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Even as the Independence Day holiday wound down, several railroads were still showcasing Semiquincentennial rolling stock – including cabooses and freight cars.

The narrow-gauge East Broad Top Railroad rolled out caboose 27, painted in red, white, and blue, which took inspiration from the former nearby coal hauler Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad. It entered service on July 3 and is expected to remain in America 250 colors through next season, when it will return to its original red scheme.

Built in East Broad Top’s shops in 1920, the caboose received thorough documentation and restoration, including replacement of exterior siding, a new roof, trim, and windows, the railroad said. Much of the work took place over the winter.

Photo Courtesy of Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley.

Tourist carrier Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley in New York painted Delaware & Hudson caboose 35707 red, white and blue as well. It started life as a boxcar and was rebuilt into a caboose in October 1942. To save on metal for the war effort, it was sheathed with wood instead of steel, the railroad said. With a stronger-than-typical frame, this caboose was in service where pushers were often used.

And not to be outdone, Union Tank Car UTLX 1776 was built in Louisiana in June and will tour the company’s eight facilities this year. It was on display at Union Tank Car’s Altoona, Pa. plant in July – the same time Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 number 4014 was in town.

“Built entirely in Alexandria, La., the railcar honors America’s manufacturing heritage and the skilled workers who continue to build critical transportation infrastructure in the United States,” the company said.

—Michael T. Burkhart

Photo by Michael T. Burkhart

The post Semiquincentennial Rolling Stock Keeps Rolling In appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

The National Railway Historical Society recently awarded $187,000 in grants to 34 railroad preservation organizations across the United States. The grand program was established by the NRHS to help railway history efforts and this year received 46 applications requesting more $330,000 in funding. 

“On behalf of the NRHS, the Board of Directors, and myself, I extend sincere appreciation to the Heritage Grants Committee for its steadfast commitment to the mission of the NRHS and to preserving railroad history,” White said. “We also gratefully acknowledge our members, whose donations help sustain this important program. We encourage all applicants to continue their efforts to preserve and share our nation’s rail heritage.”

The winners include…

Center for Railroad Photography & Art, Madison, WI: $10,000 towards digital preservation program. This award is in honor of George Hickok, long-term member of the NRHS Heritage Grants Committee and IT professional.

Virginia Museum of Transportation, Roanoke, VA: $10,000 towards N&W Class J #611 stoker repairs.  This award is in memory of Carl Jensen, a long-term member of the NRHS Heritage Grants Committee

Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Albuquerque, NM: $10,000 towards restoration of Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge Baggage Express Car 163

Burkburnett Historical Society, Burkburnett, TX: $8,000 towards repair of Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad depot

Harrisburg Chapter., NRHS, Harrisburg, PA: $7,500 towards repair and/or historic replacement of windows at Harris Tower

Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver, CO: $7,500 towards restoration interior, electric and lighting of Pullman Moffat Coach #1906

Moffat Road Railroad Museum Assoc., Granby, CO: $7,500 towards restoration of Dumont Depot

Galloping Goose Historical Society, Delores, CO: $7,500 towards restoration of Denver, Rio Grande &Western refrigerator Car #45

DeLeon Area Historical Society, DeLeon, TX: $7,000 toward the restoration of the DeLeon Depot windows.

Mt. Airy Museum of Regional History, Mt. Airy, NC: $6,000 towards outdoor exhibit for NC Granite Corp locomotive “Captain Jack” at their museum

Niagara Frontier Chpt., NRHS, Tonawanda, NY: $5,000 towards repairs of GE 25T Standard Elevator locomotive #1

West Jersey Chpt., NRHS, Palmyra, NJ: $5,000 towards creation of Camden & Amboy Railroad  Historical District in Bordentown NJ

Baltimore Streetcar Museum Inc., Baltimore, MD: $5,000 towards fence around Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Depot

