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 2024

July 2024

July 1st to 6th CPKC 'Final Spike 2816 Steam Train' headed by Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 #2816. July 1st Davenport Iowa to St Paul MN. July 3rd St Paul to Thief River Falls MN. July 4th Thief River Falls to Winnepeg Manitoba. July 6th event at Winnepeg, Manitoba.
For details: https://www.cpkcr.com/en/community/final-spike-steam-train

July 7th to 10th CPKC 'Final Spike 2816 Steam Train' headed by Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 #2816. July 7th Winnepeg to Brandon Manitoba. July 8th Brandon Manitoba to Moose Jaw Sask. July 9th Moose Jaw to Medicine Hat Alberta. July 10th Medicine Hat to Calgary Alberta.
For details: https://www.cpkcr.com/en/community/final-spike-steam-train

July 4th Chama NM. Cumbres & Toltec '4th July Fireworks Celebration Train' departs Chama 3pm to Cumbres Pass and return.
For details: https://cumbrestoltec.com/events/2024-4th-of-july-dinner-train/

July 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-saturdays/

July 6th, 8th, 9th and 11th UP 4014 'Big Boy'. On July 6th Salt Lake City to Elko NV calling at Wells NV. July 8th Elko to Winnemucca NV calling at Carlin and Battle Mountain. July 9th Winnemucca NV to Portola CA calling at Gerlach NV. July 11th Portola to Roseville calling at Oroville CA.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

July 12th, 13th and 14th Roseville CA. UP 4014 'Big Boy' on display at Roseville on July 12th and 13th. July 14th special excursion from Roseville to Sparks NV (details and tickets see https://www.uptraintix.org/). Calls at Colfax and Truckee CA.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

July 16th, 17th and 19th UP 4014 'Big Boy'. On July 16th Sparks to Winnemucca NV calling at Lovelock. July 17th Winnemucca to Elko NV calling at Carlin NV. July 19th Elko to Ogden UT calling at Montello NV.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

July 20th and 21st Ogden UT. UP 4014 'Big Boy' on display at Ogden.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

July 22nd, 23rd, 25th and 26th UP 4014 'Big Boy'. On July 22nd Ogden UT to Montpelier Idaho calling at Brigham City and Soda Springs. July 23rd Montpelier Idaho to Rock Springs WY calling at Kremerer WY. July 25th Rock Springs to Rawlins calling at Point of Rocks WY. On July 26th Rawlins to Cheyenne WY calling at Medicine Bow.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

July 26th - 28th Clewiston Florida. On July 26 & 27, hourly train rides behind no. 148 will be offered during the Caladium Festival. The Caladium Festival Flyer will depart each day from Lake Placid at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m.
On July 28, the Farm to Table train will depart Lake Placid at 9:00 a.m. This trip includes a four-hour round trip passenger excursion, a photo runby at Liberty Point, and lunch upon arrival at Clewiston. Locomotive no. 148 will operate the south-bound portion of the trip and South Central Florida Express diesel locomotives will return the passengers to Lake Placid.
For schedule and order tickets, go to https://sugarexpress.com/trips-and-events/

August 2024

August 3rd Antonito CO. Cumbres & Toltec Mixed Train Photo Charter with #463 from Antonito to Osier and return. All day with photo runbys and night photo event.
For details: https://friendsofcumbrestoltec.org/product/mixed-train-photo-charter/

August 12th Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway '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 17th Nesquehoning, PA. 2024 Iron Horse Rambles. Reading and Northern 4-8-4 #2102 excursion from Nesquehoning to Pittston and return.
For schedule and order tickets, go to https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/rambles/

August 22nd onwards Arcade and Attica Railroad say that their #18 locomotive will not be available for service until further notice.
For updates go to: https://www.aarailroad.com/

August 28th - 29th 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour.Leaves Cheyenne August 28th to Sidney NE.Sidney to North Platte on August 29th.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

