Locomotive Types
Railroad History
Special Interest Engines
Rail Operations
Trains In Pop Culture
100
These 4-axle road switchers are most often used today in yard or local freight service.
What is an EMD General Purpose engine/"Geep"?
100
This railway in England was the first intercity rail link in the world.
What is the Liverpool and Manchester Railway?
100
This CSX Heritage Unit honors the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
What is CSXT #1827?
100
These are locomotives whose job is to temporarily assist trains on steep grades.
What is a helper/banking/pusher engine?
100
This blue steam engine was the first character created for the Rev. W. Awdry's Railway Series.
Who is Edward the Blue Engine?
200
This type of steam locomotive was common on early American railroads.
What is the 4-4-0 "American" Type?
200
This railroad, which called itself "The Standard Railroad of the World," was, in 1882, the largest railroad, transportation enterprise, and corporation in the world.
What is the Pennsylvania Railroad?
200
This is BNSF’s sorry excuse for a Heritage Unit.
What is BNSF #6022?
200
This is how locomotives provide electricity to coaches on passenger trains.
What is Head End Power?
200
This ten-wheeler is well known for playing "Hogwarts Castle", the engine that pulls the "Hogwarts Express" in the Harry Potter movies.
What is GWR #5972 "Olton Hall"?
300
This type of steam locomotive lacks leading or trailing wheels. They were most commonly used in switch yards.
What is a switcher?
300
This was the year China stopped using steam locomotives in regular mainline service.
When was 2005?
300
These are locomotives owned by Rolling Stock Companies that lease them to train operators.
What are leased units?
300
A British term for a locomotive that moves carriages around a passenger terminal.
What is a Station Pilot?
300
This famed O. Winston Photograph of a Norfolk and Western Mallet was parodied in an episode of The Simpsons.
What is Hot Shot Eastbound?
400
These early Amtrak engines were known for rough riding, so much so that they were called "rail-breakers" and were banned by several railroads.
What is an EMD SDP40F?
400
This locomotive was commandeered by Northerners led by James J. Andrews during the American Civil War.
What is W&ARR #3, the "General"?
400
These ex-Clinchfield and L&N streamliners were once used by CSX for Office Car Specials and RoadRailer service.
What are CSXT #116–119?
400
This is a kind of rail classification yard in which railcars are pushed over an artificial hill and roll by gravity into classification tracks.
What is a Hump Yard?
400
This 19th-century Ten Wheeler has had several starring roles in TV shows and movies, including Back to the Future III.
What is Sierra Railway #3?
500
These are rebuilt CSX SD40-2s that use Tier 4-compliant, 6-cylinder Wabtec prime movers.
What is an EMD SD23T4/ET23DCM?
500
This Class III Shortline in Southern Illinois was the last in the U.S. to operate steam locomotives in common carrier service.
What is the Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railway?
500
This is one of a few that holds the disputed claim of being the first steam locomotive to go 100 MPH.
What is the LNER #4472 "Flying Scotsman"/GWR #3440 "City of Truro"/NYC&HR #999?
500
In the days before CTC, these towers housed a man who would control the interlockings and signals in his vicinity
What is an Interlocking Tower/Signal Box?
500
This character is the twist villain of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, uniquely performed entirely on roller skates.
Who is C.B. the Red Caboose from Starlight Express?