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Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (N de M)

Published: January 4, 2026

By: Adam Burns

For much of the twentieth century, Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México—better known by its classic initials N de M, and later as FNM/Ferronales—was more than a transportation company. It was a physical expression of Mexican statecraft: a sprawling network meant to bind distant regions to the capital, channel exports to ports and border crossings, and project federal authority across mountains, deserts, and tropical lowlands. Its story runs through nearly every major political and economic shift Mexico experienced from the late Porfirian era to the neoliberal reforms of the 1990s.

46292833_2018716248420302_8782897044428685312_n.jpgA pair of handsome NdeM FP9s, led by #7022, have train #7 at Felipe Pescador, Mexico in June, 1964. Rick Burn photo.

Origins: Railroads before “Nacionales”

Railroading arrived in Mexico during the nineteenth century through a long series of concessions and financing schemes—many driven by foreign capital, foreign engineering expertise, and the commercial priorities of export-oriented development. Mexican governments saw railroads as strategic infrastructure: lines were expected to connect the interior to ports, improve internal trade, and accelerate modernization. Early efforts were intermittent and vulnerable to political instability, but by the last decades of the century, rail construction became a centerpiece of national development policy.

That transformation is strongly associated with the long administration of Porfirio Díaz (the Porfiriato), which promoted industrial growth, mining expansion, and deeper integration with U.S. and global markets. Railroads—often built and operated by large companies with substantial foreign ownership—expanded rapidly, linking Mexico City with regional centers and opening direct corridors to the United States and the Gulf Coast.

Consolidation and the Birth of Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México

By the early 1900s, the rail map of Mexico included major systems that sometimes competed, sometimes overlapped, and often depended on complex financial arrangements. Mexican policymakers increasingly favored consolidation: a unified or coordinated network was seen as more efficient, easier to regulate, and better aligned with national priorities.

A key milestone came with the creation of Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México in the early twentieth century, tied to a broader strategy to group and consolidate major lines. Mexican government sources commonly date the company’s creation to March 28, 1908, emphasizing the fusion of major rail enterprises and the effort to stabilize and rationalize the system.

In practice, the firm and its predecessor arrangements absorbed or coordinated important components of Mexico’s rail network, including lines reaching major border gateways and commercial hubs. One especially significant development was the strengthening of the trunk link between Mexico City and the U.S. frontier—vital both for trade and for passenger movement—helping establish the “national” character that the company’s name implied.

46008185_2017178298574097_5384261883773583360_n.jpgNdeM G16 #7311 at Escubedo, Mexico in September, 1965. Rick Burn photo.

A Railroad in Revolution

If the Porfirian age celebrated the railroad as a symbol of modernity, the Mexican Revolution demonstrated how quickly the same infrastructure could become contested terrain. Railways became strategic assets: armies needed rolling stock and rails for mobility, supply, and control of territory. Lines were sabotaged, bridges destroyed, and equipment commandeered. Beyond the immediate damage, the revolutionary decade strained finances and complicated ownership and management.

Even so, the central reality remained: Mexico’s long distances and challenging geography made rail indispensable. The postrevolutionary state, eager to consolidate authority and stimulate growth, treated the rail network as a tool for national integration—not just commerce.

Nationalization: From Mixed Control to a State Railroad

The decisive shift toward a fully state-centered railroad came in the late 1930s under President Lázaro Cárdenas. Here the historical record often distinguishes between expropriation actions and the subsequent reorganization of operations and ownership.

Contemporary accounts note the expropriation of Mexican rail properties in June 1937, describing the transfer of rail assets into state hands.

Other sources frame the “National Railways of Mexico” as Mexico’s state-owned railroad company from 1938 to 1998, reflecting how the reorganized, consolidated state railroad functioned institutionally from the following year.

Regardless of which date one emphasizes, the meaning is clear: by the late 1930s, Mexico had chosen a model in which the national rail system would be guided as public infrastructure—expected to serve broad economic and social goals, even when that conflicted with narrow profitability.

System Map (1952)

2482134823527839562879368903780978.jpg
29374213874523527868937897890.jpg

Mid-Century Operations: Freight, Passengers, and Nation-Building

In the decades after nationalization, N de M became the backbone of long-distance inland transport. Mexico’s rail corridors served multiple purposes:

  • Freight movement of minerals, agricultural goods, and industrial output.
  • Passenger services, including long-distance trains that connected Mexico City with regional capitals and border cities.
  • Strategic connectivity, ensuring that remote regions were not isolated from national markets and administrative reach.

Passenger rail, in particular, played a major social role during the mid-twentieth century, when highways and aviation were less dominant than they would later become. At its peak, the N de M system was not only a utility but a cultural reference point—stations, named trains, and rail corridors woven into daily life.