Wichita Falls Railroad Museum, Wichita Falls, TX: $5,000 towards renovation of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad power coach number 7203

TOYX Inc., Dingmans Ferry, NY: $5,000 towards restoration of Erie cabooses in Port Jervis, NY

Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Assoc., Lewes DE, $5,000 towards refurbishment and placement of Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive B6sa # 60

Conrail Historical Society, Inc.,  Wallington, PA: $5,000 towards renovation of Conrail caboose # 21292

Oregon Depot Museum, Oregon, IL: $5,000 towards restoration and reupholstering of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad  Silver View dome car

Colorado Model Railroad Museum, Greeley, CO: $5,000 towards restoration of Rock Island Railroad caboose 17017

Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom, WI: $5,000 towards restoration of Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad coach 64

Western American Railroad Museum Systems, Barstow, CA: $5,000 towards security enhancements

Minnesota Transportation Museum, St. Paul, MN: $5,000 towards restoration of the James J. Hill Manitoba Car

Major County Historical Society, Fairview, OK: $5,000 towards repair of Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway Depot

Museum Inc, dba The Heritage Museum, Libby, MT: $5,000 towards costs to move Shay 4 locomotive

Yakima Valley Trolleys, Yakima, WA: $4,900 towards restoration of YVT Brill Master Unit 12

Gordon – Westcott Historical Society, Gordon, WI: $4,000 towards moving Soo Line caboose 82

Mineral Point Historical Society, Mineral Point, WI: $4,000 towards restoration of railroad baggage and freight carts

North Carolina Railway Museum, New Hill, NC: $4,000 towards creation of Pullman history exhibit

Wayne Historical Preservation Society, Wayne, IL: $4,000 towards new windows in the Wayne Depot 

Wilson Brewer Park Depot and Museum, Webster City, IA: $4,000 towards restoration of Illinois Central caboose

Friends of the New York Central Railroad Museum, Elkhart, IN: $3,600 towards restoration of  NYC caboose #19211

Museum of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, CO: $2,500 towards restoration of Whiskey Creek Trestle

National Museum of Transportation, St. Louis, MO: $2,500 towards restoration of Monsanto tank car 117

Denver South Park & Pacific Historical Society, Denver CO: $2,500 towards recreation of South Park Zephyr rail car

The post NRHS Awards $187,000 in Preservation Grants appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

After a year-long absence, steam has returned to the summit of the Northeast’s tallest peak. 

Earlier this summer, New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington Cog Railway completed a rebuild of 0-2-2-0 No. 9, and after a series of test runs in early July, it entered regular service on July 10. The biggest aspect of the recent overhaul was a brand-new boiler built by Maine Locomotive & Machine Works in Alna, Maine. 

Mt. Washington Cog Railway 9 is seen pushing the second regular steam run of the 2026 season up the Northeast’s tallest peak on July 11. Photo by John House. 

Constructed in the 1860s, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway was the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railroad. From 1869 until 2008, steam ruled the west slope of Mt. Washington. However, in the late 2000s, diesel locomotives began to replace most steam locomotives. Presently, there are two steam engines on the active roster: Locomotive 2, the  Ammonoosuc, built in 1875, and locomotive 9, the Waumbek, built in 1908. Both locomotives were constructed by the Manchester Locomotive Works, which later became part of the American Locomotive Company.

In recent years, the steam engines have generally been used on the first train of the day during the summer and fall. But last year, during pre-season preparations, it was determined that neither locomotive could be operated at full pressure until additional repairs were made. In August, locomotive 9 was put back in service, but only for runs halfway up the mountain. Over the winter, the Cog received two new boilers from Maine Locomotive & Machine and installed the first atop 9’s frame earlier this year. With the locomotive back in service, the railroad plans on operating steam on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 9 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. through the summer and fall. Locomotive 2 is expected to be restored soon as well, ensuring that steam will continue to push trains up Mt. Washington for decades to come. 

—Justin Franz 

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