Prototype News

Two EMD locomotives slated for preservation arrived at their new home in Southern California last week. Coaster F40PHM-2C 2105 and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe SD45-2 5704 were moved to the Southern California Railroad Museum after being stored in a BNSF Railway yard for several years. 

Santa Fe 5704 was one of five SD45-2s painted to celebrate the bicentennial by Santa Fe at its San Bernardino, Calif., shops in late 1975 and early 1976. In 2021, the locomotive was saved and restored to its 1976 appearance. Meanwhile, Coaster 2105 was among five F40s rescued by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo, Calif. One of those units, 2103, was added to the museum collection, while the others were put up for sale. That’s when YouTuber Michael Armstrong (best known by his handle CoasterFan2105) helped lead the effort to get F40 2105 to the Southern California Railroad Museum in Perris. The engine was preserved in 2022 and has been stored on BNSF property along with 5704 for the last few years. Finally, last weekend, BNSF moved the two locomotives to their new home. —Railfan & Railroad Staff

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Amtrak has reduced the size of its management team by 10 percent, eliminating 450 positions to save approximately $100 million annually. The cuts come just weeks after the railroad stated it was looking to cut costs amid a push for reduced spending in Washington, D.C. 

“Amtrak has recently completed a review of its costs and management structure and identified opportunities to better align resources with the important work we are doing for America,” a spokesperson wrote in an email to Railfan & Railroad on Wednesday. “Through a reduction-in-force process and cutting of open positions, Amtrak has eliminated approximately 450 roles.”

According to an employee advisory shared with Railfan & Railroad, Amtrak informed 250 people that their positions had been eliminated and closed another 200 open positions. 

“We are grateful for everything our departing colleagues did for Amtrak,” Amtrak President Roger Harris wrote in the employee advisory. “There is no easy way to complete a staff reduction of this size. Know that we did everything we could to Do the Right Thing and treat everyone involved with dignity, respect and care. Amtrak is also providing affected employees with support and resources to help them with the transition.”

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration forced former CEO Stephen Gardner out. This move was seen as a sign that the White House was unlikely to provide much support for the passenger railroad, especially considering its last budget in 2020 called for dramatically reducing its funding. While the Trump Administration released a preliminary budget earlier this month, which included a list of programs it planned to cut funding for, Amtrak was not mentioned in it. —Justin Franz 

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The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association and the Cincinnati Scenic Railway announced Wednesday that they were teaming up to raise money for the restoration of Reading Company 4-8-4 2100. The Cincinnati Scenic will be selling 50 fundraising tickets aboard Ohio Rail Experience’s Spirit of Urbana excursion for June 14. 

Ticketholders will also be automatically entered into a raffle where prizes include cab rides and first-class upgrades. Tickets are being sold via American Steam Railway’s website. The excursion will run from Washington Court House, Ohio, to Urbana, where passengers will enjoy a two-hour layover. The 100-mile round-trip will operate over former Detroit Toledo & Ironton, New York Central, and Erie trackage. 

The fundraiser for Reading 2100 comes as the T-1 class Northern inches closer to a return to the main line. Earlier this year, it was fired up for the first time following an extensive rebuild. American Steam Railroad plans on painting the locomotive in the American Freedom Train livery once worn by sister engine 2101. —Railfan & Railroad Staff

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Spokane, Portland & Seattle E-1 4-8-4 700 will be under steam for the first time in nearly a decade this week, following an extensive overhaul. The locomotive, along with stablemate Southern Pacific GS-4 “Daylight” 4449, will be fired up and on display this coming weekend at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center for National Train Day. 

SP&S 700 last operated in 2015 before being taken out of service for a federally mandated overhaul that cost nearly $500,000 and lasted almost 10 years. The engine was anticipated to be fired up and tested before Saturday’s event. 

“We’ve got water and fuel in the tender,” said Jim Vanderbeck, a long-time SP&S 700 crew member and an Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation board member. “All we need is a match.”

Locomotive 700 was one of three 4-8-4s built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the SP&S in 1938, based on a design from its parent company, Northern Pacific. The primary difference between NP’s A-3 4-8-4s and SP&S’s E-1s was that the former burned coal, while the latter burned oil. Engines 700 and 702 were predominantly used in passenger service between Spokane and Vancouver, Wash., while 701 was used for freight. In 1953, 700 and 702 were displaced from passenger service by new diesels and continued to haul freights until they were stored in 1955. The following year, 700 led a “Farewell to Steam” excursion from Portland to Wishram, Wash., and back, marking the end of the steam era on the “Northwest’s Own” SP&S. In 1958, SP&S 700 was donated to the City of Portland to be displayed at Oaks Park alongside SP 4449 and Oregon Railroad & Navigation 4-6-2 197 (which was painted as Union Pacific 3203 at the time). 