The system also had to respond to global technological change. Across North America, railroads shifted from steam to diesel-electric power; Mexico followed that general trend, modernizing motive power and infrastructure where budgets allowed. But modernization competed with other demands: maintaining vast track mileage, serving routes with uneven traffic, and operating within public-sector constraints.

From a railfan perspective, the railroad operated numerous classic diesel models that could be found throughout the U.S. including Alco C420s, C628s, and even former Santa Fe PAs; Baldwin's unique "Centipede"; and numerous EMD models ranging from F2s to FP9s and SD45s.  There were also unique builds for the railroad like th EMD G12 and G16.

46039325_2017178431907417_900729078049406976_n.jpgNdeM F7A #6312 is ahead of a short train #64 near the coach yards in Mexico City in September, 1965. Rick Burn photo.

The Late 20th Century Challenge: Competition, Costs, and the Search for Reform

By the 1970s and 1980s, many national rail systems around the world faced similar problems: rising costs, intense competition from highways and trucking, and capital backlogs. Mexico’s railways were no exception. Financial pressures and operational inefficiencies—made harder by the sheer scale of the network—pushed policymakers toward restructuring.

A major turning point came in 1987, when the Mexican government merged N de M with other regional rail operators into a broader parastatal framework widely associated with the name Ferronales (often abbreviated FNM). The goal was to streamline management and coordinate operations across the country’s rail regions.

This consolidation, however, did not eliminate fundamental challenges. Freight rail still mattered enormously, but the business required investment and commercial flexibility. Passenger services, often politically popular, were increasingly difficult to sustain at scale.

Privatization: The Concession Era of the 1990s

Mexico’s broader economic reforms in the 1990s—market liberalization, privatization of state enterprises, and new investment strategies—reached the railways in a dramatic way. In 1995, Mexico pursued a legal and structural path enabling the privatization of the national railroad system via long-term concessions. Under this approach, the infrastructure and operating rights were reorganized and auctioned or granted as concessions, typically around 50 years, to private operators responsible for running and maintaining the network segments they controlled.

In simplified form, the state moved from being the direct operator to being the grantor and regulator of concessions. Major freight corridors were grouped into principal systems, and investors could compete for them. The shift aligned Mexico with broader global trends in rail reform—especially where governments sought investment, productivity gains, and relief from operational subsidies.

One of the most consequential social outcomes of this era was the end of most traditional intercity passenger rail. As restructuring accelerated, FNM suspended passenger rail service in 1997, marking the close of an era for long-distance passenger travel under the national railroad brand.

Over the following years, the principal freight corridors were operated by new or restructured companies, including major systems such as Ferromex, Ferrosur, and others, along with important terminal arrangements in the Mexico City region.

Dissolution and Liquidation: The End of FNM as an Operator

Even after concessions shifted operations away from the old parastatal, the legal and administrative end of Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México took time. Mexican government documentation and oversight reports describe the formal liquidation framework and the publication of “Bases” to carry it out in 2001.

Summaries of the company’s timeline note that FNM was officially extinguished in 2001, while continuing to exist legally as a state entity under liquidation (Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México en Liquidación) for purposes that included asset disposition, legal matters, and related obligations.

This distinction matters: railroads leave behind more than locomotives and track. They leave rights-of-way, environmental responsibilities, pension obligations, real estate holdings, and complex legal histories. Liquidation can be a long administrative afterlife—especially for a system that once spanned a nation.

45676983_2016130625345531_1672421073485824000_n.jpgA pair of striking NdeM FP9s, led by #7022, have train #8 at Chihuahua, Mexico in June, 1964. Rick Burn photo.

Legacy: What NdeM Still Means

Today, the railroad lives on in several ways.

First, in geography. Many of the principal freight corridors shaped by N de M remain the same strategic pathways used by modern concessionaires—routes linking industrial regions to ports, and connecting Mexico to the U.S. border for intermodal and bulk freight traffic.

Second, in preservation and memory. Surviving locomotives, passenger cars, and station architecture serve as touchstones for a period when rail travel helped define national mobility. Preserved equipment and museums—such as collections that include former N de M locomotives—keep the material culture of the system visible to the public.

Third, in the continuing debate over public infrastructure. N de M’s life cycle—rapid expansion under modernization policy, consolidation and nationalization under a state-building agenda, then privatization under market reform—mirrors a broader argument about what essential infrastructure should be and who should run it. Freight rail in Mexico remains economically vital. But the disappearance of most traditional passenger rail after 1997 still stands as a major watershed in how Mexicans move across their country.

46235715_2018716318420295_1513872201135161344_n.jpgRick Burn photographed NdeM FPA-2 #6528 north of Escobedo, Mexico in September 1965 while aboard train #7.

