STEAM TRAIN DIARY - svsfilm.com/diary
Steam train events in US and Canada

This listing is maintained for personal use and is not intended to be a complete diary of steam train events in the USA and Canada. SVS Film will not be responsible for any errors or omissions, nor will be responsible for any expenses or other costs incurred as a result of the information printed here. All schedules are subject to change without notice. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS SCHEDULE TO MAKE TRAVEL PLANS WITHOUT CHECKING WITH THE RAILROAD/OPERATOR FIRST.

Some entries are shown as To be confirmed . This indicates that early information has been learnt, but has not been verified by the proposed operating organisation!!

We would welcome any comments, corrections or updates by email ESPECIALLY if you are a tourist railroad, or operator of a preserved steam locomotive!

Credit to John Biehn for some of the details included below.

Featured SVS Film YouTube video.
Watch at: CN railway 1970

Rare 1970 Footage - Canadian National Railway in the Rockies This documentary features restored 8mm cine film shot by David Gaff, capturing his experiences working on a signalling gang on the Canadian National Railway in 1970. Much of the footage was filmed in the dramatic Canadian Rockies, offering a rare and authentic look at what it was really like to work on the railroad in this remote and challenging environment. David also recounts how a "flying switch" nearly led to disaster, highlighting the risks faced by railway workers at the time. The film includes onboard scenes from the 'Super Continental' passenger train, along with unique cab footage riding with the engineer of a diesel locomotive. Additional bonus footage features Toronto and Winnipeg rail yards, the arrival of the 'Canadian' transcontinental passenger train in Calgary and through the Rockies, and views of the 'Super Continental' at Vancouver.
Copyright © John McIvor 2026

[Jan] [Feb] [Mar] [Apr] [May] [Jun] [Jul] [Aug] [Sep] [Oct] [Nov] [Dec]

Diary for 2026

NEW Updated April 22nd 2026.

January 2026

Febuary 2026

March 2026

April 2026

From March 29 to April 24 Cheyenne WY. Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 #4014 western tour ends in Cheyenne on April 24.
For more details go to https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

April 25, 26 Cumberland MD. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 'Allegheny Winter Express' trips due to be headed by 2-6-6-2 #1309 departing Cumberland at 9am and 1pm.
For more details go to https://wmsr.com/western-maryland-train-schedule

May 2026

Saturdays, Sundays and Public holidays Cumberland MD. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad trips due to be headed by 2-6-6-2 #1309 departing Cumberland.
For more details go to https://wmsr.com/western-maryland-train-schedule

May 2nd Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Steam Saturday' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

May 2nd and 3rd Cass WV. Cass Scenic Railroad operator Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. The "Titans of Logging" Photography Weekend will take place on May 2-3, 2026. Photographers and videographers will have exclusive access to remote, scenic locations, with multiple runbys and carefully planned photo opportunities throughout the weekend.
For more details go to https://mountainrailwv.com/train-rides/

May 9th Cass WV. Cass Scenic Railroad operator Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. Greenbrier Express "Geared Titans" Special Join Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad for a first of its kind train ride along the Cass to Durbin Line! This historic passenger excursion will feature all three major geared locomotive types, the Shay, Heisler and Climax as they work in tandem pulling the train to Durbin.
For more details go to https://mountainrailwv.com/train-rides/

NEW May 9th and 10th Portland OR. Oregon Rail Heritage Center's annual National Train Day. SP 4449 and SP&S 700 under steam. Cab tours of these legendary locomotives. Turntable demonstrations
For more details go to https://orhf.org/blog/national-train-day-returns-may-9-10-2026/

NEW May 9th, 23rd, 30th Chattanooga TN. Nine hour excursion from Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia and return powered by the former Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501.
For more details go to https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

May 16th Sugar Express locomotive 148 will head Lake Placid Limited. Departing mid-morning from Clewiston, the train is led by a U.S. Sugar diesel to Lake Placid, and historic steam locomotive No. 148 will operate the train on the southbound leg.
For more details: https://sugarexpress.com/lake-placid-limited/

May 21st Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Memorial Day Celebration' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

May 23rd Reading, PA. 2026 Iron Horse Rambles. Reading and Northern 4-8-4 #2102 excursion from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe and return.
For more details go to https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/rambles-jimthorpe

Commencing May 23rd Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. 2026 Season Dates: May 23 – October 25
For more details go to https://cumbrestoltec.com/

NEW Commencing May 25 Cheyenne WY. Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 #4014 eastern tour starts in Cheyenne on May 25, due to visit Omaha, Chicago, Buffalo, Scranton, Philadelphia. Additional display days expected at Altoona, St. Louis and Kansas CIty, Missouri.
For more details go to https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

