This page provides a calendar of upcoming railfan events and excursions throughout North America.

For a calendar of steam train charters and special steam operating events, see the Steam Specials 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 railfan events may be found on the Railfan Events Archive Page.

Last updated October 23, 2009

RECENT ADDITION

December 4: Cumbres & Toltec "Winter Photographers Plow Extra"
K-36, plow, and flanger clear the line to Cumbres Pass from Chama, New Mexico
For more information: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
For photos: Cumbres & Toltec Passenger Train Photos & Cumbres & Toltec Freight Train Photos

OCTOBER 2009

October 23-24: Railroad & Heritage Museum Railfan Weekend
Tour of the Ft. Hood Army Base railhead, plus model railroad operating sessions; Temple, Texas
For more information: Railroad & Heritage Museum

October 24: Cumbres & Toltec "Chama Steam Fall Classic"
Tripleheader steam to Cumbres Pass, single-head to Osier and return - Chama, New Mexico
For more information: Chama Steam
For photos: Cumbres & Toltec Passenger Train Photos & Cumbres & Toltec Freight Train Photos

October 24: Metro-North 6th Annual Fall Foliage Rail Excursion
Private Metro-North train from Grand Central Terminal to Cold Spring, New York
For more information: Metro-North Railroad

October 24-25: "New River Train" Excursions
Diesel-powered excursions from Huntington to Hinton, West Virginia, through the New River Gorge
For more information: Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society

October 26: Western Maryland Photo Freight (John Helmstetter Farm Fund Benefit)
LS&I 2-8-0 #734 powers a photo freight with guest of honor John Helmstetter - Cumberland, Maryland
(note: additional photo freights will operate October 19 & November 9)
For more information: John Helmstetter Farm Fund
For photos: Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

October 31 - November 1: New Hope Valley Railway "Double-headed Thunder"
Doubleheaded trips with Vulcan 0-4-0T #17 and Flagg Coal 0-4-0ST #75 - Bonsal, North Carolina
For more information: New Hope Valley Railway

October 31 - November 1: North Carolina Transportation Museum Autumn Train Excursions
Round-trip excursions from the museum to Charlottesville, Virginia (Saturday) and Ashville, North Carolina (Sunday) using Amtrak and vintage equipment - Spencer, North Carolina
For more information: N.C. Transportation Museum

NOVEMBER 2009

November 5-8: TRAIN Grand Rails ’09
Annual Tourist Railway Association Convention includes a steam excursion with 2-8-2 #4960 on the Grand Canyon Railway - Williams, Arizona
For more information: TRAIN Grand Rails '09

November 7: Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad "Entire Railroad Special"
Diesel-powered excursion on the entire railroad from Petersburg, West Virginia to Green Spring
For more information: Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

November 7: Michigan Railroad History Conference (10th Annual)
Historical presentations plus tour of the former Michigan Central Jackson shop buildings - Jackson, Michigan
For more information: MRHC

November 7-8: Strasburg Rail Road "Trains & Troops"
Two steam locomotives operate, including a mixed freight train carrying re-enactors from all eras of the military - Strasburg, Pennsylvania
For more information: Strasburg Rail Road
For photos: Strasburg Rail Road Photo Gallery

November 8: Texas State Railroad "Fall Photo Excursion"
2-8-0 #300 excursion from Rusk to Palestine, Texas with runbys, turntable photo ops, and T&P 2-10-4 #610
For more information: Texas State Railroad

November 9: Western Maryland Photo Freight (John Helmstetter Farm Fund Benefit)
LS&I 2-8-0 #734 powers a photo freight with guest of honor John Helmstetter - Cumberland, Maryland
(note: additional photo freights will operate October 19 & October 26)
For more information: John Helmstetter Farm Fund
For photos: Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

November 13-14: Roanoke Night Photo Session at the Virginia Museum of Transportation
Photograph N&W 611 and N&W 1218 with fog/smoke devices, props, and actors - Roanoke, Virginia
For more information: Lerro Productions

November 26 - December 18: Canadian Pacific 2009 Holiday Train
CPR's annual Holiday Train travels throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and Canada
For more information: Canadian Pacific Railway

November 27-29: Steam Railroading Institute "North Pole Express"
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 powers 10am & 4pm excursions from Owosso to Chesaning, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery & 1225/765 Doubleheader Photo Gallery