Conclusion: A Railroad as a Mirror of Modern Mexico

The history of Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México is, in many respects, the history of modern Mexico told through steel rails. It begins with nineteenth-century ambitions to connect a vast and varied country. It accelerates under Porfirian industrial modernization and foreign investment. It is tested and battered during revolution.

It becomes an arm of the postrevolutionary state through expropriation and nationalization in the late 1930s. It struggles with the late twentieth century’s economic and technological pressures. And it ends—at least as an operator—through the concession-based privatizations of the 1990s, followed by formal dissolution and liquidation in 2001.

Yet N de M is not simply a defunct company name. It remains a framework for understanding how Mexico tried—again and again—to solve a central problem of nationhood: how to bind together distant regions, expand opportunity, and move people and goods efficiently across a difficult landscape. For most of the twentieth century, the answer ran on rails stamped N de M.

Diesel Roster (Pre-1987)

Alco

Model Type NdeM Number FNM Number Serial Number Completion Date Notes
PA416 & 1716 & 17 76535, 7653710/1948–11/1948 Ex-D&H 16 & 17 < nee ATSF PA1 59L & 60L.
Disposition: #16 to Smithsonian Institute (Portland, Oregon) to Museum of American Railroad for restoration; #17 to Nat'l Railroad Museum of Mexico as FNM DH17.
PA41818 7654112/1948 Ex-D&H 18 < nee ATSF PA1 62L.
Disposition: #18 to Smithsonian Institute / Doyle McCormack; restored as “Nickel Plate 190”; to Delaware-Lackawanna.
PA41919 753185/1947 Ex-D&H 19 < ATSF 66L < nee ATSF PA1 54B.
Disposition: #19 to Nat'l Railroad Museum of Mexico as FNM DH19.
C420201 & 204201 & 204 84723, 8472612/1963–1/1964 Scrapped; hi-nose; ex-Vermont Northern 201 & 204 < D&H 201 & 204 < nee LIRR 201 & 204.
C420217217 847885/1964 Scrapped; hi-nose; ex-D&H 217 < nee LIRR 217.
C420220220 847915/1964 Hi-nose; ex-D&H 220 < nee LIRR 220; to museum in Mérida, Mexico.
C628601–609601–609 3373-01–3373-093/1964–5/1964 Ex-D&H 601–609.
C628610–618610–618 3407-01–3407-095/1965 Ex-D&H 609–618.
S15000–5004--71664–716689/1944--
S65300--817161/1956--
S25500–5509--72739–727488/1944--
S25510–5519--77450–774594/1950--
S25520–5522552278017–780196/1950--
S45523–5530--78616–786237/1951–8/1951--
RS15600 (2nd)--780425/1950--
RS15601 (2nd) & 5602 (2nd)5602 (2nd)78088, 780895/1950--
RS15603 (2nd)–5605 (2nd)--78092–780945/1950--
RS15606 & 5607--77847, 770732/1950–3/1950Bought by ASARCo, but lettered NdeM.
RS15608 & 5609--77989, 779904/1950--
RS15610–5618--78033–780414/1950–5/1950--
RS15619 (2nd)–5621 (2nd)--76430–764324/1954 (uncertain)--
RS1(5620 & 5621)--78088, 780895/1950Re-#’d 5601 (2nd) & 5602 (2nd).
RS15622–5624--78092–780945/1950--
RS15622 (2nd)–5624 (2nd)5623 (2nd)81347–8134910/1956--
RS15625–56315628–563082011–8201710/1956–11/1956--
RS15632–56385634 & 563882019–8202512/1956–1/1957--
RS15639–56435639, 5640, 564282343–823471/1957–2/1957--
RS15644–5650564782348–823547/1957–8/1957--
RS15651--823573/1958--
RS15652–56565654 & 565682923–8292712/1958--
RS15657–5662566183619–8362412/1959–1/1960--
RS156635663836803/1960--
RSD15700–5705--74671–746761/1946; 4/1946–5/1946Ex-NdeM 5600 (1st)–5605 (1st).
RSD355900–5904590284489–844935/1963–6/1963A DL535.
RSD56900--8088411/1955--
RSD56901--8088511/1955--
RSD127400 & 7401740182919, 829208/1958Hi-nose; w/ steam generator.
RSD127402–74087402–740783548–8355412/1959–3/1960--
RSD127409–74187410–7412, 7414, 7416–741883626–836353/1960–6/1960--
RSD127419–74237420–742383851–838553/1961--
RSD127424–74287424, 7425, 742783806–838104/1961--
RSD127429–74407429, 7430, 7432, 7433, 7435–744083956–839674/1961--
RSD127441–74577441–7455, 745784083–840998/1962--
RSD127458–74727459, 7460, 7462–747284278–842928/1962–9/1962--
RS36700–6703--80124–801277/1952--
RS36704–6706--81894–818964/1956--
C4248100–8106--3372-01–3372-073/1964Diverted to Wabash (as B901–B907) instead of delivery to NdeM.
C4248100 (2nd)–8106 (2nd)8100, 8104, 81063380-01–3380-076/1964--
C4248107–81298107–8111, 8113, 8114, 8116–8122, 8126–81283372-08–3372-306/1964--
C4248130–81338130–81323382-09–3382-1210/1965--
C4248134–81448135–8140, 8143, 81443428-01–3428-1110/1965–11/1965--
FPA26500 & 6501--78724, 7827511/1950--
FPA26502A–6506A--78996–790008/1951#6503A rebuilt with a French engine (not successful).
FA26507A–6516A--78986–789957/1951–8/1951--
FA26517A–6520A--79283–792869/1951--
FA26519A (2nd)--8082412/1953--
FA26521A & 6522A--79742, 797433/1952--
FPA26523A–6527A--80009, 80020–800239/1953–10/1953--
FPA26528A–6532A--79175–7917912/1953–2/1954--
FPA26533A--791962/1954--
FA26534A--808974/1954--
FB26507B–6516B--79023–790327/1951–8/1951--
FB26517B–6520B--79327–793309/1951--
FB26519B (2nd)--8091012/1953--
FB26521B & 6522B--79766, 800093/1952--
FB26523B–6527B--80905–809099/1953–12/1953--
FB26528B–6533B--79206–7921112/1953–2/1954--
FB26534B--811664/1953--