NEW May 30th Sugar Express locomotive 148 will head Lake Placid Limited. Departing mid-morning from Clewiston, the train is led by a U.S. Sugar diesel to Lake Placid, and historic steam locomotive No. 148 will operate the train on the southbound leg.
For more details: https://sugarexpress.com/lake-placid-limited/

June 2026

June 5, 6, 7 and 12, 13, 14 Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Ohio will feature the return of the Steam In The Valley excursions headed by Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765.
For more details go to https://www.cvsr.org/excursions/steam-in-the-valley/steam-in-the-valley

June 6th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Steam Saturday' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

NEW June 8th and 20th Chattanooga TN. Nine hour excursion from Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia and return powered by the former Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501.
For more details go to https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

June 12th, 13th, 14th Staunton VA. Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 #611 heads excursions on the 'Saunton Route'. 611 will heaad the train outbound on the 40 mile round trip.
For details: https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com/rides/summer-of-steam/

June 19th, 20th, 21st Staunton VA. Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 #611 heads excursions on the 'Saunton Route'. 611 will heaad the train outbound on the 40 mile round trip.
For details: https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com/rides/summer-of-steam/

June 19th and 20th Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 heads Tri-State Steam Excursion train. These trips depart Edon, Ohio at 9:00 a.m. and returns at 6:00 p.m.
For more details go to https://www.indianarailexperience.org/tri-state-steam-excursion/

June 21st Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 heads Fox Lake Limited Excursion train. These trips depart Pleasant Lake Indiana to Montgomery Michigan.
For more details go to https://www.indianarailexperience.org/fox-lake-limited/

June 22nd Staunton VA. Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 #611 heads excursion from Saunton via Crozet, Ivy and Charlottesville on the way to Gordonsville. 611 will heaad the train outbound trip. The return to Staunton will be diesel hauled.
For details: https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com/rides/summer-of-steam/

June 25th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

June 26th, 27th, 28th Louisa VA. Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 #611 heads excursions on the 'Louisa Route'. 611 will heaad the train outbound on the 40 mile round trip. The return to Louisa will be diesel hauled.
For details: https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com/rides/summer-of-steam/

July 2026

July 2nd Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Thursday, Independence Day Celebration' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-saturdays/

July 3rd, 4th, 5th Louisa VA. Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 #611 heads excursions on the 'Louisa Route'. 611 will heaad the train outbound on the 40 mile round trip. The return to Louisa will be diesel hauled.
For details: https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com/rides/summer-of-steam/

NEW July 4th, 18th Chattanooga TN. Nine hour excursion from Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia and return powered by the former Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501.
For more details go to https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

NEW July 17, 18, 19 Chanhassen and Montevideo MN. Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261 heads "USA 250th Hiawatha" excursions. On Friday 17th from Chanhassen MN to Danube MN. On Saturday two trips from Montevideo MN to Granite Falls and an afternoon trip to Appleton where the train will be wyed. On Sunday the trip will be from Montevideo to Buffalo Lake MN.
For more details go to https://261.com/excursions/usa-250/

August 2026

NEW August 1st and 15th Chattanooga TN. Nine hour excursion from Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia and return powered by the former Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501.
For more details go to https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

August 2nd Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Steam Saturday' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-saturdays/

August 15th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Celebration of Steam Engine 4960's Birthday' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

August 27th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Thursday Labor Day Celebration' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

September 2026

September 5th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Steam Saturday' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

NEW September 5th and 26th Chattanooga TN. Nine hour excursion from Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia and return powered by the former Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501.
For more details go to https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

September 19th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Grand Canyon Railway's 125th Anniversary' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

October 2026

October 3rd Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Steam Saturday' 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

NEW October 3, 10, 11, 17, 18, 31 Chattanooga TN. Nine hour excursion from Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia and return powered by the former Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501.
For more details go to https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

October 14th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 9:30am train scheduled to be steam hauled with either 2-8-0 #29 or 2-8-2 #4960.
For details: https://www.thetrain.com/events/steam-schedule/

November 2026

November 1st Cumberland MD. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad trips due to be headed by 2-6-6-2 #1309 departing Cumberland.
For more details go to https://wmsr.com/western-maryland-train-schedule

NEW November 7th and 8th Chattanooga TN. Nine hour excursion from Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia and return powered by the former Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501.
For more details go to https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

December 2026

Diary for 2027

Earlier 'Steam Train Diaries':

STEAM TRAIN DIARY - svsfilm.com/diary Steam train events in US and Canada

Featured SVS Film YouTube video. Watch at: CN railway 1970

Diary for 2026

Diary for 2027

Earlier 'Steam Train Diaries':

Return to SVS Film Index

STEAM TRAIN DIARY - svsfilm.com/diary
Steam train events in US and Canada

Featured SVS Film YouTube video.
Watch at: CN railway 1970