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A partnership between a nonprofit railroad heritage group and an Ohio short line will bring a Norfolk & Western SD40-2 to home rails this spring.

The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. is leasing KSHX 6162 to Cincinnati Eastern Railroad, which operates the former N&W main line between Cincinnati and Plum Run, Ohio. Known locally as the Peavine Line, the route is famous for its winding curves and challenging grades and was historically part of N&W’s Cincinnati District. The locomotive left Kentucky Steam’s campus in Irvine, Ky., on March 5 and arrived in Ohio a few days later. It is expected to enter service in the coming weeks.

“This partnership has been several months in the making, and we’re excited to see it come together,” said Thomas Bookout, a board member of the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. “There’s something especially fitting about a former Norfolk & Western locomotive returning to work on a former N&W main line. The Peavine is known for its winding curves and demanding grades, and the SD40-2’s 3,000 horsepower will be put to good use hauling freight over that territory. Just as important, this lease allows the locomotive to generate revenue that will help fund its own maintenance while supporting Kentucky Steam’s long-term preservation mission.”

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The Western Forest Industries Museum, operator of the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, has purchased a 3.6-acre plot and a more than 10,000-square-foot building that will serve as its new restoration facility and office space.

The St. Regis Paper Company built the facility in 1955, and it was later owned by the Muarry Pacific Corporation, founded by Tom Murray, who also founded the Mt. Rainier Scenic. The facility was used by other logging companies over the years, but is now owned by the nonprofit museum. The acquisition of the property, and particularly the building, will allow the railroad to move its heavy restoration and maintenance work into the new space, and turn the existing space into a public museum site. Currently, restoration capacity is limited, with work constrained to a single locomotive and critical materials stored in shipping containers. The new facility will provide space for multiple restoration projects, organized parts storage, a vehicle repair bay, machine and carpentry shops, and dedicated office and meeting space.

“This is a meaningful moment for us,” said Bethan Maher, Executive Director. “We are gradually bringing back together pieces of the landscape that defined Tom Murray’s logging operations, now with the purpose of preservation, education, and public access.”

—Justin Franz 

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A GP7 locomotive, acquired from the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad—a family-owned North Carolina short line established in 1892—is now part of the collection at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. The locomotive, which was donated by the railroad, is expected to arrive at the museum in Spencer, N.C., soon. 

Purchased new by A&R in 1951, GP7 205 is a prime example of a first-generation EMD. The engine was never sold or leased, and spent its entire working career running between Aberdeen and Fayetteville. 

“This donation represents far more than the transfer of a locomotive—it is the preservation of a living chapter of North Carolina’s railroading story,” museum officials wrote. “The museum is deeply grateful to the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad for entrusting us with this important piece of their heritage. GP7 205 will stand as a testament to the A&R’s legacy and to the enduring impact of short line railroads on the economic and cultural fabric of North Carolina.”

—Justin Franz 

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Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” No. 4014 and Reading Company 4-8-4 No. 2102 will lead simultaneous excursions on the Reading & Northern Railroad in June in what is being billed as the “most fantastic railfan event of the 21st century.”

UP 4014 will be in Pennsylvania in June as part of the locomotive’s East Coast tour to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. So far, UP has not offered a detailed schedule, except that the engine will visit Chicago, Buffalo, New York, and Scranton, Pa., before arriving in Philadelphia for Independence Day. On June 14, the locomotive will lead a one-way trip over the R&N from Nesquehoning to Pittston, Pa., as part of a fundraiser for the Union Pacific Railroad Museum.

That same day, Reading 2102 will lead another excursion from the Nesquehoning Regional Railroad Station to Pittston and return via Lehigh Gorge. That excursion, plus additional ones on June 14, July 1 and July 2, are all expected to meet or pass UP 4014. The July 2 excursion will be led by R&N’s diesels, which are painted to celebrate the semiquincentennial.

“The most fantastic railfan event of the 21st century will occur on the Reading & Northern,” said owner and CEO Andy Muller Jr. “All are invited to join us for this event to either ride or safely follow the train. People will be required to stay a minimum of 25 feet away from all railroad tracks, which will be strictly enforced. One hundred percent safety is a must; 99 percent is not enough.”

The East Coast tour is expected to conclude on July 29.

—Justin Franz 

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The Trump Administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget calls for major increases to military spending while slashing domestic programs — including Amtrak. According to the Rail Passenger Association, the budget request includes an increase in funding to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Still, the bulk of that money would go towards highways and airports. Transit and passenger rail would see steep funding reductions. 

The White House budget request is just that, a request, and the final budget must be hashed out with Congress. But it has a big impact on where negotiations go. 

In the budget outline, Amtrak funding would go from $2.47 billion to $2.1 billion, a 13.5 percent drop. The national network would see the biggest cuts, from $1.57 billion to $1.45 billion. The budget also calls for eliminating the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail, which funds capital improvement projects nationwide and has strong bipartisan support. 

The cuts become even steeper when you factor in that money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 is set to expire this year. 

“At a time of record highs for gas prices and airfare, the Trump Administration is proposing cuts to the intercity rail and transit programs that have been helping Americans stay connected to work, to school, and to family,” said Jim Mathews, President & CEO of the Rail Passengers Association. “This budget moves the nation in the wrong direction for affordability, mobility, and safety.”

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