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Chessie System Diesel Roster (All Time)

Published: June 2, 2026

By: Adam Burns

The Chessie System, formed in 1973 as a holding company for the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O), Baltimore & Ohio (B&O), and Western Maryland (WM) railroads, represented one of the East's most vibrant rail empires. Though Chessie itself owned no equipment—locomotives remained on the books of its subsidiaries with C&O, B&O, or WM reporting marks—the system unified operations across 11,700 route miles, hauling vast coal trains from Appalachia to the Great Lakes and Tidewater ports. Its diesel roster, inherited from the three roads and bolstered by new orders in the 1970s and early 1980s, reflected a diverse, reliable fleet that helped Chessie thrive until its absorption into CSX Transportation in 1986-87.

What made the roster instantly recognizable was the bold Chessie System paint scheme, introduced in 1972: bright Federal Yellow noses and underframes, Enchantment Blue car bodies, and Vermilion stripes, accented by the iconic sleeping kitten "Chessie" logo inside a stylized "C." This high-visibility livery transformed everyday Geeps and SDs into rolling billboards, a far cry from the predecessors' somber colors.

981248712761235128741582634.jpgChessie System power await their future assignments at the Chesapeake & Ohio's terminal in Russell, Kentucky during January of 1983. Note the rare C&O SD18, #7300, on the left; only a handful of roads purchased this model and the C&O acquired the most along with the Missabe (18). Rob Kitchen photo.

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At its peak around 1980, the Chessie diesel fleet numbered in the hundreds, dominated by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) products with healthy contingents from General Electric (GE) and a handful of Alco and Baldwin holdovers. First-generation road-switchers formed the backbone. More than 600 GP7s and GP9s (primarily from C&O and B&O) handled locals and secondary freights, while roughly 140 GP30s and GP35s provided reliable mid-range power. Switchers included nearly 150 NW2s and over 100 SW7s/SW9s for yard and industrial work, supplemented by Alco S-2/S-4s (70-plus units) and a few Baldwin VO-1000s. Older six-axle units like B&O's SD7/SD9s (about 20) and C&O's SD18s (30) and SD35s (23) tackled heavy drag service before gradual retirement.

Second-generation power defined Chessie's modern era. EMD GP38s, GP38-2s (over 200 units, many new to B&O and C&O), and GP40/GP40-2s (another 200-plus) became the system standard for manifest and priority trains. C&O's U-boat fleet added variety: 30 U23Bs, 38 U25Bs, and 48 U30B/U30Cs for heavy freight. WM contributed a small but punchy group of C425s and C630s. Slugs rebuilt from retired Alco and Baldwin switchers (including WM 138T and 139T) provided extra muscle in yards without the cost of full locomotives.

New acquisitions kept the roster fresh. Chessie-era GP40-2s (including the gold-painted B&O GM50 celebrating EMD's 50th anniversary and the short-lived B&O 1977 Bicentennial unit) and later SD50s (81 units ordered by B&O and C&O in 1984-85) represented the system's final push for high-horsepower six-axle power. GE's B30-7s (64 on C&O) rounded out the four-axle fleet.By the early 1980s, the roster had streamlined as WM lines were pruned and older units retired or rebuilt. The Chessie diesel fleet's strength lay in its balance: versatile EMD Geeps for everyday work, big SDs for coal drags, and GE U-boats for brute force. When CSX emerged, these colorful units—many still in Chessie paint for years—helped launch a new era. Today, a handful survive in museums or excursion service, reminders of the bold, kitten-logoed railroad that once ruled the East.

