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

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.

Photo of the week:

'20 Years of American Steam' DVD from SVS Film featuring action footage filmed since 1997. From a narrow gauge Shay to the 'Challenger', many of the finest US steam locomotives are represented. Just 15.00 GBPounds (PAL format) or US$20.00 (US NTSC) POSTFREE it's great value for a 104 minutes film.

Diary for 2025

NEW Updated April 18th. Nickel Plate #765 excursions in 2025, Cass event in June, Southern 4501 May excursion, Arcade and Attica excursions from May, Western Maryland #1309 due to resume operations on weekends from May.

January 2025

January 18, 19, 25, 26 Cass WV. Cass Scenic Railroad operator Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad will run 2025 Winter Greenbrier Express excursions from Cass to Durbin and return beginning January 18. Trains run on Saturdays and Sundays from January 18 to February 23, departing Cass at 10 a.m. Each round trip will last about five hours.
For more details go to http://www.mountainrailwv.com/train-rides/winter-greenbrier-express

Febuary 2025

February 7,8,22,23 Sugar Express locomotive 148 will head Lake Placid Local on 7th, Clewiston Comet from Lake Placid to Clewiston on 8th, (diesel on 9th), Lake Placid Limited from Clewiston to Lake Placid on 22nd and Palmdale Pioneer Ice Cream Train from Clewiston to Palmdale on 23rd.
For more details: https://sugarexpress.com/2024/12/2025-january-may-schedule/

February 8th Reading, PA. 2025 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/news/2025-rambles

February 14th - 16th and 21st - 23rd Ely Nevada, Nevada Northern Winter Spectacular.
Details: https://nnry.com/winter-steam-photo-weekend-spectacular-hands-on-history/

February 15th and 16th Elbe, Washington. Mt Ranier Scenic Railroad season starts February 15th. Trains expected to be hauled by 2-8-2 #70.
For more details go to https://mtrainierrailroad.com/steam-train-excursions/

February 22nd and 23rd Durango CO, Durango and Silverton 'Winter Photo Special'.
For more details: https://www.durangotrain.com/events/winter-photographers-special/

March 2025

March 12th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Arizona Spring Break' 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/

March 15,29,30 Sugar Express locomotive 148 will head Sugarfest Special from Clewiston on 15th, Lake Placid Limited from Clewiston to Lake Placid on 29th and Palmdale Pioneer Ice Cream Train from Clewiston to Palmdale on 30th.
For more details: https://sugarexpress.com/2024/12/2025-january-may-schedule/

March 29 and 30 Holidaysburg PA. The Everett Railroad is running their 2-6-0 No. 11 including on Sunday from Holidaysburg to Martinsburg and return.
For more details: https://www.everettrailroad.com

April 2025

April 11,12,13,26,27 Sugar Express locomotive 148 will head Lake Placid Local on 11th, Clewiston Comet from Lake Placid to Clewiston on 12th, Highland County Crescent from Sebring on 13th, Lake Placid Limited from Clewiston to Lake Placid on 26th and Palmdale Pioneer Ice Cream Train from Clewiston to Palmdale on 27th.
For more details: https://sugarexpress.com/2024/12/2025-january-may-schedule/

April 12, 13, 18, 26, 27 Holidaysburg PA. The Everett Railroad is running their 2-6-0 No. 11 on various excursions.
For more details: https://www.everettrailroad.com

April 22nd Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Earth Day' 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/

April 25th, 26th and 27th 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

May 2025

NEW May 3rd 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

May 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-saturdays/

NEW May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 Cumberland MD. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad says the 'Frostburg Flyer' will be headed by 2-6-6-2 #1309 on Saturdays and Sundays from May to October, departing Cumberland at 11.30am. The Railroad has also announced that the 1309 will head the 'Sunset on the Mountain' Friday evening trips on Friday May 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th.
For more details go to https://wmsr.com/western-maryland-train-schedule

May 10th Portland OR. Oregon Rail Heritage Center hope to commence operating Mount Emily Shay #1 with first public run on 10th May.
For more details go to https://orhf.org/visit-orhc/

May 17th,18th Sugar Express locomotive 148 will head Lake Placid Limited from Clewiston to Lake Placid on 17th and Palmdale Pioneer Ice Cream Train from Clewiston to Palmdale on 18th.
For more details: https://sugarexpress.com/2024/12/2025-january-may-schedule/

NEW May 23rd, 24th and 25th Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 heads Ice Cream and Wine & Whiskey trains.
For more details go to https://www.indianarailexperience.org/tri-state-steam-excursion/

