Classic Trains

As we mourn the loss of our colleague and mentor Jim Wrinn (see page 6), it’s hard to ignore some of the last — and best — advice he ever shared: Get busy livin’. In my 10 years at Trains and Classic Trains, I have been blessed with a number of fantastic experiences, from trips to Winterail to climbing over Metra’s new Englewood Flyover in Chicago and through CSX Transportation’s rebuilt Virginia Avenue Tunnel in Washington, D.C. One of the experiences I’m most grateful for is chasing Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 through the California and Nevada desert in April 2014 as it began its journey to Cheyenne for eventual restoration. Jim recognized this opportunity for a young assistant editor, too, and abdicated the first two days of the chase to…

Bicentennial rebirth Former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Bicentennial SD45-2 5704 poses with a fresh coat of paint outside Mid-America Car at Kansas City, Mo., in March 2022. The locomotive was donated by BNSF Railway to the Southern California Railroad Museum at Perris. It was one of five units to wear the paint scheme in the mid-1970s to celebrate the American Bicentennial. Mid-America Car Say “cheese!” Executives of General Motors and Southern Pacific look over the new Chevy Vega and its equally new dedicated Vert-a-pak auto rack. At left, however, GM Vice President for the Chevrolet Division John DeLorean (yes, that John DeLorean) appears more interested in getting some publicity than the auto-mobiles themselves. A sign of things to come? Southern Pacific Moo-ve over, Amfleet The late 1970s were an exciting time in railroading as…

Jim Wrinn, who aspired since his youth to be the editor of Trains magazine and served in the role for more than 17 years, died at home on March 30, 2022, after a valiant 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 61. Wrinn’s longevity in the editor’s role was second only to that of the legendary David P. Morgan, who led the magazine for more than 33 years and died in 1990 at age 62. Morgan’s editorship and writings deeply influenced Wrinn, who began reading Trains in 1967 at age 6. Wrinn oversaw numerous initiatives that took Trains in new directions, including expanded online news coverage; a series of podcasts; a large catalog of digital video programing; a robust schedule of TRAINS-branded railroad tours, excursions, and events; and numerous projects to support…

The General Electric passenger U-boats filled a niche in the 1960’s locomotive market. Santa Fe, like many Class I railroads at the time, was still proud of its passenger service. But its roster of suitable diesel locomotives was getting old and any thought of Amtrak was still years away. Keeping its aging fleet of silver and red passenger diesels in good operating order was becoming more difficult by the trip. The Alco PAs and EMD Es and F3s were on their last legs, putting the burden on its fleet of F7 A and B units. The roster was becoming too small to adequately service the fleet and if several of them fell down at one time the railroad would be in a severe locomotive crunch. Competitor railroads were in the same…

Coast Lines and Valley Freights: Santa Fe In Color Series – Vol. 6 California By Joe McMillan. McMillan Publications, Arvada, Colo. 348 pages, $89.95. This weighty hardbound volume will quicken the pulse of any diehard Santa Fe fan. Covering the last three decades of the road, this superb book is an excellent and magical tribute to the Santa Fe in California. Routes covered extend from Oakland south to National City and east to Mojave, Calif., encompassing the Los Angeles and Valley divisions. Several points stand out with this book. First is the photographers’ ability to capture different locomotive and train types on the Santa Fe through the years and also identify the location, locomotive, and train symbols. Second, the reader is treated to a lot of eye candy, but it’s followed up…

Having lived in Groton for more than 40 years, I particularly enjoyed “Train Time at Townsend.” In fact, on May 2, 1971, I was aboard the last passenger train down the Greenville Branch. It was a Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts-operated fan trip. In 2021, most of the branch from near the town line in West Groton northwest to Townsend Center opened as a bike path. One note for future consideration is in order: The B&M had neither wayfreights nor cabooses. Instead, it had locals and buggies! — Carl R. Byron, Groton, Mass. Coincidentally, while looking for photos for your story in this issue (on p. 88), I stumbled across this photo of the Townsend branch that I previously overlooked. — B.M.S. Welcome aboard, kid. Don’t mess with our magazine Welcome to the family,…