Road-Switchers

Model Type Builder Road Number Subsidiary Serial Number Completion Date Notes
GP40-2 EMD GM50 B&O 4164 7365-14 8/1972 Adorned in a gold-painted 50th Anniversary livery celebrating GM's 50 years of manufacturing locomotives.
GP7 EMD 1502-1504 C&O 5705, 5747, 5764 10154, 15253, 15270 6/1950, 10/1951-11/1951 -
GP7 EMD 1505-1506 C&O 5817, 5778 17038, 15284 10/1952, 12/1951 -
GP7 EMD 1507-1508 C&O 5839, 5733 17286, 17280 10/1952 -
SD7 EMD 1827-1830 B&O 761-764 18683-18686 11/1953 Later numbered B&O 7401-7404 in pre-Chessie System era.
SD9 EMD 1831-1838 B&O 765-766, 772, 767-771 20121-20128 12/1954 Later numbered B&O 7405, 7406, 7412, 7407-7411 in pre-Chessie System era.
SD9 EMD 1839-1840 B&O 773-774 20451-20452 12/1954 Later numbered B&O 7413-7414 in pre-Chessie System era.
GP40-2 EMD 1977 (1st) B&O 4100 7365-1 8/1972 -
GP40-2 EMD 1977 (2nd) B&O 4163 7365-15 8/1972 -
GP38-2 EMD 2000-2009 - 796333-1 thru 796333-10 1/1981 Built as Chicago, South Shore & South Bend 2000-2009.
U23B GE 2300-2339 C&O 2300-2339 37228-37257 9/1969-10/1969 -
GP30 EMD 3000-3015 C&O 3000-3015 27798-27799, 27584-27597 8/1962-12/1962 -
GP30 EMD 3016-3047 C&O 3016-3047 28410-28411, 28494-28523 8/1963, 10/1963 -
U30C GE 3300-3303 C&O 3300-3303 36300-36303 6/1967 -
U30C GE 3304-3312 C&O 3304-3312 36767-36775 5/1968-7/1968 -
GP35 EMD 3500-3519 B&O 3500-3519 29090-29109 3/1964-4/1964 -
GP35 EMD 3520-3539 C&O 3520-3539 29110-29129 4/1964-6/1964 -
GP35 EMD 3540-3559 B&O 3540-3559 29372-29391 7/1964-9/1964 -
GP35 EMD 3560-3575 C&O 3560-3575 29392-29407 9/1964-11/1964 -
GP35 EMD 3576-3580 WM 501-505 28849-28853 11/1963 -
GP35 EMD 3581 B&O 3581 31262 12/1965 -
GP35 EMD 3582 C&O 3582 31439 12/1965 -
GP35 EMD 3583-3584 C&O 3045, 3047 30987-30988 9/1965 -
GP40 EMD 3684-3699 B&O 3684-3699 32644-32659 11/1966 -
GP40 EMD 3700-3739 B&O 3700-3739 34823-34862 2/1969-4/1969 -
GP40 EMD 3740-3764 B&O 3740-3764 36721-36745 2/1971-3/1971 --
GP40 EMD 3765-3779 B&O 3765-3779 37189-37203 2/1971-3/1971 -
GP40 EMD 3780-3794 C&O 3780-3794 39246-39260 12/1971 -
GP40 EMD 3795-3799 WM 3795-3799 37886-37890 8/1971 -
GP38 EMD 3800-3849 B&O 3800-3849 33318-33367 10/1967-11/1967 -
GP38 EMD 3850-3899 C&O 3850-3899 33681-33730 11/1967-12/1967 -
GP39 EMD 3900-3919 C&O 3900-3919 34785-34808 5/1969-7/1969 -
GP40 EMD 4000-4064 B&O 4000-4064 38480-38544 8/1971-10/1971 -
GP40 EMD 4065-4089 C&O 4065-4089 38545-38569 5/1971-11/1971 -
GP40 EMD 4090-4089 C&O 4090-4089 39236-39245 5/1971-8/1971 -
GP40-2 EMD 4101-4112 B&O 4101-4112 7365-2 thru 7365-13 8/1972-9/1972 -
GP40-2 EMD 4113-4162 B&O 4113-4162 7365-16 thru 7365-65 9/1972-10/1972 -
GP40-2 EMD 4165-4184 C&O 4165-4184 7394-1 thru 7394-20 11/1972 -
GP40-2 EMD 4185-4246 B&O 4185-4246 74695-1 thru 74695-62 4/1975-6/1975 -
GP40-2 EMD 4247-4256 B&O 4247-4256 767034-1 thru 767034-10 2/1977 -
GP40-2 EMD 4257-4261 WM 4257-4261 767049-1 thru 767049-5 2/1977 -
GP40-2 EMD 4262-4281 C&O 4262-4281 776085-1 thru 776085-20 1/1978 -
GP40-2 EMD 4262-4286 C&O 4262-4286 777094-1 thru 777094-5 1/1978 -
GP40-2 EMD 4287-4307 B&O 4287-4307 776091-1 thru 776091-21 1/1978-2/1978 -
GP40-2 EMD 4308-4311 B&O 4308-4311 777051-1 thru 777051-4 3/1978 -
GP40-2 EMD 4312-4321 WM 4312-4321 786158-1 to 786158-10 11/1978 -
GP40-2 EMD 4322-4351 B&O 4322-4351 787227-1 thru 787227-30 2/1979-3/1979 -
GP40-2 EMD 4352-4371 WM 4352-4371 787172-1 thru 787172-20 1/1979-3/1979 -