MLW/Alco

Model TypeNdeM NumberFNM NumberSerial NumberCompletion DateNotes
C424--32008483712/1964Built by Alco; ex-CN 3200.
C424--3203–3205M3443-02–M3443-043/1966Ex-CN 3203–3205.
C424--3207, 3215 & 3219M3444-02, M3444-10, M3444-145/1966–8/1966Ex-CN 3207, 3215 & 3219.
C424--3222 & 3226M3477-01, M3477-051/1967–2/1967Ex-CN 3222 & 3226.
C424--3234M3478-065/1967Ex-CN 3234.

General Electric

Model TypeNdeM NumberFNM NumberSerial NumberCompletion DateNotes
U30C701–706--36232–362372/1967–3/1967Ex-D&H 701–706.
U30C707–712--36493–3649812/1967Ex-D&H 707–712.
U30C930–933 & 935--36650–36653, 366551/1968–2/1968Ex-C&NW 930–933 & 935.
GE-7on5100–5102--30010–300125/1948#5102 ex-Compania Terminal de Vera Cruz 52; repowered w/ Alco 251.
UD18B8000 & 8001--32474, 324756/1956Hi-nose; ex-GE Demonstrators 1800 & 1801.
UD18B8002–8009--32477, 3248511/1956Hi-nose.
U36C9300–93189300–931840240–402561/1975–2/1975--
C36-79317–93269317–932642269–422783/1979--
C36-79327–93419327–934142636–426503/1980–5/1980--
C30-76700 (2nd)6700 (2nd)4220812/1978--
C30-76701–6706 (2nd)6701 (2nd)–6706 (2nd)42651–4265611/1979--
C30-76707–67296707–672942657–4267911/1979--
C30-76730–67596730–6736, 6738–675942740–4276912/1979--
C30-76760–67846760–6762, 6764–6778, 6780–678442814–428381/1980--
C30-76785–67996785–679943038–430527/1980--
U36C / U36CG8900–89378900–8905, 8907–8917, 8919, 8920, 8922–8929, 8931–8934, 893739350–393877/1973–11/1973U36Cs.
U36C / U36CG8938–89578938–8943, 8945, 8946, 8948, 8951, 8952, 8954–895739797–394164/1974–5/1974U36CGs.
U36C / U36CG8958–89968958–8970, 8972–8978, 8980–8992, 8995, 899739768–397961/1974–3/1974U36Cs.
U18B9000–90199000–9005, 9007–9012, 9014–9017, 901939641–396607/1974–10/1974--
U18B9020–90449020–9025, 5904439661–396857/1974–10/1974--
U23B9100–91219100–9102, 9114–9117, 9119–912140326–403473/1975–5/1975--
U23B9122–91299122–912940348–403555/1975–6/1975--
B23-79130–91399130–9133, 9135–913942626–4263512/1979–1/1980--
B23-79140–91459140–914543328–433598/1980–9/1980--
B23-79146–91779146–9160, 9161, 9162, 9164, 9167–916943328–4335911/1980–1/1981--
B23-79178–91809178–918043291–432936/1981--
B23-710001–1001310001–1001343382–4339410/1980–2/1981--
B23-710014–1004610014–10032, 10034–10044, 1004643500–435322/1981–12/1981--
B23-710047–1005210047–1005243580–4358512/1981–1/1982--
B23-712000–1200612000–12003, 12005, 1200643294–432992/1982–3/1982--
B23-712007–1201112007–1201143395–433994/1982–5/1982--