May 24th Reading, PA. 2025 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/news/2025-rambles

May 24th Holidaysburg PA. The Everett Railroad is running their 2-6-0 No. 11.
For more details: https://www.everettrailroad.com

NEW May 24th, 25th and 26th Arcade NY. Season Opener Steam Engine Train Ride, each day departing Arcade at 1:00 p.m. with 2-8-0 #18. Steam trains will run on most weekends until October. Please check with railroad schedule.
For more details go to https://www.aarailroad.com/scenic-train-rides/

June 2025

June 7th 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/

NEW June 14th Cass WV. Parade of Steam event. Following the parade, at 2:00 p.m., a special steam excursion to Whittaker Station will be held, with two steam locomotives.
For more details go to https://mountainrailwv.com/train-rides/parade-of-steam

NEW June 14th and 15th Edon OH. Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 heads Tri State Scenic excursions from Edon to Hillsdale Michigan.
For more details go to https://www.indianarailexperience.org/tri-state-steam-excursion/

June 21st Nesquehoning, PA. 2025 Iron Horse Rambles. Reading and Northern 4-8-4 #2102 excursion from Nesquehoning Regional Railroad Station to Tunkhannock PA and return for the town's 44th Annual Founder's Day Festival.
For more details go to https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/news/2025-rambles

June 28, 29 Holidaysburg PA. The Everett Railroad is running their 2-6-0 No. 11.
For more details: https://www.everettrailroad.com

July 2025

NEW July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 Cumberland MD. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad says the 'Frostburg Flyer' will be headed by 2-6-6-2 #1309 on Saturdays and Sundays from May to October, departing Cumberland at 11.30am. The Railroad has also announced that the 1309 will head the 'Sunset on the Mountain' Friday evening trips on Friday July 18th and 25th.
For more details go to https://wmsr.com/western-maryland-train-schedule

July 26, 27 Holidaysburg PA. The Everett Railroad is running their 2-6-0 No. 11.
For more details: https://www.everettrailroad.com

August 2025

NEW August 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31 Cumberland MD. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad says the 'Frostburg Flyer' will be headed by 2-6-6-2 #1309 on Saturdays and Sundays from May to October, departing Cumberland at 11.30am. The Railroad has also announced that the 1309 will head the 'Sunset on the Mountain' Friday evening trips on Friday August 1st, 15th and 29th.
For more details go to https://wmsr.com/western-maryland-train-schedule

August 16th 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-saturdays/

August 23rd Nesquehoning, PA. 2025 Iron Horse Rambles. Reading and Northern 4-8-4 #2102 excursion from Nesquehoning Regional Railroad Station to Pittston PA and return for the town's annual Tomato Festival.
For more details go to https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/news/2025-rambles

August 30th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway '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-saturdays/

August 30 Holidaysburg PA. The Everett Railroad is running their 2-6-0 No. 11.
For more details: https://www.everettrailroad.com

September 2025

NEW September 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 Cumberland MD. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad says the 'Frostburg Flyer' will be headed by 2-6-6-2 #1309 on Saturdays and Sundays from May to October, departing Cumberland at 11.30am. The Railroad has also announced that the 1309 will head the 'Sunset on the Mountain' Friday evening trips on Friday September 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th.
For more details go to https://wmsr.com/western-maryland-train-schedule

September 14th Holidaysburg PA. The Everett Railroad is running their 2-6-0 No. 11.
For more details: https://www.everettrailroad.com

September 20th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Grand Canyon Railway's 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-saturdays/

October 2025

NEW October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 Cumberland MD. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad says the 'Frostburg Flyer' will be headed by 2-6-6-2 #1309 on Saturdays and Sundays from May to October, departing Cumberland at 11.30am. The Railroad has also announced that the 1309 will head the 'Sunset on the Mountain' Friday evening trips on Friday October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st.
For more details go to https://wmsr.com/western-maryland-train-schedule

NEW October 11th, 17th, 18th, 19th Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 at Hillsdale Railroad Festival (11th) and Fall Colors Steam Special (17th, 18th and 19th).
For more details go to https://www.indianarailexperience.org/tri-state-steam-excursion/

October 26th and 27th Chama NM. The Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad are proprosing a photo charter from Chama to Antonito on 26th returning from Antonito to Chama on 27th.
For more details email: ttennant@cumbrestoltec.org

Earlier 'Steam Train Diaries':