GP40-2 EMD 4372-4391 C&O 4372-4391 786288-1 thru 786288-20 2/1980-3/1980 -
GP40-2 EMD 4392-4421 C&O 4392-4421 787289-1 thru 787289-30 2/1980 -
GP40-2 EMD 4422-4447 B&O 4422-4447 807014-1 thru 807014-26 5/1981-6/1981 -
GP38 EMD 4800-4819 B&O 4800-4819 36676-37795 8/1970-12/1970 -
GP38 EMD 4820-4829 C&O 4820-4829 36666-37775 7/1970-8/1970 -
GP7 EMD 5601-5608, 5612 B&O 5601-5608, 5612 17500-17507, 17511 1/1953 Built as B&O 911-918, 922
GP7 EMD 5613-5624 B&O 5613-5624 18694-18705 9/1953 Built as B&O 720-731.
GP7 EMD 5632-5635 WM 5632-5635 1128-11231 4/1950 Built as WM 20-23.
GP7 EMD 5701, 5704, 5707-5709, 5715, 5719 C&O 5701, 5704, 5707-5709, 5715, 5719 10129, 10132, 10136-10139, 10143 6/1950 -
GP7 EMD 5713-5714 C&O 5713-5714 10535, 10536 3/1950 -
GP7 GMD 5730-5738 C&O 5730-5738 A164-A169, A239-A241 4/1951-6/1951 -
GP7 EMD 5739-5795 C&O 5739-5795 15245-15301 10/1951-1/1952 -
GP7 EMD 5800, 5802, 5804-5806, 5811 C&O 5800, 5802, 5804-5806, 5811 16692, 16694, 16696-16699, 16703 5/1952-6/1952 -
GP7 EMD 5812-5813, 5815, 5818-5822, 5824-5828 C&O 5812-5813, 5815, 5818-5822, 5824-5828 17033-17034, 17036, 17039-17043, 17045-17049 10/1952-11/1952 -
GP7 EMD 5831, 5834, 5836-5842, 5844-5846, 5850-5851, 5853-5854 C&O 5831, 5834, 5836-5842, 5844-5846, 5850-5851, 5853-5854 17278, 17281, 17283-17285, 17289-17291, 17294-17296, 17300-17301, 17303-17304 10/1952-2/1953 -
GP7 EMD 5856-5857, 5859-5860, 5862-5868, 5870-5873, 5875-5879, 5882-5894 C&O 5856-5857, 5859-5860, 5862-5868, 5870-5873, 5875-5879, 5882-5894 18077, 18078, 18080, 18060-18061, 18036-18042, 18044-18047, 18049-18053, 18056-18059, 18065-18073 4/1953-5/1953 -
GP9 EMD 5901-5917 C&O 5901-5917 20183-20199 12/1954 -
GP9 EMD 5920, 5922-5923, 5925, 5931 C&O 5920, 5922-5923, 5925, 5931 21193, 21195-21196, 21198, 20648 12/1955, 8/1955 -
GP9 EMD 5921, 5926, 5928, 5930, 5932 C&O 5921, 5926, 5928; 5930, 5932 21194, 21199, 21201; 20647, 20649 12/1955; 8/1955 -
GP9 EMD 5933 WM 5933 20650 8/1955 Built as C&O 5933.
GP9 EMD 5934-5937, 5939 B&O 5934-5937, 5939 20651-20654, 20848 8/1955 Built as C&O 5934-5937, 5939.
GP9 EMD 5940-5941, 5944 WM 5940-5941, 5944 20849-20850, 20853 8/1955 Built as C&O 5940-5941, 5944.
GP9 EMD 5943, 5945-5950 B&O 5943, 5945-5950 20852, 20854-20859 8/1955-9/1955 Built as C&O 5943, 5945-5950.
GP9 EMD 5951-5956 WM 5951-5956 20860-20865 9/1955 Built as C&O 5951-5956.
GP9 EMD 5957-5962, 5964-5968 B&O 5957-5962, 5964-5968 20866-20871, 20873-20877 9/1955-10/1955 Buil as C&O 5957-5962, 5964-5968.
GP9 EMD 5970-5979 B&O 5970-5979 20879-20886, 21026-21027 10/1955 Built as C&O 5970-5979.
GP9 EMD 5980-5983 B&O 5980-5983 21028-21031 10/1955 Built as C&O 5980-5983.
GP9 EMD 5984-5987 C&O 5984-5987 21032-21035 10/1955 -
GP9 EMD 5989-5999 C&O 5989-5999 21037-21045, 21182-21183 11/1955-12/1955 -
GP9 EMD 6000-6001, 6003-6007 C&O 6000-6001, 6003-6007 21184-21185, 21187-21192 12/1955 -
GP9 EMD 6009-6024 C&O 6009-6024 21487-21502 3/1956 -
GP9 EMD 6030-6058 C&O 6030-6058 21508-21511, 21524-21538, 21686-21695 3/1956, 4/1956, 6/1956 -
GP9 EMD 6060-6099 C&O 6060-6099 21697-21719, 21720-21725, 22090-22100 6/1956 -
GP9 EMD 6135-6150 C&O 6135-6150 22043-22058 9/1956-11/1956 -
GP9 EMD 6152-6193 C&O 6152-6193 22060-22066, 22540-22547, 22550-22576 11/1956-12/1956 -
GP9 EMD 6195-6208 C&O 6195-6208 22578-22591 11/1956-12/1956 -
GP9 EMD 6209-6250 C&O 6209-6250 23368-23397, 23501-23512 6/1957-8/1957 -
GP9 EMD 6251-6263 C&O 6251-6263 23513-23525 8/1957 -