EMD

Model TypeNdeM NumberFNM NumberSerial NumberCompletion DateNotes
SD45801801326426/1966D&H 801 < nee EMD Demos 4354.
SD45802 & 803802 & 80331694, 316951/1966D&H 802 & 803 < nee EMD Demos 4352 & 4353.
GA85400–54095401, 5403, 5405, 540929080–290899/1964–11/1964Narrow gauge (3-ft).
GA85410–54165410, 5412, 541632278–322846/1967Narrow gauge (3-ft).
GA85417 & 54185417 & 541832298, 325706/1955; 5/1956Narrow gauge (3-ft); ex-Coahuila & Zacatecas 801 & 802.
G125801–58055800, 5802–580521159–2116412/1955–1/1956--
G125806–58255806, 5808–5814, 5816–5818, 5821, 582322605–2262410/1956–11/1956--
G125826–58325826–5828, 5830, 583222884–2289010/1956–12/1956--
G125833–58405833, 5834, 583724722–247298/1958--
G125841–58545842–5844, 5846–5848, 5851–585425918–259316/1960--
G125855–58645855–5858, 5861, 5863, 586426716–267259/1961--
G125865–58785866–587827842–278559/1961--
G1258795879283433/1963--
G125880–58895880–588929070–290796/1964–9/1964The 5800s were originally A-1-A trucked; center axle later removed.
GP766006600161143/1952--
GP766016601161153/1952--
F2A6200A–6206A--3528–35346/1960--
F2A6207A–6213A6208A3690–36968/1946–10/1946All F2As & Bs rebuilt by EMD as 1350-hp F7A & F7B.
F2B6200B–6206B--3535–35418/1946–10/1946All F2As & Bs rebuilt by EMD as 1350-hp F7A & F7B.
F2B6207B–6213B--3697–370310/1946All F2As & Bs rebuilt by EMD as 1350-hp F7A & F7B.
FP76300–6308--10888–1089612/1949--
FP76309--110111/1950Built as NdeM 6319; re-#’d to 6309.
FP97010–70197010–701922530–225398/1956–10/1956--
FP97020–70347020–703422651–2266510/1956–11/1956Source had “2651-22665”; normalized as 22651–22665.
GP9710071002290610/1956Delivered as 6602; then re-#’d to 7100.
GP97101 (2nd) & 7102 (2nd)7101 (2nd) & 7102 (2nd)25444, 254456/1959--
GP97103–71077103–710724702–247088/1958#7101 & #7102 wrecked; rebuilt as 7101 (2nd) & 7102 (2nd).
G167300–73127300, 7303, 7304, 7306, 7308–731224709–247218/1958–9/1958--
G167313–73227313–7318, 7320–732225932–259417/1960--
G167323--260178/1960--
GP187501–75177504, 7507, 7511, 751726726–267436/1961–8/1961--
GP187518 & 7519751826670, 266718/1961--
GP358200–82148200–8204, 8206–821329040–290548/1964–12/1964--
GP358215–82298215–822929055–290698/1964–12/1964Hi-nose; w/ steam generator.
GP358230–82548230–8244, 8246, 8248, 8250–825430713–3073710/1965Some GP35s converted by FNM to GP38Ms.
GP408400–84098400–8405, 8407–840932253–322626/1967--
SD408500–85028500–850233895–338976/1968--
SD408503, 8505, 8508–8511, 8513–85218503–852133385–334035/1968–6/1968--
SDP408522–85318522–853133371–333805/1968--
SDP408532–85358532–853536156–361595/1970--
SD408536–85758536–8544, 8546–857538893–3893211/1971–12/1971--
SD408576–85858576–8585A2603–A26122/1972Built in Canada by GMDD.
SD40-28700–87038700–8703712426–7124299/1972--
SD40-28704–87098704–8709712430–7124359/1972--
SD40-28710–87158710–8715712607–71261212/1972--
SD40-28716–87558716–8722, 8724–8742, 8744–8755712852–71289111/1973–12/1973--
SD40-28756–87678756–8761, 8763–8767756108-1–756108-1212/1975--
SD40-28768–87778768–8777798047-1–798047-102/1980--
SD40-28778–8796, 87988778–8798798077-1–798077-218/1980–9/1980Built in Canada.
SW15048800–88298800–8829712667-712965/1973Serial appears truncated in source (“712667-71296”). Preserved as-is.
SW15048830–88598830–8859712697–7127265/1973--
GP38-29200–92199200, 9202–921975633-1–75633-206/1975--
GP38-29220–92999220–9225, 9227–9241, 9243–9282, 9284–9299756076-1–756076-8010/1975–12/1975--
GP38-294009400756076-8112/1975--
GP38-29401–94049401–9405756056-1–756056-410/1975--
GP38-29405–94149405–9410, 9412–9414788030-1–788030-103/1979--
MP15AC9801–98259801–9825818040-1818040-256/1983 - 7/1983--
GP38-29901–99099901–9909818041-1–818041-106/1983–7/1983--

