Latest Projects

SPECIAL DELIVERY – We are pleased to announce our acquisition of former Charlotte Southern Railroad #3, a 44 ton diesel locomotive! #3 enters our locomotive fleet as the third 44 ton locomotive in our lineup, joining Western Maryland #75 and Detroit & Mackinac #10. This locomotive was built in 1956 as #1 for the Dansville and Mount Morris Railroad, located in New York, and is significant in that it was the last 44 ton locomotive manufactured by General Electric. In 1986, the locomotive was sold to the Bay Colony Railroad, located in Massachusetts, where it served as #411. In 1998,

SMRS #2022, or ‘Little Red’, entered service this weekend on our Fall Color Tours! After some extensive work to replace some missing windows, install a new horn, replace the cab floor, install new engineer and fireman seats, and give the locomotive a general tune up, our volunteers are excited to see the hard work pay off. For the first time in decades, our train was pulled by a locomotive in each direction, improving safety at our road crossings and providing a smoother ride for our passengers. With some shake down runs completed, we expect ‘Little Red’ to be a staple

Our Chicago, South Shore, & South Bend #1 received a new metal roof! This new roof replaces a failing fiberglass roof that was allowing water into the car. We anticipate this roof to last many years and help us preserve this car for generations to come. At almost 100 years old, this car is an excellent example of a bygone day of commuter travel and it still retains it’s historic interior layout. Projects like this help us ensure that this piece of railroad history continues to tell a story and be a part of your experience aboard the rails.

We are pleased to announce that the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust has granted $10,000 toward the movement and stabilization of our heavyweight Pullman sleeper ‘Emerald Vale’! This is one of 19 grants totaling $250,000 toward preservation of the “Golden Age” of railway travel, from 1920 to 1960. The Trust’s founder, John H. Emery, wanted to ensure future generations could share his experiences of rail travel, and we are excited to help carry out his mission. The ‘Emerald Vale’ is a heavyweight Pullman sleeper car. It was originally built as ‘Wetamoo’ in 1915 by The Pullman Company for use

#2022 arrived with a severely deteriorated steel floor. In many spots, the cab floor was rotted complete through to the mechanical space below the cab! Volunteers have installed a new wood floor in the cab that will bring this locomotive one step closer to service!