GP9 EMD 6400-6420 WM 6400-6420 19548-19551, 20355-20356, 20887-20888, 20664, 21619-21620, 22067, 22425-22426, 23270-23271, 23906-23910 5/1954-57 Built as WM 25-45. 33 was built as demonstrator 7257.
GP9 EMD 6425-6446 B&O 6425-6446 20429-20444, 20423-20428 4/1955-5/1955 Built as B&O 675-696.
GP9 EMD 6447-6510 B&O 6447-6510 22191-22254 8/1956-10/1956 -
GP9 EMD 6511-6570 B&O 6511-6570 22985-23044 5/1957-7/1957 -
GP9 EMD 6571 B&O 6571 23641 5/1957 -
GP9 EMD 6572-6598 B&O 6572-6598 24356-24382 1/1958-2/1958 -
GP9 EMD 6600-6605 B&O 6600-6605 20417-20422 4/1955 ex-B&O 3407-3412; built as B&O 747-752.
GP9 EMD 6606-6611 B&O 6606-6611 22255-22260 10/1956 Built as B&O 3413-3418.
GP9 EMD 6612-6618 B&O 6612-6618 22418-22424 10/1956 Built as B&O 3419-3425.
GP9 EMD 6650-6658 B&O 6650-6658 22101-22109 7/1956 Built as B&O 6100-6108.
GP9 EMD 6659-6673, 6675-6680, 6682 B&O 6659-6673, 6675-6680, 6682 22017-22019, 22035-22040, 22041 9/1956 -
GP30 EMD 6900-6972 B&O 6900-6972 27617-27689 10/1962-12/1962 -
GP30 EMD 6973-6976 B&O 6973-6976 27690-27693 1/1963 -
BL2 EMD 7171-7172 WM 7171-7172 5921-5922 10/1948 Built as WM 81-82.
SD18 EMD 7300-7318 C&O 1800-1818 27598-27616 1963 -
SD35 EMD 7400-7419 B&O 7400-7419 29408-29427 7/1964-10/1964 -
SD35 EMD 7420-7431 C&O 7420-7431 29428-29439 9/1964-11/1964 -
SD35 EMD 7425 (2nd), 7428 (2nd) C&O 7425, 7428 30741, 30740 8/1965 -
SD35 EMD 7432-7436 WM 7432-7436 29890-29894 12/64 --
SD35 EMD 7437-7440 B&O 7437-7440 30706-30709 9/1965 -
SD40 EMD 7500 B&O 7500 34778 4/1969 -
SD40 EMD 7501-7506 C&O 7501-7506 34779-34784 4/1969 -
SD40 EMD 7507-7516 C&O 7507-7516 36696-36705 6/1970-7/1970 -
SD40 EMD 7517-7526 C&O 7517-7526 36746-36755 6/1970-7/1970 -
SD40 EMD 7527-7536 C&O 7527-7536 37204-37213 3/1971 -
SD40 EMD 7545-7549 WM 7545-7549 34967-34971 6/1969-7/1969 Built as WM 7445-7549.
SD40 EMD 7550-7569 C&O 7450-7469 31929-31948 7/1966-8/1966 -
SD40 EMD 7570-7574 WM 7570-7574 32134-32138 8/1966 Built as WM 7470-7474.
SD40 EMD 7575-7581 C&O 7475-7481 33154-33160 5/1967-6/1967 -
SD40 EMD 7591-7594 B&O 7491-7495 33170-33173 5/1967 -
SD40 EMD 7595-7596 WM 7595-7596 34104, 34105 11/1968 Built as WM 7495-7496.
SD40 EMD 7597-7599 B&O 7597-7599 34775-34777 4/1969 Built as B&O 7497-7499.
SD40-2 EMD 7600-7609 B&O 7600-7609 767033-1 thru 767033-10 1/1977-2/1977 -
SD40-2 EMD 7610-7619 B&O 7610-7619 767033-11 thru 767033-20 2/1977 -
SD20-2 EMD 7700-7704 B&O 7401, 7403-7406 - 1981 Rebuilt as derated, 2000 horsepower SD35s.
U25B GE 8100-8104 C&O 8100-8104 34566-34567, 34569-34570, 34568 8/1963 Built as C&O 2500-2504.
U25B GE 8105-8137 C&O 8105-8137 34724-34726, 34731-34760 8/1963-1/1964 Built as C&O 2505-2537.
U30B GE 8200-8209 C&O 8200-8209 38218-38227 12/1971-1/1972 -
U30B GE 8210-8222 C&O 8210-8222 38475-38487 11/1972-12/1972 -
U30B GE 8223-8224 C&O 8223-8224 35881, 35880 5/1966 Former GE demonstrators 302, 301.
U30B GE 8225-8234 C&O 8225-8234 40068-40077 12/1974 -
SD40 EMD 8360-8365 C&O 8360-8365. 34775-34777 4/1969 Built as C&O 7501-7506.
SD50 EMD 8576-8595 B&O 8576-8595 837081-1 thru 837081-20 7/1984-8/1984 -
SD50 EMD 8553-8575 C&O 8553-8575 837057-1 thru 837057-23 1/1984-2/1984 -
SD50 EMD 8624-8643 C&O 8624-8643 857095-1 thru 857095-20 10/1985-11/1985 -
8281mwfme38949hc48c894847.jpgA westbound Chesapeake & Ohio manifest freight enters the siding at Eagle Rock, Virginia led by B30-7 #8281 during October of 1983. Rob Kitchen photo.