Baldwin Locomotive Works

Model TypeNdeM NumberFNM NumberSerial NumberCompletion DateNotes
DR64-20006000 & 6001--70320, 7032112/1944; 3/1945Scrapped; ex-Baldwin Demonstrators 2000 & 2001; both had two VO-1000 engines.
DR64-20006100--726718/1946B-unit.
DR 12-8-1500/26400--726724/1947Originally delivered w/ steam generator; later converted to freight; all scrapped.
DR 12-8-1500/26401–6407--72673–726791/1948–5/1948Originally delivered w/ steam generator; later converted to freight; all scrapped.
DR 12-8-1500/26408–6413--72680–726856/1948–7/1948Originally delivered w/ steam generator; later converted to freight; all scrapped.
AS6166800–6809680975981–759903/1954–4/19546809 re-powered w/ EMD engine.
AS6166810–6819681475991–760004/1954–5/19546814 re-powered w/ EMD engine.

NdeM Shop Builds

Model TypeNdeM NumberFNM NumberSerial NumberCompletion DateNotes
SLP-671087108--(unknown)/1965Built by NdeM with parts from F-units and a GP7.

Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW)

Model TypeNdeM NumberFNM NumberSerial NumberCompletion DateNotes
M6308600–88098600, 8601, 8605–8609M6064-01–M6064-106/1972–8/1972--
M6308610–86198610–8612, 8613, 8617–8619M6064-11–M6064-206/1972–8/1972--
M424W9501–95559501–95556114-10–6114-657/1980–5/1981Built with North American cab.

Timetables (August, 1952)

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Recent Articles

  1. Nevada ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 22, 26 10:23 AM

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    Seamlessly blending the romance of train travel with the allure of a theatrical whodunit, these excursions promise suspense, delight, and an unforgettable journey through Nevada’s heart.

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  2. West Virginia ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 22, 26 10:20 AM

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    For those looking to combine the allure of a train ride with an engaging whodunit, the murder mystery dinner trains offer a uniquely thrilling experience.

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  3. North Carolina's Thomas The Train Rides

    Jan 22, 26 10:17 AM

    North Carolina is one of the few states home to two different Thomas the Tank Engine events. Learn more about them here!

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  4. Washington's Thomas The Train Rides

    Jan 22, 26 10:14 AM

    This article will take you on a detailed journey through A Day Out With Thomas events held in Washington, offering insights into what makes this experience extraordinary for families and railroad enth…

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  5. Kentucky "Valentine's" Train Rides

    Jan 22, 26 10:12 AM

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    If you’re looking for a date night that feels a little more cinematic than the usual reservation-and-a-movie routine, Bardstown’s My Old Kentucky Dinner Train delivers the kind of evening you remember…

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  6. North Carolina "Valentine's" Train Rides

    Jan 22, 26 10:09 AM

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    While GSMR is widely known for warm-weather gorge trips and its hugely popular holiday trains, it also offers one of the most charming winter date-night ideas in the Smokies: a Valentine’s Day dinner…

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  7. Pennsylvania "Valentine's" Train Rides

    Jan 22, 26 10:01 AM

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    Tucked amid the rolling farmland of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Strasburg Rail Road stands as one of the most celebrated and successful heritage railroads in North America.

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  8. Tennessee "Valentine's" Train Rides

    Jan 22, 26 09:59 AM

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    If you’re looking for a Valentine’s date night that feels different—equal parts elegant dinner and living-history railroading—the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers just that.

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  9. Kansas ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 21, 26 01:40 PM

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    Kansas, known for its sprawling wheat fields and rich history, hides a unique gem that promises both intrigue and culinary delight—murder mystery dinner trains.

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  10. Florida ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 21, 26 01:05 PM

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    Florida, known for its vibrant culture, dazzling beaches, and thrilling theme parks, also offers a unique blend of mystery and fine dining aboard its murder mystery dinner trains.

