too many needed repairs had built up, making further rebuilds infeasible.
Night at Brush Tunnel
Posed for a dramatic night portrait at Brush Tunnel on the Western Maryland Scenic RR is No. 734, a 1916 Baldwin-built 2-8-0 “Consolidation” type locomotive. Consolidations were the most numerous engines of the steam era, operated by almost every railroad. They were the favorite engine type of the Western Maryland Railroad pulling both freight and passenger trains through mountainous terrain. The Western Maryland Scenic operates 734 daily in the summer for excursions between Cumberland and Frostburg, MD.
Steamin’ in the Rain
Former Southern Railway 2-8-2 “Mikado” type photographed during a rain shower in 1991. No. 4501 had just completed servicing and received a new paint job before going back on lease to Norfolk Southern for excursion service. Owned and restored by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, 4501 was built in Philadelphia by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1911. The green with gold pinstripes paint scheme was copied from the famous Southern Crescent Limited and made 4501 one of the most recognized and loved steam excursion engines during the last third of the 20th century. Retired by TVRM after their 1996 season, 4501’s millions of miles over an 80-plus year career finally resulted in a list of needed rebuild and repairs that couldn’t be met.
Turntable Traffic Jam
In a dramatic night photograph at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, No. 610 is rotating on the turntable while No. 4501 waits its turn. No. 610 is an ex-US Army 2-8-0
“Consolidation” built during WW-II by American Locomotive Co. It’s still in service. 4501, ex-Southern Railway, is a 1911 Baldwin-built 2-8-2 “Mikado." 4501 last ran in 1996 and there are no plans to rebuild or repair it.
L&N No. 152 – Fast Crossing
Former Louisville and Nashville Railroad No. 152 roars through a grade crossing between New Haven and Boston, KY, on a fan trip operated by the Kentucky Railway Museum. Built in 1905 by the Rogers Locomotive Works, No. 152 is a 4-6-2 “Pacific,” the locomotive type used by most railroads for passenger service 100 years ago. With large driving wheels, Pacifics were capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph. Photographed by Vivian Stephens.
Soo Line 2719 - Bean Crick Trestle
Former Soo Line 2719, a Baldwin-built 4-6-2 “Pacific” pulls a local tourist train across a picturesque old wooden trestle in northern Wisconsin near Spooner. It’s actually closer to Earl, WI, but except for a brick school house (now an antique store and flea market), Earl is mostly gone and forgotten. Nicknamed “Soo Line” after its city of origin, Sault Sainte Marie, MI, and the famous “Soo Canals,” this was a successful railroad for many years in the upper Midwest.
Afternoon Arrival – Chama, New Mexico
After a day-long fan trip through the San Juan Mountains to Cumbres Pass in Colorado, a Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad train returns to Chama, NM, passing the vintage water tower and coaling station. The train, track and facilities are from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad’s narrow gauge division. Now jointly owned and operated by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the C&TSR operates daily trains from Chama in the summer.
Company’s Comin’
Photographed from inside Brush Tunnel (where it looks like I was about to be joined by a live steam engine), Western Maryland No. 734 pulls assorted freight cars on a photographers’ special excursion. Actually a planned and well controlled part of the excursion, 734 stopped before entering the tunnel so the photographers could safely exit before risking life and limb or choking on smoke, soot and steam. No. 734, built by Baldwin in 1916, is a 2-8-0 “Consolidation” locomotive of the type favored by the Western Maryland and used by almost every steam railroad in America.
Crossing Highway 17
Tracks of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad cross both the Colorado-New Mexico state line and Highway 17 several times between Chama, NM and Cumbres Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Here, the day’s fan trip is pictured heading back to Chama. The locomotive is a narrow gauge Baldwin 2-8-2 “Mikado,” formerly of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. This exceptionally scenic section of the old D&RGW narrow gauge road is jointly owned and operated by the states of Colorado and New Mexico.
Departing Silverton
One of the several daily trains to make the round trip, this tourist train departs the scenic old mining town of Silverton, CO heading back to Durango. Now the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, this line and its equipment were originally part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad’s narrow gauge division which dated back to the 1880s. The locomotive is a Baldwin 2-8-2 “Mikado” type, built around 1925.
East Broad Top No. 14 – Heading Home
The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Co., originally chartered in 1856, is the last operating narrow gauge steam railroad east of the Mississippi. It hauled coal, freight and passengers for more than 80 years. Today, the East Broad Top gives passengers a 10 mile scenic ride from its depot in Rockhill Furnace, PA (Orbisonia), using original Baldwin 2-8-2 “Mikado” locomotives.
Mixed Freight on Helmstetter’s Curve
Chartered for a photographers’ special excursion, Western Maryland No. 734 works hard and raises a huge plume of smoke as it rounds a curve through John Helmstetter’s farm in Cumberland, MD pulling a string of freight cars. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1916, No. 734 is a 2-8-0 “Consolidation” type locomotive. Consolidations were the favorite engine of the Western Maryland Railroad and were the most common steam engine design in theUS and were operated by most railroads. Western Maryland Scenic runs daily excursions during the summer season from Cumberland to Frostburg.
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine No. 1 – the Henry Clay
Built in 1927 by the Vulcan Iron Works in Wilkes-Barre, PA, this is a narrow gauge 0-4-0 Saddle Tank engine, originally used to haul ore cars to a transfer point with a standard gauge railroad. Pioneer Tunnel, in Ashland, PA was an anthracite mine which used mules to pull the ore cars under ground. Today, in addition to riding with the Henry Clay, visitors can tour the coal tunnel on a train pulled by battery powered mine motors.