Switchers

Model Type Builder Road Number Subsidiary Serial Number Completion Date Notes
Slug Alco 138T WM 138T 69479 7/1941 Rebuilt from Western Maryland S1 #102. Later modified again in 1967 by replacing Blunt trucks with AAR Type A's from Western Marlyand VO1000 #130.
Slug Baldwin 139T WM 139T 76018 3/1955 Rebuilt from the frame of a Monogahela Railway S12 and equipped with Blomberg trucks.
NW2 EMD 5061-5065, 5069 B&O 5061-5065, 5069 10382-10386, 10370 9/1949 Built as C&O 5061-5065, 5069.
NW2 EMD 5066-5068, 5070-5072 C&O 5066-5068, 5070-5072 10367-10369, 10371-10683 6/1949, 8/1949 -
NW2 EMD 5074-5077, 5079 B&O 5074-5077, 5079 10375-10378, 10380 8/1949 Built as C&O 5074-5077, 5079.
NW2 EMD 5200-5213 C&O 5200-5213 10259-10272 9/1949 -
NW2 EMD 5277-5278, 5281, 5284, 5287, 5297-5298 C&O 5277-5278, 5281, 5284, 5287, 5297-5298 1717-1718, 3464, 3467, 3470, 5555-5556 2/1943-3/1943, 11/1945-5/1946, 4/1948 ex-PM 53-54, 56, 59, 62; ex-Manistee & North-Eastern 2-3
SW9 EMD 5081-5084, 5093 C&O 5081-5084, 5093 11714-11717 4/1952 -
SW9 EMD 5093 C&O 5093 19299 12/1953 -
SW7 EMD 5215-5239 C&O 5215-5239 10274-10298 1/1950-3/1950 -
SW9 EMD 5245-5265 C&O 5245-5265 15504-15524 10/1951-11/1951 -
SW1 EMD 8401 B&O 8401 1099 8/1940 Built as B&O 201.
SW1 EMD 8404-8414 B&O 8404-8414 1102-1112 8/1940 Built as B&O 204-214.
SW1 EMD 8416, 8418, 8421 B&O 8416, 8418, 8421 1601, 1603, 1606 5/1942 Built as B&OCT 216, 218, 221.
S4 Alco 9001-9005 B&O 9001-9005 80955-80959 11/1953-12/1953 Built as B&O 535-539.
S4 Alco 9007 B&O 9007 80963 12/1953 Built as B&O 541.
S4 Alco 9008-9010 B&O 9008-9010 81320-81322 4/1955 Built as B&O 468-470.
S4 Alco 9011, 9013, 9015 B&O 9011, 9013, 9015 81323, 81325, 81327 4/1955 Built as B&O 471, 473, 542.
S4 Alco 9017-9018 B&O 9017-9018 81329-81330 4/1955 Built as B&O 544-545.
S2 Alco 9022-9024 B&O 9022-9024 70251-70253 4/1943-11/1943 Built as B&O 478-480.
S2 Alco 9027-9028 B&O 9027-9028 71302-71303 4/1943 Built as B&O 483-484.
S2 Alco 9030-9031 B&O 9030-9031 71310-71311 11/1943 Built as B&O 486-487.
S2 Alco 9033-9035 B&O 9033-9035 72069, 72711-72712 6/1944-7/1944 Built as B&O 489-491.
S2 Alco 9037-9039 B&O 9037-9039 72727, 72892-72893 8/1944-1/1945 Built as B&O 493-495.
S2 Alco 9041, 9044, 9046 B&O 9041, 9044, 9046 72903, 72906, 72908 2/1945 Built as B&O 497, 500, 502.
S2 Alco 9048-9052 B&O 9048-9052 72912-72916 5/1945 Built as B&O 504-508.
S2 Alco 9054-9056 B&O 9054-9056 76161, 767175-76176 8/1945-9/1948 Built as B&O 510-512.
S2 Alco 9058, 9060-9061, 9063 B&O 9058, 9060-9061, 9063 76178, 76180-76181, 76183 9/1948-10/1948 Built as B&O 514, 516-517, 519.
S2 Alco 9068-9069, 9072 B&O 9068-9069, 9072 76205, 76500, 76503 11/1948 Built as B&O 524-525, 528.
S2 Alco 9075-9077 B&O 9075-9077 76506-76508 12/1948 Built as B&O 531-533.
S4 Alco 9078-9079 B&O 9078-9079 81860-81861 4/1956 -
S4 Alco 9081-9089 B&O 9081-9089 81863-81871 4/1956-6/1956 -
S4 Alco 9091-9093 B&O 9091-9093 81873-81875 6/1956 -
S4 Alco 9095-9098 B&O 9095-9098 81877-81879, 81971 6/1956 -
S4 Alco 9100 B&O 9100 81985 2/1957 -
S4 Alco 9102-9108 B&O 9102-9108 81987-81993 4/1957-7/1957 -
S4 Alco 9117-9126 B&O 9117-9126 - - ex-C&O
S1 Alco 9151-9152, 9155 B&O 9151-9152, 9155 72694, 72835, 72841 10/1944-11/1944 Built as B&O 223, 224, 227.
S2 Alco 9160-9162, 9166, 9170-9171, 9176, 9178, 9180-9186 B&O 9160-9162, 9166, 9170-9171, 9176, 9178, 9180-9186 - - ex-C&O
SW900 EMD 9400-9414 B&O 9400-9414 20384-20398 6/1955 Built as B&O 625-639.
SW900 EMD 9415-9429 B&O 9415-9429 20399-20412 6/1955-7/1955 Built as B&O 640-653.
NW2 EMD 9500, 9504, 9506 B&O 9500, 9504, 9506 1114, 1118, 1120 10/1940-11/1940 Built as B&O 400, 404, 406.
NW2 EMD 9509-9511 B&OCT 9509-9511 1729-1731 1/1943 Built as B&OCT 409-411.
NW2 EMD 9512-9541 B&O 9512-9541 6693-6712 1/1949-3/1949 Built as B&O 560-589.
NW2 EMD 9542-9551 B&O 9542-9551 6673-6682 9/1948-11/1948 Built as B&O 550-559.
TR3A-B (Cow-calf) EMD 9552, 9556 B&O 9552, 9556 10253, 10255 7/1949 Built as C&O 6500A-6501A.
TR3A-B (Cow-calf) EMD 9554, 9557 B&O 9554, 9557 10254, 10258 10/1949 Built as C&O 6500B-6501C.
NW2 EMD 9558, 9560-9562 C&O 9558, 9560-9562 6268, 6270-6272 11/1948-12/1948 Built as C&O 1850, 1842-1854.
NW2 EMD 9559, 9563-9564 B&O 9559, 9563-9564 6269, 6273, 6274 11/1948-12/1948 Built as C&O 1851, 1855-1856.
SW9 EMD 590-596 B&O 590-596 15886-15892 2/1952-4/1952 Built as B&OCT 9600-9607.
SW1200 EMD 9609-9613 B&O 9609-9613 19309-19313 12/1953 -
SW1200 EMD 9614-9619, 9621 B&O 9614-9619, 9621 23360-23365, 23367 5/1957 -
TR4A-B (Cow-calf) EMD 9622-9624 C&O 6000A, 6000B-6001A, 6001B 11945-11948 6/1950 -

Recent Articles

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  1. Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad: "The Bessemer Road"

    Sep 15, 26 05:20 PM

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    Bessemer & Lake Erie—Bear Creek 1865, Carnegie 1897, U.S. Steel 1901. Ore south from Conneaut, coal north. 2-10-4s, Missabe sister road. CN May 10, 2004. Complete corporate history.

