The Portland-Seattle Vans has crested the grade near Encina, OR, but there are more ahead in the Blue Mountains for this quartet of SD40, 40-2s. CNW 6922, third out, was one of only two SD40-2s to... (more)

Crossing the Old Santiam Highway grade crossing, Santa Maria Valley Railroad 205 leads an appropriately named Santiam Excursion Train south toward Sweet Home where it will run around its tr... (more)

Thundering upgrade along the South Santiam River, Santa Maria Valley 205 begins the climb into Sweet Home. Having enjoyed a mild "up and down" run since departing Lebanon earlier in the ... (more)

Santa Maria Valley Railroad 205, a 1924-built product of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, gleams in the rare, winter sunlight near Liberty, Oregon as it hustles a four-car train south. Enjoying a new... (more)

Having arrived at the southern end of the Sweet Home Branch in the branch's namesake town, Santa Maria Valley Railroad 205 pauses during the run-around of its train for some photos with this vinta... (more)

Santa Maria Valley Railroad 205 gets some smoke on the stack as it departs Lebanon, Oregon, in a dramatic scene with a four-car, holiday-themed train. Built in 1908, the depot seen to the right of... (more)

Star of the Old SP. Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 shows off the stars on her drivers while sitting on display in the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.

Pritchard Creek Horseshoe A new "Heavy" GE leads westbound grain load around the Pritchard Creek Horseshoe. The train has a total 8 big motors for the pill up the 2.2% grade. The second... (more)

Welcome Back, SMV 205. With storm clouds looming in the distance, Santa Maria Valley Railroad No. 205 makes as run for it as it breaks into the sunlight on its southbound journey out of Leb... (more)

Jointed, wet rails lay ahead for the 778,730 pound SP 4449 as the cylinder cocks close and the iconic, 80-year-old engine gets another edition of the Holiday Express underway on the 1.5% grade out... (more)

SP 4449 has another run of the Holiday Express well in hand as engineer Pat Tracy slowly brings the six-car train to a stop before changing directions. In the foreground, a pile of leafs has begun... (more)

With the temperature hovering just above 40 degrees this morning, a dramatic display of steam power unfolds as SP 4449 departs the Oregon Rail Heritage Center for a run south down the Oregon Pacif... (more)

As SP 4449 simmers in the cold, December air, a light rail vehicle passes by overhead. I wonder if anyone aboard noticed the 80-year-old steam locomotive below them.

It's still dark this morning in Portland as crew members from the Friends of the 4449 work to complete the final preparations before taking the 80-year-old product of Lima south to Oaks Park to op... (more)

The most beautiful train in the world... the Daylight.