August 30th Pleasant Lake Indiana. Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 heads 'The Limited' evening excursion to Reading Michigan and return. Part of 'Rolling Victory Weekend' event.
For details: https://www.indianarailexperience.org/rolling-victory/

August 31st Pleasant Lake Indiana. Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 heads 'Victory Flyer' trips between Angola and Pleasant Lake Indiana. Part of 'Rolling Victory Weekend' event.
For details: https://www.indianarailexperience.org/rolling-victory/

September 2024

September Arcade and Attica Railroad say that their #18 locomotive will not be available for service until further notice.
For updates go to: https://www.aarailroad.com/

September 1st Pleasant Lake Indiana. Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 heads 'Victory Flyer' trips between Angola and Pleasant Lake Indiana. Part of 'Rolling Victory Weekend' event.
For details: https://www.indianarailexperience.org/rolling-victory/

September 1st - 2nd 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour. North Platte to Grand Island on September 1st. Grand Island to Council Bluffs on September 2nd.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

September 4th - 6th 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour. Council Bluffs to Boone Iowa on September 4th. Boone to Cedar Rapids Iowa on September 5th. Cedar Rapids to Rochelle Illinois on September 6th.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

September 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/

September 8th Antonito CO. Cumbres & Toltec 'Geology Train #2' departs Antonito 8:30am to Chama. Buses to/from Chama.
For details: https://cumbrestoltec.com/events/september-08-2024-geology-train-2/

September 9th - 14th 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour. Rochelle Illinois to Villa Grove on September 9th. Villa Grove to St Louis Mo on September 10th. St Louis to Poplar Bluff on September 12th. Poplar Bluff to Jonesboro Ark on September 13th. Jonesboro to North Little Rock on September 14th.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

September 14th Chattanooga TN. Tennessee Valley Railroad round trip excursion to Summerville Georgia with steam.
For details: https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

WILL NOT RUN - #332 BEING REPAIRED September 14th and 15th Duluth MN. #332 DM&IR 2-8-0 heads excursion from Duluth to Two Harbors and return on North Shore Scenic Railroad.
For details: https://duluthtrains.com/steam/

September 16th - 19th 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour. North Little Rock to Texarkana on September 16th. Texarkana to Dallas Tx on September 17th. Dallas to Hearne Tx on September 19th.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

September 21st Williams AZ. Grand Canyon Railway 'Grand Canyon Railway'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/

September 19th - 23rd Skagway Alaska. 5 day tour on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad with steam and diesel powered trains.
For details go to https://www.traintrips.biz/

September 21st - 22nd Santa Fe 4-8-4 #3751 will be on display at Los Angeles Union Station for Rail Safety-Los Angeles event.
For details: https://www.sbrhs.org/news/rail-safety-los-angeles-2024.html

September 28th Chattanooga TN. Tennessee Valley Railroad round trip excursion to Summerville Georgia with steam.
For details: https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

October 2024

October 4th 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour. Hearne Tx to Houston on October 4th.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

October 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-saturdays/

October 5th Chattanooga TN. Tennessee Valley Railroad round trip excursion to Summerville Georgia with steam.
For details: https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

October 5th Reading, PA. Reading and Northern 4-8-4 #2102 'Fall Foliage' excursion from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe and return.
For schedule and order tickets, go to https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/fall-foliage-reading

October 7th - 9th 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour. Houston to Bryan Tx on October 7th. Bryan to Ft Worth on October 9th.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

October 8th and 9th Essex CT. Two days of photo opportunities in beautiful fall colors including a passenger and freight consist, pulled by Valley Railroad 40 and Valley Railroad 3025.
For details go to https://steamcharters.com/

CANCELLED October 9th Virginia City/Carson City NV. Photo event on Virginia and Truckee Railroad.

