North State Model Train Show

By the mid-1950's Rayonier's Grays Harbor Line had become an all rod-engine show. The cutting areas were now serviced by trucks that took the loads to be re-...load facilities. This rendered surplus the 2 Pacific Coast Shays #91 and #191 originally purchased by Rayonier's predecessor Polson Logging Co. While #191 was scrapped at Railroad Camp, #91 was sold to the Feather River Ry and shipped to Feather Falls, CA. The intent was for #91 to go into service to replace FRRy Willamette #5 that had recently been retired with boiler problems. Unfortunately, after #91 was delivered it was discovered that while the engine's boiler would pass Washington State's boiler inspection rules, it would not pass California's State Boiler Code. Thus, #91 spend a few years as seen here on March 4, 1958, being picked slowly for parts that could be used on the other Shays still in service on the FRRy. By 1961, she was done yielding parts and she went to scrap herself. Too bad, as she would have been a great engine to preserve.

photo courtesy of Tony Valasek - Part of my old gauge MTH layout

Inside this old train depot resides a multi-line model train covering western North Carolina.

In the 1860s and ‘70s, reports began emerging of bizarre passenger behavior on the railways.

FIRE TRAIN on the #NorthComplex Union Pacific has moved a Fire Train into the area to assist with fire suppression along the railroad tracks in the fire areas.... This Union Pacific locomotive has a water tank car attached with a pump on top that supplies hoses, nozzles and deck guns to help extinguish fires and hot spots on or along the railroad tracks. This specialty piece of equipment is helpful for protecting the railroad infrastructure as well as reaching remote areas of the fire area. #PlumasNF #ClaremontFire #UnionPacific Union Pacific Railroad

Inside the evolution of a study urban legend.

In 1940, the Union Pacific’s mechanical engineers teamed up with the American Locomotive Company to build one of the world’s largest steam locomotives, a class of engine simply known as Big Boy.