SP&S 700 under restoration at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in 2020. Courtesy Photo. 

In 1977, the Pacific Railroad Preservation Association was founded to restore 700. A small group of volunteers worked on the engine for over a decade before it finally returned to service in 1990. Since then, the engine has occasionally led excursions around the Pacific Northwest, mostly in Portland. 

During this recent rebuild, SP&S 700 received work on its superheaters, air pumps, and firebox, among other items. The engine also benefited from a three-way trade involving Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 2716 in Kentucky and Santa Fe 4-8-4 2912 in Colorado, which saw 700 get a new hot water pump. 

Vanderbeck, along with PRPA President Randy Woehl and Vice President Steve Sedaker, expressed hope that with the locomotive back in service, they will soon find opportunities to run on short lines in western Oregon. They are also considering installing Positive Train Control on the locomotive. When the time comes for the engine to make another main line appearance, Vanderbeck said they are ready. 

“We feel as if this locomotive is in as good as shape as it was back in the early 1940s,” he said. “And the SP&S took really good care of these locomotives.”

In addition to SP&S 700 and SP 4449 under steam, National Train Day on Saturday, May 10, will feature excursions behind Polson Lumber 2-8-2 2 and the recently painted UP 1616, an SD70M painted in tribute to President Abraham Lincoln. For more information, visit ORHF.org. —Justin Franz 

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Short line holding company Regional Rail, LLC, plans to acquire Minnesota Commercial Railway, according to documents filed with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. The transaction is expected to occur on or around June 1. 

Regional Rail was founded in 2007 and owns short lines in Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Saskatchewan. Minnesota Commercial Railway was formed in 1987 when it took over the operations of Minnesota Transfer Railway, which was jointly owned by Burlington Northern, Chicago & North Western, Soo Line, and a handful of fallen-flag holding companies. It operates on about 86 miles of track around Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

According to filings, Regional Rail did not anticipate any major changes to Minnesota Commercial’s current operations. 

For years, Minnesota Commercial has been known among railroad enthusiasts as an operator of unique locomotives, most notably Alcos and MLWs. Many of those units were taken out of service in 2023. —Justin Franz 

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Union Pacific unveiled a specially-painted SD70M in tribute to President Abraham Lincoln this week. The locomotive made its debut in North Little Rock, Ark., and is expected to be on display on May 10 at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland. 

“Union Pacific exists because President Abraham Lincoln wasn’t afraid to ask, ‘What’s Possible?’” said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. “Our employees move the critical goods Americans use each day. We are proud of our heritage and look forward to sharing this special locomotive with the communities and people along the 23 states where we operate.”

Locomotive 1616 is the second unit UP has painted to honor a U.S. president, following 4141, which honored President George H.W. Bush. That unit led Bush’s funeral train in 2018 and is now on display at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.

This year marks President Lincoln’s 216th birthday. The locomotive is expected to tour the system this year. The engine is painted red, brown and black, a nod to the colors worn by UP 4-4-0 119 at Promontory, Utah, when the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869. —Justin Franz 

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A 28-span wooden trestle on Washington’s Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad caught fire on the evening of April 30, a significant setback for the tourist operation that reopened in 2023. 

The bridge is located between Mineral and Morton, Wash. While it was not on the portion of the railroad that currently hosts excursions, officials said they hoped to use the trestle in the future for both freight and passenger service. 

“This wasn’t just a bridge. It was the backbone of our future: the critical connection that would allow both freight and passenger service to return to Morton. After years of work, planning, and progress, we were finally on the brink of a new era—ready to restore service, revitalize the communities we serve, and build long-term financial sustainability for the railroad,” Executive Director Bethan Maher wrote the morning after the fire. “And then… it burned.”

On social media, railroad officials alleged that someone had set the bridge on fire, either on purpose or by accident. A call by Railfan & Railroad to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the agency that would presumably investigate the incident, was not returned by press time. 

Railroad officials are currently raising money to initiate the process of rebuilding the bridge. —Justin Franz 

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