October 10th and 11th Orbisonia PA. Photo event on East Broad Top Railroad
For details go to https://www.traintrips.biz/

October 12th and 13th Chattanooga TN. Tennessee Valley Railroad round trip excursion to Summerville Georgia with steam.
For details: https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

October 13th - 17th 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour. Ft Worth to McAlester Okla on October 13th. McAlester to Coffeyville Kansas on October 14th. Coffeyville to Kansas City Mo on October 15th. Kansas City to Salina on October 17th.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

October 18th and 19th Durango CO. Two day photo charter with Trains Magazine. Durango to Silverton on Friday. Return from Silverton to Durango on Saturday.
For details: organised by Trains Magazine - https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/durango-silverton-two-day-steam-photo-charter-with-trains-magazine-set-for-october/

October 18th - 19th Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) are holding a two day event at Silvis Illinois facility. 'Tractors and Trains' will include rides behind Flagg Coal #75 0-4-0.
For details: https://rrhma.com/tractors-trains-2024/

October 19th and 20th Chattanooga TN. Tennessee Valley Railroad round trip excursion to Summerville Georgia with steam.
For details: https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/summerville-steam-special/

October 19th and 20th Pleasant Lake Indiana. Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 heads 'Indiana Fall Color Train' all day excursion to Hillsdale Michigan and return.
For details: https://www.indianarailexperience.org/in-fall-color-train/

October 19th - 23rd 'Big Boy' 4014 'Heartland of America' tour. Salina Kansas to Hays on October 19th. Hays to Sharon Springs on October 20th. Sharon Springs to Denver Co on October 21st. Denver to Cheyenne on October 23rd.
For details: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

October 19th and 26th Reading, PA. Reading and Northern 4-8-4 #2102 'Fall Foliage' excursion from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe and return.
For schedule and order tickets, go to https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/fall-foliage-reading

October 26th and 27th Duluth MN. #332 DM&IR 2-8-0 heads excursion from Duluth to Palmers and return on North Shore Scenic Railroad.
For details: https://duluthtrains.com/steam/

October 26th and 27th Mt Pleasant Michigan. PM 2-8-4 #1225 heads 'Cadillac Limited Fall Color Tour' to Cadillac and return.
For details: https://michigansteamtrain.com/events-excursions/

November 2024

CANCELLED - Low ticket sales November 2nd and 3rd Hartford Wisconsin. Soo Line 2-8-2 #1003 one or two day photo charter.

PM 1225 not available Saturdays and Sundays November 23rd to December 22nd Owosso Michigan. 'North Pole Express' dates announced.
For details: https://michigansteamtrain.com/events-excursions/

December 2024

NEW December 1,7,8,14,15,21 and 22 Knoxville TN. Steam trains with 2-8-0 #154 are scheduled to depart from downtown Knoxville departing at 9:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:45 p.m.
For details: http://www.threeriversrambler.com/train-excursions

PM 1225 not available Saturdays and Sundays December 1st to 22nd Owosso Michigan. 'North Pole Express' dates announced - PM 1225 being repaired - diesel hauled.
For details: https://michigansteamtrain.com/events-excursions/

NEW December 1,7,8,14,15,21,22,and 23 Woodstown NJ. Woodstown Central Railroad Santa Claus Specials are scheduled to run headed by 0-6-0 #9.
For more details: http://woodstowncentral.com

NEW November 29,30, December 1, 1,7,8, 13,14,15, 20,21,22, 27,28,29 January 3,4 Portland OR. Polson #2 2-8-2 will head Santa trains along the Willamette.
For more details: http://www.orhf.org/train-rides/holiday-express/

NEW December 6-8 St Paul, MN. Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261 will be the short run to the North Pole at the east end of the St. Paul Union Depot property. At the North Pole, Santa will board the train for a ride back to the St. Paul Depot. For details: http://www.261.com/npe

NEW December 14th - 15th CNJ 0-6-0 No. 113 will be running out of Minersville, PA on the Santa trips. Three trips per day at 1030am, 1pm and 3pm.
For details: http://www.rrproject113.org

Diary for 2024

January 2025

Earlier 'Steam Train Diaries':