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  11. New Hampshire ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 21, 26 12:07 PM

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    The state's murder mystery trains stand out as a captivating blend of theatrical drama, exquisite dining, and scenic rail travel.

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  12. New Jersey Dinner Train Rides In Woodstown

    Jan 21, 26 11:20 AM

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    For visitors who love experiences (not just attractions), Woodstown Central’s dinner-and-dining style trains have become a signature offering—especially for couples’ nights out, small friend groups, a…

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  13. Montana's Dinner Train Rides Near Lewistown!

    Jan 21, 26 10:40 AM

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    The Charlie Russell Chew Choo turns an ordinary rail trip into an evening event: scenery, storytelling, live entertainment, and a hearty dinner served as the train rumbles across trestles and into a t…

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  14. Kansas Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 21, 26 10:09 AM

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    While the railroad’s regular-season excursions are a big draw, the A&SV also shines with its calendar of themed trains—none more romantic than its Valentine’s Day special.

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  15. Alabama Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 21, 26 09:39 AM

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    The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum (HoDRM) is the kind of place where history isn’t parked behind ropes—it moves. This includes Valentine's Day weekend, where the museum hosts a wine pairing special.

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  16. Wisconsin's Dinner Train Rides In North Freedom!

    Jan 20, 26 01:55 PM

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    Featured here is a practical guide to Mid-Continent’s dining train concept—what the experience is like, the kinds of menus the museum has offered, and what to expect when you book.

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  17. New York's Dinner Train Rides In The Adirondacks!

    Jan 20, 26 12:41 PM

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    Operating over a restored segment of the former New York Central’s Adirondack Division, the Adirondack Railroad has steadily rebuilt both track and public interest in passenger rail across the region.

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  18. Pennsylvania "Dinner Train" Rides In Boyertown!

    Jan 20, 26 12:04 PM

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    With beautifully restored vintage equipment, carefully curated menus, and theatrical storytelling woven into each trip, the Colebrookdale Railroad offers far more than a simple meal on rails.

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  19. New York ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 20, 26 12:03 PM

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    New York State, renowned for its vibrant cities and verdant countryside, offers a plethora of activities for locals and tourists alike, including murder mystery train rides!

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  20. Pennsylvania ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 20, 26 11:48 AM

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    Pennsylvania, steeped in history and industrial heritage, offers a prime setting for a unique blend of dining and drama: the murder mystery dinner train ride.

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  21. Florida Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 20, 26 11:46 AM

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    For couples looking for something different this Valentine’s Day, the museum’s signature romantic event is back: the Valentine Limited, returning February 14, 2026—a festive evening built around a tra…

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  22. Connecticut Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 20, 26 11:43 AM

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    Operated by the Valley Railroad Company, the attraction has been welcoming visitors to the lower Connecticut River Valley for decades, preserving the feel of classic rail travel while packaging it int…

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  23. Texas Dinner Train Rides At The TSR!

    Jan 19, 26 12:30 PM

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    Today, TSR markets itself as a round-trip, four-hour, 25-mile journey between Palestine and Rusk—an easy day trip (or date-night centerpiece) with just the right amount of history baked in.

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  24. Iowa's Dinner Train Rides In Boone!

    Jan 19, 26 12:28 PM

    If you’ve ever wished you could pair a leisurely rail journey with a proper sit-down meal—white tablecloths, big windows, and countryside rolling by—the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum…

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  25. Ohio Dinner Train Rides At The CVSR!

    Jan 19, 26 12:27 PM

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    While the railroad is well known for daytime sightseeing and seasonal events, one of its most memorable offerings is its evening dining program—an experience that blends vintage passenger-car ambience…

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  26. Missouri's Dinner Train Rides In Branson!

    Jan 19, 26 12:21 PM

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    Nestled in the heart of the Ozarks, the Branson Scenic Railway offers one of the most distinctive rail experiences in the Midwest—pairing classic passenger railroading with sweeping mountain scenery a…

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  27. Virginia Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 19, 26 12:15 PM

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    If you’ve ever wanted to slow life down to the rhythm of jointed rail—coffee in hand, wide windows framing pastureland, forests, and mountain ridges—the Virginia Scenic Railway (VSR) is built for exac…

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  28. Maryland Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 19, 26 12:12 PM

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    The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) delivers one of the East’s most “complete” heritage-rail experiences: and also offer their popular dinner train during the Valentine's Day weekend.

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  29. Indiana's Dinner Train Rides In Jasper!

    Jan 18, 26 01:54 PM

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    In the rolling hills of southern Indiana, the Spirit of Jasper offers one of those rare attractions that feels equal parts throwback and treat-yourself night out: a classic excursion train paired with…

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  30. New Mexico's Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 18, 26 01:37 PM

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    If your heart is set on clinking glasses while the desert glows at sunset, you can absolutely do that here—just know which operator offers what, and plan accordingly.

