Prototype News

A recently reopened branch line in northeastern Oregon has ceased operations after being heavily damaged in a wildfire on July 15.

The Lower Dry Creek Fire burned more than 8,000 acres south of Milton-Freewater, Ore., destroying six homes and 40 other structures. The fire also burned five miles of Columbia Rail’s Weston Branch between Walla Walla, Wash., and Weston, Ore., damaging ties and destroying at least one bridge. Columbia Rail officials tell Railfan & Railroad that the branch will be closed “indefinitely,” but they hope to reopen it eventually.

After: The same scene three and a half months later, after the Lower Dry Creek Fire destroyed a small wooden trestle north of Weston, Ore. Photo Courtesy of the Oregon Department of Forestry. 

Built in the 1880s, the line between Walla Walla and Weston was once part of Union Pacific’s secondary route between Pendleton, Ore., and Spokane, Wash. Eventually, the line became a branch line that predominantly served the region’s agricultural industry, specifically a frozen-food producer in Weston. Since the 1990s, UP has leased it to a series of short-line operators. Due to insufficient traffic, the 15 miles south of Milton-Freewater were taken out of service in 2020. During that time, frozen produce from Lakeside Foods in Weston was trucked north to Milton-Freewater and loaded into reefers. In early 2026, at the urging of Lakeside Foods, Columbia Rail reopened the line all the way to Weston. The first loads departed Weston on March 26. Since then, hundreds of carloads have originated in Weston. With the south end of the line closed, frozen food is again being trucked to Milton-Freewater.

—Justin Franz

The post Wildfire Damages Oregon Branch Line appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

Specially-painted Semiquincentennial locomotives from across America will gather at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, N.C., August 28 to 30 for what is being billed as a once-in-a-lifetime event to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. The event is being sponsored by White River Productions, NCTM, and Trains Magazine. 

While the exact list of locomotives that will appear at the event has not yet been released, officials say Class Is, short lines and passenger railroads will all be represented. 

“White River Productions is thrilled to participate with the North Carolina Transportation Museum to bring America’s 250th celebration to the forefront,” said Kevin EuDaly, owner of White River Productions and publisher of Railfan & Railroad. “This will be a rare opportunity to see a tremendous group of specially painted locomotives in one place.”

The “America 250 Locomotive Celebration” is the third major gathering of locomotives at Spencer in the last 15 years, following 2012’s Norfolk Southern Heritage Locomotive Family Portrait and 2014’s Streamliners at Spencer event. 

“The North Carolina Transportation Museum has been honored to host landmark events like the Norfolk Southern Heritage Locomotive Family Portrait in 2012 and Streamliners at Spencer in 2014,” said Museum Director Kelly Alexander. “The America 250 Locomotive Celebration continues that tradition and gives the American public a chance to witness a piece of living railroad history.”

“We’re pleased to partner with the North Carolina Transportation Museum on this extraordinary event,” Trains Editor Bill Stephens said. “The America 250 Locomotive Celebration will allow us to recreate the memorable 1975 Trains photo of Bicentennial locomotives in Chicago. But unlike that event in the Belt Railway of Chicago’s Clearing Yard, which was closed to the public, the America 250 Locomotive Celebration will allow everyone with a paid admission ticket to get in on the fun.”

With the Bob Julian Roundhouse as its backdrop, the resulting image of red, white, and blue locomotives is expected to become one of the defining railroad photographs of the semiquincentennial year.

Each day of the three-day event will feature different photo opportunities, with locomotives rotated on the turntable and arranged in groupings by railroad. Night photography sessions sponsored and coordinated by Railfan & Railroad, and train rides pulled by a museum diesel locomotive will be offered. A list of participating locomotives in the America 250 event will be released as details are firmed up. 

Ticket details and additional information are available at nctransportationmuseum.org. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 20 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time for museum members and Tuesday, July 21 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time for everyone.  The North Carolina Transportation Museum is located at 1 Samuel Spencer Dr., Spencer, N.C.

The post Semiquincentennial Locomotives to Gather in Spencer, N.C. in August appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.