ABILENE, Kan. - After a four-year restoration project by the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 4-6-2 No. 3415 was back in service May 23 hauling passengers on the Kansas tourist operation. First fired up in late 2008, the 1919-built Baldwin sat in an Abilene park from 1954 until 1996 .
Now that the restoration is complete, the railroad plans to begin once-monthly rides behind the locomotive over A&SV’s five-mile ex-Rock Island route to Enterprise, Kan., according to a story in the Wichita Eagle. Steam engine runs are scheduled through August, as well as two round trip cab rides available for each run.
For more information on the 3415’s schedule, <click here>
DULUTH, Minn. - Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 won’t make an appearance in Duluth, Minn., the National Railway Historical Society has confirmed to TRAINS News Wire. The society announced it would appear last week, but the group said it had to cancel the appearance after Train Festival 2009 asked for $25,000 as part of the deal.
No. 4449 is making its cross-country trek to appear at Train Festival in Owosso, Mich., in July. Train Festival’s backers are paying $400,000 to bring the engine eastward, and as a result, asked the society to contribute $25,000 to help defray that cost. But Carl Jensen, chairman of the society’s national convention committee, said his group can’t afford to pay that cost. He noted the trips were announced before 4449 became part of the picture as diesel-powered excursions, and said it was too late to adjust ticket prices.
Jensen said the current trips will run as scheduled, but with diesel power as originally planned. He said the group hasn’t yet discussed whether to refund ticket prices to passengers who bought tickets in response to the 4449 appearance.
Fundamentally, Jensen said the society didn’t know it would have to pay Train Festival as part of using the engine at the time it announced the engine would appear.
For those looking to ride behind 4449 in Minnesota this fall, plans remain in place for it to pull fall color excursions from Minneapolis to Winona, Minn., Oct. 10-11. Sources indicate the group behind those excursions, the Friends of the 261, did pay Train Festival’s fee.
GROVEPORT, Ohio…Railroad Nation would like to extend our best wishes to the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, Inc. and the efforts of their current Chairman and CEO Steven M Harvey, with the announcement of their new website dedicated to the preservation of steam locomotives and vintage railroad equipment.
They are also very pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to take on St. Louis – San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 2-8-2 Mikado type steam locomotive #1352 as their first large project. Hopefully this will be the first in a long line of exciting plans for the fledgling organization.
Additionally, they have announced that they are an official sponsor of TrainFestival 2009 in Owosso, Michigan. Taking place July 24 – 26, 2009, TrainFestival 2009 will be America’s largest celebration of railroading, with attractions for the entire family. The event will feature 8 operating steam locomotives, model trains, railroad art, vendors and more!
The American Steam Railroad will kick off its first annual membership drive at TrainFestival 2009. Anyone who signs up for a monthly membership ($13.52/mo) or annual one-time payment membership during TrainFestival 2009 will receive a free 1352 hat and number pin as a special thanks for supporting this project. Remember that since ASR is a 501c3 non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductable. (more…)
DULUTH, Minn. - Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 may visit the National Railway Historical Society convention in August. The society has announced it’s in touch with the Friends of SP 4449 about a possible appearance. The NHRS convention runs August 11-16.
No. 4449 will cross the Midwest this summer as part of a visit to TrainFestival 2009 in Owosso, Mich., and is already slated to pull trains along the Mississippi River in Minnesota on its return trip.
The engine would likely pull trips on the North Shore Scenic Railroad, which operates the former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway “Lakeshore Line” between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minn.
MINNEAPOLIS - Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 will pull excursion trains over Canadian Pacific’s Minneapolis-La Crescent, Minn., route this fall. The excursions will run on Oct. 10-11, and will be sold through Friends of the 261.
No. 4449 will stop to run the trips on return to its Portland, Ore., home, following a visit to Train Festival 2009 in Owosso, Mich. Tickets will cost $99 for coach class and $199 for first class. A premium class, hosted in the classic “Skytop Lounge” car Cedar Rapids, will cost $329.
The historic Milwaukee Road - Hiawatha - Cedar Rapids, Skytop Observation Parlor Lounge Car was built in 1948 at its Milwaukee shops for operation on the Hiawatha between Minneapolis and Chicago. Designed by famed industrial designer Brook Stevens, the Cedar Rapids was retired in 1970. Rebuilt in 1984 and operated until 1990, the car was acquired by the “Friends of the 261″ in 1998.
The Minneapolis Minnesota group of rail fans that maintains this occasionally has it pulled to all kinds of neat places on the back of an Amtrak train or the 261 steam locomotive they own.
It’s got a long name, but here’s the breakdown: Milwaukee Road was the regional railroad that owned the train. Hiawatha was the routes MR owned that this train ran on. Cedar Rapids was the name of the train.
Tickets will likely go on sale next week, and will be available through the Friends at www.261.com.
No. 261, a Milwaukee Road 4-8-4, has pulled fall trips on the scenic CP line for the past several years. However, the engine is now undergoing a federal overhaul and inspection in Minneapolis. The Friends will lease No. 4449 to operate the fall trips. The possibility of more trips exists, but none have been announced.
