Prototype News

Three employees of the Wilmington & Western Railroad were let go earlier this week. The news came more than a month after the railroad announced it would suspend operations for the 2025 season to repair its aging equipment.

According to a social media post by a group called “Concerned Volunteers of the WWRR” (which was also shared on the railroad’s official page), the general manager, account manager, and volunteer program manager were all dismissed by the board of directors on April 3. The post states that the board cited a “reduction in operational needs of the organization” as the reason for the layoffs. 

On February 27, the railroad announced it was taking a “proactive step” by shutting down operations to focus on equipment repairs. Sources close to the railroad informed Railfan & Railroad that a major issue is the reliability of its locomotives. Last year, some holiday excursions had to be canceled due to a lack of available motive power. Both of the railroad’s steam locomotives, 0-6-0 58 and 4-4-0 98, are currently out of service.

Long-time volunteers tell Railfan & Railroad that they are concerned about the railroad’s future and how it is currently being managed. —Railfan & Railroad Staff

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The John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust awarded nearly $250,000 in grants to 18 projects across the country this week, the trust announced. 

Emery was a Chicago-native and lifelong railroad enthusiast who created the trust to fund projects that preserve the “Golden Age” of passenger railroading, specifically the years between 1920 and 1960. The trust is particularly interested in projects that allow the public to ride historically significant pieces of equipment. Groups are able to submit grant proposals up until Feb. 1 each year, and then a three-person committee reviews the proposals.

Organizations that were awarded funds included:

Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society: $13,100 to continue refurbishment work on their two RDCs.

Black River Railroad Historical Trust: $11,000 for their Lackawanna coach 605 for wheel, truck and brake work.

Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust: $15,000 for HVAC for their heavyweight Pullman car “Beaver.”

Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc: $15,000 for interior updates, upgrades and modifications to their Pullman car Kitchi Gammi Club.

Fox River Trolley Association, Inc: $10,000 to rebuild seats on their CA&E interurban car 316.

Iron Horse Society at Steamtown, Inc: $15,000 towards the restoration of their ex-DL&W coach 335.

Iron Mountain Railway: $2,600 for replacement windows for their ex-NYC coach 3135.

Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad, Inc: $15,000 for reupholstery work for their ex-Santa Fe El Capitan Hi-Level coach. 

Northwest Railway Museum: $7,500 for upgrades to their Pullman parlor car 1049.

Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation: $27,000 for restoration of four of the six-driver boxes for their OR&N steam locomotive 197.

Railroading Heritage of Midwest America: $10,000 for new windows for their coaches Wenonah and Nokomas.

Railway Restoration Project 113: $25,000 to help with new tubes and flues for the CNJ 0-6-0 113.

San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society: $10,000 for work on their ex-Santa Fe Pine series sleeper/dormitory car 2506. 

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: $20,000 for restoration work on their Pullman heavyweight sleeper Maitland.

Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Inc: $15,000 for mechanical work on their ex-DL&W F3a 663.

United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey: $15,000 for operational restoration of NYC tavern lounge car 37.

National Railway Historical Society, Washington, DC Chapter, Inc: $8,800 for rebuilding and reupholstering the cushioned seats of the banquette tables in their Pullman heavyweight Dover Harbor.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Development Corporation: $15,000 for restoration work on their ex-NYC grill diner 456.

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The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad announced that Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 1309 would return to service this spring for the first time in over a year. The locomotive is expected to begin leading weekend excursions on May 3. 

WMSR spent over $3.5 million to restore the steam locomotive, one of the largest operating steam locomotives in the country, in 2020. However, in late 2023, the railroad discovered issues with its pistons — problems that had not been addressed during the previous restoration. As a result, the locomotive had to be taken out of service. Since then, shop crews have been working to return the locomotive to operation. 

Locomotive 1309 was built by Baldwin in 1949, retired in 1956, and displayed at the B&O Railroad Museum in 1972. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad purchased the locomotive from the museum in 2014, and restoration began that summer at their shops in Ridgeley, W.Va. For more information and to donate, visit wmsr.com/donate. —Justin Franz 

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A Wichita, Kan., man has been hired as the Great Plains Transportation Museum’s first ever paid employee. Lon Smith, 62, became the museum’s executive director on March 10. Smith’s mission will be to expand the museum’s fundraising efforts and enhance the visitor and volunteer experience there. 

Smith previously held leadership roles at the Kansas Aviation Museum, the Museum of World Treasures and the Wichita Independent Business Association. 

“Everyone loves trains, and GPTM has a wonderful opportunity to enhance the experience guests have at a hands-on museum that celebrates the terrific history and current-day importance of the region’s railroads,” Smith said in a press release. “Being centrally located in Old Town, and having a railroad mainline adjacent to the museum, we have the unique ability for visitors to experience both historical and current trains and railroading. We will explore a myriad of ways to enhance that experience and attract more visitors to the downtown/Old Town area.”

The museum was founded in 1983 and has a number of locomotives and rail cars on display, including Santa Fe FP45 93 (which is currently being restored to its historic warbonnet scheme) and Santa Fe 4-8-4 3768.

For more information, visit gptm.us. —Railfan & Railroad Staff

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Reading Company 4-8-4 2100 was fired up for the first time on April 3 and 4, following a decade-long restoration in Cleveland. The test fire marked the first time the locomotive had been under steam since the early 2000s, representing a major step forward in the effort to bring the locomotive back to the main line. 

“After nearly ten years of dedicated volunteer and professional labor totaling more than $1.6 million dollars and countless unexpected obstacles, we’ve done it,” said American Steam Railroad Preservation Association Rob Gardner. “Ten years ago, none of us expected that it would take this long to get here, but we have stayed the course the entire way, being sure that no corners were cut and every detail addressed appropriately.”

During the test, the locomotive’s boiler, piping, and water delivery systems were evaluated with the assistance of contractors and volunteers. With a successful test fire completed, the group is now focusing on running gear work and final assembly. This will include a fresh coat of paint, honoring the American Freedom Train livery worn by sister locomotive 2101 in the 1970s. For this, Reading 2100 will also receive a new number, 250, to commemorate the country’s 25th anniversary in 2027. Forrest Nace, ASR treasurer and volunteer, stated that if the group can raise $139,050 over the next few months, they will be able to start break-in runs before the end of the year. 

Reading 2100 was built in the railroad’s own shops in September 1945 by essentially expanding an existing Baldwin 2-8-0. The locomotive ran into the 1960s. In 1975, it and its sister locomotive, 2101, were purchased by Ross Rowland. Locomotive 2101 was restored for the American Freedom Train while 2100 served as a parts source. Locomotive 2100 was briefly restored in the 1980s before moving to Ontario and then Washington State, where it briefly ran in the 2000s. In 2015, the locomotive was moved to Ohio to be restored by ASRPA. 

Donations can be mailed to the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, 2800 W. 3rd St, Cleveland, OH 44113, or made online at www.americansteamrailroad.org. —Justin Franz 

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