Working rail roads and their tracks.

[MossRoad]

Duluth MN. No date or info given. When we resided in SW SD along a main line BN track, I knew an old timer who serviced engines and he spoke about working on steam engines.
View attachment 4015552

I might have mentioned before that I have a friend in his 80's who's father's job was to clean out the fireboxes on steam engines. He recalled his father letting him sit in the cabs while he rotated the engine around on the turntable and then his dad would drive the engine over a pit and clean out the firebox. Put the engine back, repeat.

 

[ArlyA]

A BNSF of SD40-2 this past Saturday at local yard job used the set to pull an empty grain train from Duluth to Superior, shown here by CN's Lakehead Storage Facility. Duluth, MN - August 30, 2025 Note the size of those pellet piles....

 

[kenmbz]

At Jim Thorpe PA yesterday. Will have top go back to ride one of the trains they have.
It's a 70 min ride so should be good.

Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway | Train Rides in Jim Thorpe, PA

Welcome to the Lehigh Gorge and Scenic Railway! Our railway provides round-trip train rides for passengers of all ages to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Every season offers unique and memorable riding opportunities. In addition to our rail services, the town of Jim Tho

www.lgsry.com

 

[WinterDeere]

At Jim Thorpe PA yesterday.

Every young kid around here knows the town of Jim Thorpe, but ironically nothing about the man for which it was renamed! I'll admit I also know less about him than I should, like why a town in Pennsylvania came to be named after a man who was born in Oklahoma and died in California.

 

[ArlyA]

Ore docks Marquette MI. Kinda boat n rail pics.

 

[eolesen]

Nice drone shots. There's a route for OpenRails that includes the LS&I docks. One of my favorites to play...

 

[ArlyA]

While in Silver Bay yesterday afternoon for a marine target, I checked out the dumper and saw NSM's "Hustler" switcher there in nice light. They use this small locomotive to spot cars for dumping, although in the winter it isn't uncommon to fins a larger SD28-3 holding down this job. Silver Bay, MN - September 16, 2025

 

[bcp]

While in Silver Bay yesterday afternoon for a marine target, I checked out the dumper and saw NSM's "Hustler" switcher there in nice light. They use this small locomotive to spot cars for dumping, although in the winter it isn't uncommon to fins a larger SD28-3 holding down this job. Silver Bay, MN - September 16, 2025View attachment 4094754

Republic Locomotive RX-500.

https://www.republiclocomotive.com/wp-content/uploads/RX500-Relentless-Brochure-2018.pdf

Bruce

 

[ArlyA]

For the guys who know steam better than I. Could this engine operate with that front cover off?
--------------------------------
In August 1944, members of the French Resistance stand guard over an abandoned German train carrying four Tiger tanks.
These tanks, are believed to have belonged to sPzAbt 503 (the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion).
The Tiger I tanks were among the most feared armoured vehicles of World War II, known for their thick armour and deadly 88mm gun, making them a significant threat on the battlefield.
The train, abandoned during the chaotic retreat of German forces as Allied forces advanced through France in the summer of 1944, would have been carrying these tanks to reinforce positions or transport them for repairs.

 

[MossRoad]

I don't think so. I think that area is the smoke box. Fire at the back gets sucked through the boiler and into the smokebox. Steam is injected into the smoke box to increase the draw.