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  2. Bangor and Aroostook Railroad: "Serving Northern Maine"

    Sep 15, 26 05:05 PM

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    Bangor & Aroostook—chartered February 13, 1891, first trains January 1, 1894. Potatoes, paper, Searsport, State of Maine reefers. MM&A 2003, Lac-Mégantic 2013, CP 2020, CPKC today. Complete co…

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  3. Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad: Map and History

    Sep 15, 26 03:11 PM

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    B&OCT—formed January 6, 1910 to buy Chicago Terminal Transfer. Grand Central, Barr Yard, 78 route-miles. Assigned B&O steam. Complete diesel roster. CSX paper subsidiary, mark BOCT.

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  4. The "Alphabet Route" (Railroad): Photos and History

    Sep 15, 26 02:53 PM

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    Alphabet Route—eight railroads, not one company. P&WV to Connellsville February 11, 1931. Alpha Jets Chicago/St. Louis–New York/Boston. NKP, W&LE, P&WV, WM, Reading, CNJ, L&HR, New Hav…

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  5. Milwaukee Road Livestock Operations: Cattle, Dakotas & Montana

    Sep 15, 26 02:36 PM

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    Milwaukee Road livestock traffic—Dakota and Montana cattle, Iowa hogs, Chicago markets, 28-hour law, head-end stock cars. By 1974 mostly Montana. Rick Burn’s Helena speech. Operations history, not the…

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  6. Spirit of Jasper Ride & Dine (2026): Season Pause

    Sep 15, 26 02:29 PM

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    Spirit of Jasper Ride & Dine in Jasper, Indiana—seated meal on board. Operator: not running public trains for 2026. Depot remains open as a rental. Confirm on spiritofjaspertrain.com.

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  7. South Carolina Canal & Rail Road Company: Map and History

    Sep 15, 26 01:59 PM

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    South Carolina Canal & Rail Road—chartered December 19, 1827. Best Friend of Charleston, 136 miles Charleston–Hamburg October 1833, Aiken inclined plane. South Carolina Railroad 1844, Southern 189…

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  8. The Practice of Double-Heading: The Steam Era

    Sep 15, 26 01:43 PM

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    Doubleheading—two locomotives on the point, each with its own steam crew. Not a rear helper, not diesel MU. How it worked, PRR 1877, mountain grades, and what MU ended.

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  9. Mohawk and Hudson Railroad: Map, Pictures, Locomotives

    Sep 15, 26 01:20 PM

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    Mohawk & Hudson Railroad—New York’s first railroad, chartered April 17, 1826. DeWitt Clinton, inclined planes, Albany & Schenectady 1847, first New York Central May 17, 1853. Complete corporat…

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  10. Essex Clipper Dinner Train (2026): Dates, Tickets & What to Expect

    Sep 15, 26 01:09 PM

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    2026 Essex Clipper Dinner Train in Essex, CT—2.5 hours, four-course meal $129.99, 18+. Fall dates through Oct. 25. Confirm on essexsteamtrain.com.

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  11. Camden & Amboy Railroad: Map, History, Photos

    Sep 15, 26 12:53 PM

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    Camden & Amboy Railroad—chartered February 4, 1830. Joint Companies monopoly with the Delaware & Raritan Canal, John Bull, T-rail. United New Jersey 1872, PRR 999-year lease 1871. Complete corpora…

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  12. Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train (2026): Dates, Tickets & What to Expect

    Sep 15, 26 12:47 PM

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    2026 Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train in North Woodstock, NH—2 hours, 20 miles, five-course meal from $125. May–October. Confirm on nhdinnertrain.com.

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  13. Christmas Train Ride Locations (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 15, 26 10:47 AM

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    2026 Christmas train rides by state—Santa, North Pole Express, and holiday trains. Not Polar Express. State guides and product pages. Confirm dates on each railroad.

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  14. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad: Linking 13 Great States With The Nation

    Sep 15, 26 10:22 AM

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    Baltimore & Ohio Railroad—first U.S. common carrier, chartered February 28, 1827. Wheeling 1853, Chicago 1874, C&O control 1963, Chessie 1973, into CSX April 30, 1987. Complete corporate history.

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  15. Delaware & Hudson Railway: The Bridge Line

    Sep 15, 26 09:59 AM

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    Delaware & Hudson Railway—Wurts brothers canal 1823, gravity railroad 1829, Stourbridge Lion, Bridge Line to Montreal. Guilford 1984, CP 1991, NS south line 2015, CPKC north.

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  16. Delaware & Hudson Diesel Roster (All-Time)

    Sep 15, 26 12:17 AM

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    All-time Delaware & Hudson diesel roster—Alco S-2s through C-628s and PA-4s, GE U-boats, Baldwin RF-16s, EMD SD45s and GP38-2/GP39-2s. Serials, dates, dispositions.