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  31. New Hampshire ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 18, 26 01:10 PM

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    The state's murder mystery trains stand out as a captivating blend of theatrical drama, exquisite dining, and scenic rail travel.

    Read More

  32. New York Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 18, 26 12:32 PM

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    At its best, the Adirondack Railroad delivers exactly what railfans and casual riders alike hope for: vintage coaches, classic depots, rivers and forests right outside the window.

    Read More

  33. Washington Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 18, 26 10:50 AM

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    Whether you’re a dedicated railfan chasing preserved equipment or a couple looking for a memorable night out, CCR&M offers a “small railroad, big experience” vibe—one that shines brightest on its spec…

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  34. Colorado Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 18, 26 10:49 AM

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    The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is the kind of trip that feels tailor-made for railfans and casual travelers alike, including during Valentine's weekend.

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  35. Georgia Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 18, 26 10:42 AM

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    f you’ve ridden the SAM Shortline, it’s easy to think of it purely as a modern-day pleasure train—vintage cars, wide South Georgia skies, and a relaxed pace that feels worlds away from interstates and…

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  36. New Jersey ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 17, 26 01:16 PM

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    There are currently no murder mystery dinner trains available in New Jersey although until 2023 the Cape May Seashore Lines offered this event. Perhaps they will again soon!

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  37. West Virginia Dinner Train Rides In Elkins!

    Jan 17, 26 01:08 PM

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    The D&GV offers the kind of rail experience that feels purpose-built for railfans and casual travelers.

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  38. Virginia Dinner Train Rides In Staunton!

    Jan 17, 26 11:55 AM

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    If you’ve ever wished you could pair a classic scenic train ride with a genuinely satisfying meal—served at your table while the countryside rolls by—the Virginia Scenic Railway was built for you.

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  39. Florida Easter Train Rides

    Jan 17, 26 10:23 AM

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    The cold weather rarely invades Florida and the state nearly always warm and balmy early spring temperatures. Learn more about where you can find Easter-themed train rides across the Sunshine State.

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  40. Ohio Easter Train Rides

    Jan 17, 26 10:13 AM

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    Ohio is home to several museums and excursion trains preserving the state's rich railroading heritage. A few of these locations host Easter-themed train rides each spring.

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  41. Massachusetts Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 17, 26 09:58 AM

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    The Cape Cod Central Railroad (CCCR) blends classic New England scenery with heritage equipment, narrated sightseeing, and some of the region’s best-known “rails-and-meals” experiences.

    Read More

  42. California Valentine's Train Rides

    Jan 17, 26 09:53 AM

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    Operating out of West Sacramento, this excursion railroad has built a calendar that blends scenery with experiences—wine pours, themed parties, dinner-and-entertainment outings, and seasonal specials…

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  43. South Carolina Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 16, 26 11:13 PM

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    There is only location in the Palmetto State offering a true dinner train experience can be found at the South Carolina Railroad Museum. Learn more here.

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  44. Rhode Island Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 16, 26 11:01 PM

    Despite its small size, Rhode Island is home to one popular dinner train experience where guests can enjoy the breathtaking views of Aquidneck Island.

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  45. Pennsylvania's Thomas The Train Rides

    Jan 16, 26 04:13 PM

    "A Day Out With Thomas” train rides offer a unique opportunity for children and their families to engage in a magical and memorable experience, setting the stage for a full day of fun and adventure.

    Read More

  46. Illinois's Thomas The Train Rides

    Jan 16, 26 02:23 PM

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    In Illinois, the "A Day Out With Thomas" event offers a unique chance for families to immerse themselves in the enchanting world of Thomas and friends, creating memories that last a lifetime.

    Read More

  47. New Jersey's Thomas The Train Rides

    Jan 16, 26 02:11 PM

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    Here's a comprehensive guide to what you can expect at Day Out With Thomas events in New Jersey.

    Read More

  48. Texas ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 16, 26 01:54 PM

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    Here’s a comprehensive look into the world of murder mystery dinner trains in Texas.

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  49. Connecticut ~ Murder Mystery ~ Dinner Train Rides

    Jan 16, 26 01:26 PM

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    All aboard the intrigue express! One location in Connecticut typically offers a unique and thrilling experience for both locals and visitors alike, murder mystery trains.

    Read More

  50. New Hampshire Dinner Train Rides In N. Conway!

    Jan 16, 26 10:47 AM

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    Tucked into the heart of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley, the Conway Scenic Railroad is one of New England’s most beloved heritage railways

    Read More