Inyo Crossing
On the grounds of the Nevada Railroad Museum in Carson City, Virginia and Truckee Railroad No. 22, the “Inyo,” operates on the Fourth of July weekends, looping around the museum complex. Built by Baldwin in 1875 and nicknamed “Brass Betty,” the Inyo is beautifully painted and has extensive polished brass trim. This fancy work on passenger engines was common in the 1870s, but was rarely seen after that decade. Inyo is a 4-4-0 “American” type locomotive, as used by most railroads prior to 1900 for lightweight wooden passenger car trains.
Kinzua Bridge
A steam powered tourist train operated by the Knox and Kane Railroad is pictured on the Kinzua Bridge in October, 1997. Built in 1882 to span the Kinzua Creek Valley near Mt. Jewett, PA, on the Erie Railroad mainline from Pittsburgh to upstate New York, this was, at the time, the highest railroad bridge in the world. The 2,053-foot long, 301 foot-high steel structure was listed as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. A few years after this picture, a tornado swept down the valley destroying the unoccupied bridge. There are no plans to rebuild it.
Maine Two-Foota Four
Most narrow gauge railroads were three-foot gauge, but in Maine and a few other places, extensive lines were built using 24-inch gauge. No. 4 is a 1918 0-4-4T “Forney” design, built in Wilkes-Barre, PA by Vulcan Iron Works. The Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad and others in Maine operated two-foot gauge steam trains for passengers, the cranberry industry and other shippers. Today, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum operates No. 4 and No. 3 in Portland, and other two-foot gauge tourist trains may be seen in Alna, Booth Bay, Phillips and Wiscasset.
Puffy on the Turntable
Fort Worth and Western Railroad No. 2248, an 1896 Cooke Locomotive Works 4-6-0 “Ten-Wheeler,” originally Southern Pacific Lines, shown on the turntable at the historic Fort Worth stockyards. Nicknamed “Puffy,” this is the oldest steam engine in scheduled use in North America. It runs from Grapevine, TX to the stockyards and on down to old Ft. Worth.
Ranch Road Crossing
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad narrow gauge train crosses a serpentine gravel road near Osier, in southern Colorado, en route to Cumbres Pass. CTSR, a joint venture of Colorado and New Mexico, operates vintage equipment over former Rio Grande Western Railroad tracks from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO. The locomotives are all Baldwin 2-8-2 “Mikado” types.
Return from Paradise
The Strasburg Railroad, chartered in 1832, still operates on its four miles of track through Amish country between Strasburg and Paradise, PA. Several times a day it runs tourist trains. Every month or so, maybe, there’s one or two cars of freight. The railroad has a very capable shop, maintaining three steam locomotives. Their largest is No. 90, a Baldwin 2-10-0 “Decapod.” In this picture, No. 90 is almost back to the Strasburg depot after another visit to Paradise. Especially noteworthy at the Strasburg is their remarkable collection of wooden body, truss-rod passenger cars. The ride really is like one imagines a first class railroad of a century ago must have been.
Grand Trunk Western 6325 – Afternoon Excursion
An American Locomotive Co. built 4-8-4 “Northern,” Grand Trunk Western No. 6325 pulled passenger trains along GTW’s Toronto to Detroit and Chicago corridor until retired in the 1950s. One reason this locomotive was saved from the scrapper’s torch and put on outdoor display is that it pulled President Truman’s campaign train in Michigan in 1948. It was purchased and brought back to operation by the Ohio Central Railroad and used for occasional excursions.
Thirsty Mikes
Photographed at a water tower near Osier, Colorado, two narrow gauge "Mikado" locomotives of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad are returning to Chama, NM. They were double-headed going up to Cumbres Pass a couple of hours earlier, but are now uncoupled since no helper is needed on the downgrade back to Chama. These 2-8-2 Baldwin engines and the rest of the C&TSR rolling stock came from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, which had served the remote mining towns of the San Juan Mountains since the 1880s. The C&TSR is jointly owned and operated by Colorado and New Mexico.
Through the Woods
Surrounded by trees, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad No. 734 makes its way from Cumberland to Frostburg, MD. A 1916 Baldwin 2-8-0 “Consolidation,” No 734 is typical of the motive power used by the Western Maryland Railroad during the steam era. Because of their mountainous terrain, the WM often double-headed their 2-8-0s for freight trains.
Double-Heading up Windy Point
For the continuous upgrade from Chama, NM to Cumbres Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad uses two of their narrow gauge 2-8-2 “Mikado” locomotives. These Baldwin-built engines and other rolling stock came from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad and were purchased by the states of Colorado and New Mexico for service as tourist trains. Even for the Rocky Mountain west, the weird contours of Windy Point almost defy belief.
Upgrade
The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad purchased right of way, locomotives and rolling stock from the narrow gauge division of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad to establish this world-favorite tourist railroad. Leaving Durango, CO, it’s almost all upgrade until reaching the Animas River Canyon where a ledge was blasted out for roadbed along the canyon rim forming the “high line” where the track is several hundred feet above the wild river. Locomotives on the D&SNGR are Baldwin 2-8-2 “Mikado” types. In season, several trains depart Durango each morning, and return from the picturesque old mining town of Silverton throughout the afternoon.