Portland, Oregon to Owosso, Michigan and return! A special train operated by the Steam Railroading Institute, Friends of the 4449 and the Friends of the 261 will travel a once-in-a-lifetime 46-day, 8154 mile transcontinental excursion. This special train will be pulled by “The Worlds Most Famous Steam Locomotive” Southern Pacific “Daylight” No. 4449. This beautiful train will operate on an Amtrak special train on various railroads between Portland, OR and Owosso, MI. beginning on July 3rd.
Several luxury coaches will make up the excursion. You can ride the rails in luxury and be pampered in a privately owned business railcar or high above the rails in one of several dome cars. Many cars are offering private chefs and overnight sleeper service.
Prepare to ride in style aboard the 1928 New York Central #3, originally built for Harold Sterling Vanderbilt.
Private Car Pony Express includes an antique bar, comfortable lounge area and large seating area.
California Zephyr provides full meal and bar service. Enjoy the view from one of two domes or the lounge in the spacious observation car.
Tickets are available for all portions of this trip,including single day trips. TrainFestival 2009 has teamed up with the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners (AAPRCO) to offer luxury seating and overnight packages. This is a great way to see the American Rockies by luxury train pulled by the “World’s Most Famous Steam Locomotive” No. 4449. Prices range from $114.49 for a one day segment to $4999.00, per person, one-way for the week long excursion aboard the luxury first class NYC#3. The eastbound and westbound day segments are already 75% sold. Full length trips are nearly 25% sold. The week long return trip will begin October 13th and will arrive back in Portland on October 2oth. For complete ticket package information, see TrainFestival2009
Tickets are extremely limited. All space on the train is expected to sell out in advance. No tickets have ever been available to ride behind the Daylight Steam Locomotive this far East. This is a rare oppurtunity and we high advise early reservations.
Additional day-trip seating will be available between Minneapolis - Chicago - Durand(MI) and return.
DENVER - The train that connects Denver with the ski hills and resorts at Winter Park, Colo., will no longer operate, effective immediately, the Denver Post has reported. A spokesman for “Ski Train” owner Phil Anschutz said a variety of factors, including rising rates for liability insurance, led to the train’s cancellation.
Anschutz has sold Ski Train’s equipment to Canadian National’s Algoma Central Railway, which operates passenger service between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, Ont.
“There is common knowledge that the train consistently lost money in its operation, yet profitability never really was the driving issue,” said Anschutz spokesman Jim Monaghan. “It was something a subsidiary of the Anschutz Co. wanted to do.”
However, he said overall cost increases for the train, particularly liability insurance rates, led to its cancellation. He also cited operating issues in sharing the line, Union Pacific’s Moffat Tunnel route between Denver and Salt Lake City, with freight trains.
Finally, a weak economy helped push the train over the edge.
The two-hour ride, which took passengers through dozens of tunnels and traversed breathtaking scenery, was the kind of journey that mesmerized kids. It also was a welcome respite for adults who otherwise would find themselves battling Interstate 70 ski traffic and a sometimes harrowing trip over Berthoud Pass.
The cocktails served in the cafe-lounge on the ride home didn’t hurt either.
It is with fond memories and regret we say farewell to this charming piece of Colorado history.
Ski Train service began under Denver & Rio Grande Western in 1940; Anschutz owned Rio Grande and successor Southern Pacific from 1984 until 1996.
ABILENE, Kan. - After a four-year restoration project by the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 4-6-2 No. 3415 was back in service May 23 hauling passengers on the Kansas tourist operation. First fired up in late 2008, the 1919-built Baldwin sat in an Abilene park from 1954 until 1996 .
They are also very pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to take on St. Louis – San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 2-8-2 Mikado type steam locomotive #1352 as their first large project. Hopefully this will be the first in a long line of exciting plans for the fledgling organization.
MINNEAPOLIS - Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 will pull excursion trains over Canadian Pacific’s Minneapolis-La Crescent, Minn., route this fall. The excursions will run on Oct. 10-11, and will be sold through Friends of the 261.
The historic 
It’s got a long name, but here’s the breakdown: Milwaukee Road was the regional railroad that owned the train. Hiawatha was the routes MR owned that this train ran on. Cedar Rapids was the name of the train.
Portland, Oregon to Owosso, Michigan and return! A special train operated by the Steam Railroading Institute, Friends of the 4449 and the Friends of the 261 will travel a once-in-a-lifetime 46-day, 8154 mile transcontinental excursion. This special train will be pulled by “The Worlds Most Famous Steam Locomotive” Southern Pacific “Daylight” No. 4449. This beautiful train will operate on an Amtrak special train on various railroads between Portland, OR and Owosso, MI. beginning on July 3rd.
DENVER - The train that connects Denver with the ski hills and resorts at Winter Park, Colo., will no longer operate, effective immediately, the Denver Post has reported. A spokesman for “Ski Train” owner Phil Anschutz said a variety of factors, including rising rates for liability insurance, led to the train’s cancellation.