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  17. Granite Railway, Our Country's First Railroad

    Sep 14, 26 11:28 PM

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    Granite Railway of Quincy, Massachusetts—chartered March 4, 1826, opened October 7, 1826. Gridley Bryant, 5-foot gauge, horses, Bunker Hill Monument stone. First commercial U.S. railroad.

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  18. Milwaukee Road Skytop Lounges: History, Specs & Floor Plans

    Sep 14, 26 11:09 PM

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    Milwaukee Road Skytop observation cars—Brooks Stevens, 1948. Four Rapids parlor-lounges from Milwaukee Shops, six Creek sleeper-lounges from Pullman-Standard. Floor plans, roster, preservation.

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  19. West Virginia Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 14, 26 11:02 PM

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    2026 West Virginia Christmas trains—Potomac Eagle North Pole Express in Romney and Christmas at Cass. Not Polar Express. Elkins Polar is not listed for 2026.

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  20. Railroads Of Today: Class I Map, PSR & the 2026 Industry

    Sep 14, 26 10:30 PM

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    U.S. freight rail in 2026—six Class I railroads on a nearly 140,000-mile network. PSR as everyday practice, how the STB works, traffic mix, short lines and regionals.

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  21. Railroad History (USA): Timeline, Facts & How the Network Was Built

    Sep 14, 26 10:03 PM

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    Full U.S. railroad history hub—origins and inventors, Golden Age peak mileage, Civil War and transcontinental, streamliners, ICC regulation, Penn Central and Conrail, Staggers Act, PSR, and today’s Cl…

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  22. Railroads In The 2020s: CPKC, East Palestine & the UP–NS Case

    Sep 14, 26 09:51 PM

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    U.S. railroads 2020–2026—Class I mileage 91,773 in 2020. COVID traffic drop, CPKC April 14 2023, East Palestine Feb. 3 2023, UP–NS $85 billion case still before the STB.

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  23. Railroads In The 2010s: PSR, Coal’s Decline & Positive Train Control

    Sep 14, 26 03:51 PM

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    U.S. railroads 2010–2020—Class I mileage 95,573 to 91,773. Buffett closed BNSF Feb. 12 2010, Harrison at CP June 29 2012 and CSX 2017, PTC deadline Dec. 31 2018.

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  24. Virginia Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 14, 26 03:46 PM

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    2026 Virginia Christmas trains—Virginia Scenic Railway Santa Express from Staunton, about 60 minutes. Confirm dates. Not Polar Express.

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  25. MARC Train: Maryland Commuter Rail History, Lines & Roster

    Sep 14, 26 01:16 PM

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    MARC Train history—Maryland Rail Commuter 1984, B&O and PRR corridors, Penn/Camden/Brunswick lines, Silver Spring 1996, all-time locomotive roster.

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  26. Railroads In The 2000s: Merger Freeze, Wisconsin Central & Buffett

    Sep 13, 26 07:57 AM

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    U.S. railroads 2000–2010—Class I mileage 99,250 to 95,573. STB merger freeze March 17 2000, CN–WC Oct. 9 2001, BNSF Railway Jan. 24 2005, Buffett Nov. 3 2009.

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  27. Railroads In The 1990s: Mega-Mergers, Conrail’s Split & the STB

    Sep 13, 26 12:13 AM

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    U.S. railroads 1990–2000—Class I mileage 119,758 to 99,250. BNSF Sept. 22 1995, UP–SP Sept. 11 1996, Conrail split June 1 1999, ICC Termination Dec. 29 1995.

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  28. Railroads In The 1980s: Staggers, Mega-Mergers & Conrail’s IPO

    Sep 12, 26 11:12 PM

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    U.S. railroads 1980–1990—Class I mileage 164,822 to 119,758. Staggers Oct. 14 1980, CSX and Norfolk Southern, UP–Missouri Pacific–Western Pacific, Conrail IPO March 26 1987.

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  29. Wabash Class O-1 4-8-4s: History, Roster & Specifications

    Sep 12, 26 11:01 PM

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    Wabash Class O-1 4-8-4s—Baldwin 1930–31, twenty-five engines 2900–2924. Fast freight, complete roster, specifications. None preserved.

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  30. Staggers Rail Act of 1980: Statute, Contract Rates & the ICC

    Sep 10, 26 11:23 PM

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    Staggers Rail Act, Pub. L. 96-448, signed October 14, 1980. Harley Staggers, S.1946, contract rates, 180% variable-cost test, abandonments, short lines.

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  31. Rock Island E8A 652: Bicentennial Independence Paint & History

    Sep 10, 26 10:42 PM

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    Rock Island E8A 652—EMD March 1952, serial 15199. 20th Century Railroad Club Independence bicentennial scheme, Peoria and Quad Cities Rockets, Midland Railway, Manly Junction Museum.

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  32. Vermont Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 10, 26 10:37 PM

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    2026 Vermont Christmas trains—Okemo Valley Holiday Express from Chester Depot Dec. 19–20. Polar is Burlington Dec. 5–6 only.

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  33. Railroads In The 1970s: Penn Central, Amtrak & Conrail

    Sep 10, 26 10:18 AM

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    U.S. railroads 1970–1980—196,479 miles at the decade’s start. Penn Central bankruptcy June 21 1970, Amtrak May 1 1971, 3R/4R Acts, Conrail April 1 1976, Rock Island 1975, Milwaukee 1977.

