This page provides a calendar of upcoming steam train charters, photo specials, mainline steam, and other unique steam operating events. For a calendar including other railfan events, please see the Railfan Events & Excursions Calendar. For tourist railroads offering regularly scheduled steam excursions, please see the Tourist Railroads & Museums Pages.

Please notify us of additions using the Event Additions Form. Past 2007/2008 steam specials may be found on the Steam Specials Archive Page.

Last updated November 6, 2008

NOVEMBER 2008

November 8: Tennessee Valley Railroad "Autumn Leaf Special"
100-mile round-trip from Chattanooga, Tennessee  to Summerville, Georgia, behind 2-8-0 #610
For more information: Tennessee Valley Railroad

November 8-9: Strasburg Rail Road "Trains & Troops"
Two steam locomotives operate, including mixed freight consist - Strasburg, Pennsylvania
For more information: Strasburg Rail Road
For photos: Strasburg Rail Road Photo Gallery

November 9: Little River Railroad "Photo Freight Special"
Little River 4-6-2 #110 and/or 0-4-0T #1 pull a freight with multiple photo run-bys - Coldwater, Michigan
Details forthcoming: Little River Railroad

November 28-29: Steamtown "Holiday Express Train Ride"
26-mile round-trip to Moscow behind Canadian National 2-8-2 #3254 - Scranton, Pennsylvania
For more information: Steamtown National Historic Site
For photos: Steamtown Photo Gallery

November 28-30: Steam Railroading Institute "North Pole Express"
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 powers daily excursions from Owosso to Chesaning, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery

DECEMBER 2008

December 5-7: Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation "Holiday Express"
Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 powers 40-minute trips from Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon
Details forthcoming: Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation

December 6: Steamtown "Holiday Express Train Ride"
26-mile round-trip to Moscow behind Canadian National 2-8-2 #3254 - Scranton, Pennsylvania
For more information: Steamtown National Historic Site
For photos: Steamtown Photo Gallery

December 6-7: Steam Railroading Institute "North Pole Express"
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 powers daily excursions from Owosso to Chesaning, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery

December 12-14: Soo Line 1003 "Santa Steam Train Special"
Soo Line 2-8-2 #1003 one-way positioning move from Hartford (Friday), display in Plymouth (Saturday), and one-way trip from Elkhart Lake (7mi north of Plymouth) to Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Sunday)
For more information: Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
For photos: Soo Line 1003 Photo Gallery

December 12-14: Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation "Holiday Express"
Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 powers 40-minute trips from Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon
Details forthcoming: Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation

December 13-14: Steam Railroading Institute "North Pole Express"
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 powers daily excursions from Owosso to Chesaning, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery

December 20-21: Steam Railroading Institute "North Pole Express"
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 powers daily excursions from Owosso to Chesaning, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery

JANUARY 2009

January 3: Conway Scenic Railroad "Steam in the Snow" Photographer's Special
Grand Trunk 0-6-0 #7470 pulls an excursion to Sawyer River from North Conway, New Hampshire
For more information: Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts
For photos: Conway Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

January 3-4: Conway Scenic Railroad Night Photo Session & Photo Freight
Photo session in North Conway (Saturday night) and period freight train charter with #7470 (Sunday)
For more information: Lerro Productions
For photos: Conway Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

January 17: Steamtown "Ice Harvest Train" to Tobyhanna
52-mile round-trip to Tobyhanna behind Canadian National 2-8-2 #3254 - Scranton, Pennsylvania
For more information: Steamtown National Historic Site
For photos: Steamtown Photo Gallery

FEBRUARY 2009

February 6-8: Nevada Northern Railway "Winter Steam Spectacular"
Three days of freight and passenger trains with Alco 2-8-0 #93 - Ely, Nevada
For more information: Nevada Northern Railway
For photos: Nevada Northern Railway Winter Steam Spectacular

February 13-15: Nevada Northern Railway "Winter Steam Spectacular"
Three days of freight and passenger trains with Alco 2-8-0 #93 - Ely, Nevada
For more information: Nevada Northern Railway
For photos: Nevada Northern Railway Winter Steam Spectacular

February 14-15: Trains Unlimited Tours "Western Maryland Winter Photo Freight"
Two-day photo freight on the WMSR with ex-LS&I 2-8-0 #34 - Cumberland, Maryland
For more information: Trains Unlimited Tours
For photos: Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

February 21: Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Photo Freight
Climax #10 will pull a mixed freight from Mineral to Morton and return - Mineral, Washington
For more information: Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad

MAY 2009

May 2-3: Trains Unlimited "La Veta Pass Express Photo Freight"
2-6-0 #1744 or 2-8-0 #18 pull a photo freight from Alamosa, with overnight in La Veta, Colorado
For more information: Trains Unlimited Tours
For photos: Rio Grande Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

May 15-17: Cass Scenic Railroad Railfan Weekend
Photo specials and railfan events at the Cass Scenic Railroad - Cass, West Virginia
For more information: Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association (MSR&LHA)
For photos: Cass Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

May 22: Trains Unlimited "West Virginia & Durbin Express"
Climax locomotive #3 pulls a photo freight on the Durbin & Greenbrier Railroad - Durbin, West Virginia
For more information: Trains Unlimited Tours
For photos: Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad Photo Gallery

JULY 2009

July 24-26: Steam Railroading Institute "Train Festival 2009"
Events include an Amtrak special from Chicago to Owosso (via Durand) on Friday with return on Sunday, hourly train rides with Flagg Coal Co 0-4-0 Saddle Tank #75 on Friday-Sunday, all-day excursions to Alma with Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 on Saturday, all-day excursions to Alma with Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 on Sunday, night photo sessions (Friday-Saturday), and possible other visiting steam/diesel equipment TBD - Owosso, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery

AUGUST 2009

August 11-16: NRHS 2009 Convention "Steam on the Range"
Variety of excursions planned in the Duluth, Minnesota area
Details forthcoming: Chattanooga Rails 2007

OCTOBER 2009

October 15-16: Trains Unlimited Tours "Nevada Northern Railfan Spectacular"
Two days of passenger and mixed trains using 4-6-0 #40 and 2-8-0 #93 - Ely, Nevada
For more information: Trains Unlimited Tours
For photos: Nevada Northern Railway Photo Gallery

October 19-20: Trains Unlimited Tours "Rio Grande Silverton Mixed Express"
Mixed photo freight on the Durango & Silverton with overnight in Silverton - Durango, Colorado
For more information: Trains Unlimited Tours
For photos: Durango & Silverton Photo Gallery

October 22-24: Trains Unlimited Tours "Rio Grande Cumbres Mixed Express"
3-day charter includes a round-trip to Antonito, plus doubleheader to Cumbres Pass - Chama, New Mexico
For more information: Trains Unlimited Tours
For photos: Cumbres & Toltec Photo Gallery

October 26: Trains Unlimited Tours "La Veta Passenger Express"
SP 2-6-0 #1744 pulls a passenger train over La Veta Pass - Alamosa, Colorado
For more information: Trains Unlimited Tours
For photos: Rio Grande Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

October 27-28: Trains Unlimited Tours "Fall Colors La Veta Photo Freight"
SP 2-6-0 #1744 pulls a classic freight over La Veta Pass, with overnight in La Veta - Alamosa, Colorado
For more information: Trains Unlimited Tours
For photos: Rio Grande Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

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