DECEMBER 2009

December 4: Cumbres & Toltec "Winter Photographers Plow Extra"
K-36, plow, and flanger clear the line to Cumbres Pass from Chama, New Mexico
For more information: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
For photos: Cumbres & Toltec Passenger Train Photos & Cumbres & Toltec Freight Train Photos

December 4-6: Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation "Holiday Express"
Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 powers 40-minute trips from Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon
For more information: Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation
For photos: SP Daylight 4449 Photo Gallery

December 5-6: Steam Railroading Institute "North Pole Express"
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 powers 10am & 4pm excursions from Owosso to Chesaning, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery & 1225/765 Doubleheader Photo Gallery

December 11-13: Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation "Holiday Express"
Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 powers 40-minute trips from Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon
For more information: Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation
For photos: SP Daylight 4449 Photo Gallery

December 12: Wilmington Chapter NRHS "Christmas Lights Special"
Night photo session with a PCC trolley decorated for the holidays - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
For more information: Wilmington Chapter, National Railroad Historical Society

December 12-13: Steam Railroading Institute "North Pole Express"
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 powers 10am & 4pm excursions from Owosso to Chesaning, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery & 1225/765 Doubleheader Photo Gallery

December 19-20: Steam Railroading Institute "North Pole Express"
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225 powers 10am & 4pm excursions from Owosso to Chesaning, Michigan
For more information: Steam Railroad Institute
For photos: Pere Marquette 1225 Photo Gallery & 1225/765 Doubleheader Photo Gallery

JANUARY 2010

January 2: Conway Scenic Railroad "Steam in the Snow" Photographer's Special
Grand Trunk 0-6-0 #7470 pulls an excursion to Notchland from North Conway, New Hampshire
Details forthcoming: Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts
For photos: Conway Scenic Railroad Photo Gallery

FEBRUARY 2010

February 5-7: 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 6: Wilmington Chapter NRHS "Super Saturday Streetcar Special XVII"
PCC trolley excursion on routes typically served by modern light rail vehicles - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
For more information: Wilmington Chapter, National Railroad Historical Society

February 12-14: 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 15-16: Heber Valley Winter Photo Freight
UP 2-8-0 #618 (in "Overland" paint) leads a two-day photo charter with chase train - Heber City, Utah
For more information: Trains & Travel International
For photos: Heber Valley Railroad Photo Gallery

MARCH 2010

March Weekends: Florida Railroad Museum "Steam Month"
Flagg Coal Co 0-4-0 saddle tank steam locomotive #75 pulls weekend excursions from Parrish, Florida
Details forthcoming: Florida Railroad Museum

March 15: Virginia & Truckee Railfan Day
Photo charter with a mixed train, plus night photo session - Virginia City, Nevada
For more information: Trains & Travel International

JUNE 2010

June 22-26: NRHS 2010 Convention "Endless Mountain Rails"
Annual National Railway Historical Society convention in Scranton, Pennsylvania
For more information: Endless Mountain Rails

June 26: Steamtown Founders Day Excursion to Delaware Water Gap
CN 2-8-2 #3254 powers a 104-mile round-trip to Delaware Water Gap - Scranton, Pennsylvania
For more information: Steamtown National Historic Site
For photos: Steamtown Photo Gallery

AUGUST 2010

August 19-23: White Pass & Yukon Railfan Weekend
Steam and diesel excursions over the White Pass & Yukon, details TBD - Skagway, Alaska

August 28-30: Cumbres & Toltec "40th Anniversary Celebration"
Special excursions and events planned to celebrate the railroad's anniversary - Chama, New Mexico
Details forthcoming: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
For photos: Cumbres & Toltec Passenger Train Photos & Cumbres & Toltec Freight Train Photos

OCTOBER 2010

October 25-26: Rio Grande Silverton Photo Adventure
Two-day photo charter on the D&SNG with overnight in Silverton, Colorado
For more information: Trains & Travel International
For photos: Durango & Silverton Fall Photo Specials 2006-2007

October 27-30: Cumbres Railfan Spectacular
Three-day photo charter on the Cumbres & Toltec, including two nights in Antonito, Colorado
For more information: Trains & Travel International
For photos: Cumbres & Toltec Passenger Train Photos & Cumbres & Toltec Freight Train Photos

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