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  34. Railroads In The 1960s: Mergers, Passenger Collapse & Penn Central

    Sep 10, 26 10:03 AM

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    U.S. railroads 1960–1970—207,334 to 196,479 miles. Erie Lackawanna 1960, C&O–B&O 1963, N&W–Nickel Plate 1964, SCL 1967, Penn Central Feb. 1 1968.

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  35. South Carolina Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 10, 26 08:36 AM

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    2026 South Carolina Christmas trains—South Carolina Railroad Museum Santa Train in Winnsboro. Confirm December dates. Not Polar Express. Drop light-festival padding.

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  36. Steam Locomotive Feedwater Heaters: Elesco, Coffin & Worthington

    Sep 10, 26 08:29 AM

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    Steam locomotive feedwater heaters—open Worthington vs closed Elesco and Coffin. How they work, how to identify them on a smokebox, and why not every engine had one.

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  37. Oregon Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 10, 26 08:22 AM

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    2026 Oregon Christmas trains—Portland Holiday Express, Garibaldi Candy Cane Express, Sumpter Valley Christmas Trains Dec. 11–13. Polar is Mount Hood.

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  38. Lake Shore & Michigan Southern: Map, History, Timetables

    Sep 10, 26 08:12 AM

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    Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway—Erie & Kalamazoo 1833, Michigan Southern to Chicago 1852, LS&MS April 6 1869, Vanderbilt, Ashtabula 1876, NYC merger Dec. 22 1914. 1910 map and Official Guide.

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  39. Big Four Route (CCC&StL): Map, History

    Sep 10, 26 12:19 AM

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    Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway—Bee Line 1868, Ingalls’s first Big Four 1880, CCC&StL June 30, 1889, NYC lease Feb. 1, 1930. 1910 and 1930 maps, what still runs.

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  40. Railroads In The 1950s: Diesel, the Interstate & Passenger Collapse

    Sep 10, 26 12:15 AM

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    U.S. railroads 1950–1960—223,779 to 211,459 miles. Interstate June 29, 1956, dieselization, passenger collapse, TOFC, 1957–58 recession, NYO&W 1957, N&W–Virginian 1959.

    Read More

  41. New Jersey Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 10, 26 12:06 AM

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    2026 New Jersey Christmas trains—Black River & Western Santa Express from Flemington and Pine Creek Christmas trains in Wall Township. Polar is Whippany and Phillipsburg.

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  42. New Mexico Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 09, 26 11:57 PM

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    2026 New Mexico Christmas trains—Cumbres & Toltec Santa’s Holiday Express from Chama Dec. 5–6 (and Antonito, Colo., Dec. 12–13). Coach $25/$15. Not Polar Express.

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  43. Grand Trunk Railway: Map, History, Timetables

    Sep 09, 26 11:47 PM

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    Grand Trunk Railway of Canada—charter Nov. 10, 1852, Montreal–Toronto 1856, Portland, Sarnia, Victoria Bridge, St. Clair Tunnel 1891, Great Western 1882, GTPR, CN Jan. 20, 1923. 1893 map and Official…

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  44. Troop Trains In World War II: Sleepers, Kitchen Cars & Movements

    Sep 09, 26 11:42 PM

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    WWII U.S. troop trains—almost 44 million armed-services passengers, Pullman troop sleepers, ACF kitchen cars, hospital trains, monthly movement tables 1942–45. Not the Military Railway Service. ODT an…

    Read More

  45. Railroads In The 1940s: War Traffic, Last Steam & the Diesel Flood

    Sep 09, 26 11:37 PM

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    U.S. railroads 1940–1950—233,670 to 223,779 miles. World War II as the decade’s center, last new steam, diesel flood after V-J Day, 1945 car orders, California Zephyr 1949.

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  46. Railroads In World War II: ODT, Record Traffic & Private Operation

    Sep 09, 26 03:00 PM

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    U.S. railroads in World War II—Lend-Lease freight, Pearl Harbor, Office of Defense Transportation, 1944 peak ~740 billion ton-miles, Dec. 1943–Jan. 1944 seizure. Private operation, not a USRA sequel.

    Read More

  47. Montana Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 09, 26 02:54 PM

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    2026 Montana Christmas trains—Charlie Russell Chew Choo North Pole Adventure from Hanover/Lewistown, Nov. 27–Dec. 19, $71, about 1.5 hours. Not Polar Express.

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  48. Railroads In The 1930s: Depression, Streamliners & the FT

    Sep 09, 26 09:32 AM

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    U.S. railroads 1930–1940—249,052 to 233,670 miles. Section 77, Eastman, Motor Carrier Act, M-10000 and Pioneer Zephyr 1934, EMC FT 1939. Decade frame, not the streamliner encyclopedia.

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  49. Sugar Cane Train (Lahaina): LK&P History, Roster & 2026 End

    Sep 09, 26 08:19 AM

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    Lahaina, Kaanapali & Pacific Sugar Cane Train—3-foot tourist line 1970–2014. Anaka, Myrtle, 2023 and 2025 fires, September 2026 scrapping. Roster, Hahakea trestle, Pioneer Mill corridor.

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  50. Massachusetts Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 09, 26 08:16 AM

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    2026 Massachusetts Christmas trains—Shelburne Falls Moonlight Magic Friday Nov. 27; Edaville Festival of Lights in Carver. Polar is Cape Cod Central in Buzzards Bay.

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