High Iron Productions

12/11/2023

I've been terrible at posting video links to Facebook, so I might post some previous videos over the coming days. To start, though, here's last week's Youtube release:

The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey has one of the most comprehensive regional locomotive and rolling stock collections in the US. As things...

10/11/2023

Late fall on the West Chester Railroad with a former CP RS18 leading a train of Reading Blueliners.

15/09/2023

A sampling of what railroading around Dallas, TX has to offer…

04/09/2023

There’s a lot to see for railfans along the former Cotton Belt in Grapevine, TX including new Stadler FLIRT DMUs and their less successful northeastern predecessors.

13/08/2023

On June 16th, I visited the amazing Tehachapi Pass. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be in a full-size model railroad layout, this is about as close as you'll get...

On June 16th 2023, we visit the amazing Tehachapi Pass. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be in a full-size model railroad layout, this is abo...

12/08/2023

A little late, but here are some catches from Point of Rocks, Maryland, on July 22nd, including no less than 6 Phase VII ALC-42s, and two sequential CSX Dash 9s.

30/07/2023

For the third and final day of the California expedition, I traded the barren deserts and mountains of the previous two days for the urban landscape of the Los Angeles metro area, exploring the ghosts of the Pacific Electric, the newly opened Metro Regional Connector, and various mainline railroads.

For the third and final day of this California expedition, I traded the barren deserts and lush mountains of the previous two days for the urban landscape of the Los Angeles metro area. Today would be a day of contrasts, exploring the past, present, and future of rail transit around Los Angeles. T

20/07/2023

After spending several seasons operating at Strasburg or on display at the adjacent Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Class J #611 was steamed up for a final weekend of service on Memorial Day Weekend before departing Strasburg for its home-base of Roanoke, and whatever future excursions may be in store for it.

After spending several seasons operating at Strasburg or on display at the adjacent Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Class J #611 was steamed up for a final ...

16/07/2023

On June 16th, I set out to hit two famous hotspots in one day; Tehachapi Pass and Cajon Pass. Situated roughly 100 miles from each other, Tehachapi and Cajon are both contenders for America’s best railfanning spot.

On June 16th, I set out early to head northwest towards Bakersfield for day #2 in California. Today’s goal was to hit two famous hotspots in one day; Tehachapi Pass and Cajon Pass. Situated roughly 100 miles from each other, Tehachapi and Cajon are both contenders for America’s best railfanning ...

03/07/2023

Well known in the railfan community, the GG1s at Cooperstown are a strange sight. Miles from their metropolitan high speed rails, they can be found nestled in the woods on a former Delaware & Hudson branch. While technically preserved, both locomotives have suffered the results of being stored outdoors in a seasonal climate with minimal mediation, and due to complications with removal, combined with the condition of the line leading to the active portion of the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad, it seems very unlikely that they will move for the foreseeable future.

Well known in the railfan community, the GG1s at Cooperstown are a strange sight, miles from their metropolitan high speed rails, nestled in the woods on a f...

01/07/2023

On June 15th I set out on a three day expedition to capture railroading action in Southern California. The first day would take me deep into the Mojave Desert with a very specific goal in mind; catching the elusive and ever-desolate Trona Railway...

On June 15th, following an annual work trip to the region, I set out on a three day expedition to capture railroading action in Southern California. The first day would take me deep into the Mojave Desert with a very specific goal in mind; catching the elusive and ever-desolate Trona Railway with th

29/06/2023

On Saturday, June 17th, the Regional Connector saw its first full day of operation. A new tunnel with three new stations under downtown Los Angeles now allow trains from the west and south sides of the city to continue east or northeast, allowing for a one seat ride across the area.

24/06/2023

The Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley operates tourist trains in the popular Cooperstown area of New York. The railroad operates several Montreal Locomotive Works S4 and S7 locomotives as well as an eclectic fleet of heavyweight and former commuter passenger cars.

The Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley operates tourist trains in the popular Cooperstown area of New York. The railroad operates several Montreal Locomotive Wor...

18/06/2023

Western horses…

16/06/2023

Mmmm…. Crusty EMDs…

04/06/2023

In April, for the first time in many years, SEPTA equipment made a trip over the remaining portion of the Reading Bethlehem Branch, now operated and maintained by shortline Pennsylvania Northeastern, to pick up a former Washington Terminal, nee East Penn Railway RS1, which was being ferried to a new home on the Allentown & Auburn Railroad. SEPTA still owns the line and made the pickup themselves with their two ex-Milwaukee Road SW1200s rather than having Pennsylvania Northeastern handle it. Accompanying the Alco was a former CNW Plug-Door Boxcar, now serving as its tool car.

For the first time in many years, SEPTA equipment made a trip over the remaining portion of the Reading Bethlehem Branch, now operated and maintained by shor...

03/06/2023

Yes, this blog post is a few months late - My story from the inaugural steam runs on the East Broad Top earlier this year.

On February 16th, 2023, my wife, myself, and our 6 month old baby headed into the mountains of central Pennsylvania. Before I continue further, yes, this post is just a few months late - but the story is hopefully no less engaging now than it was then! To anyone with an ear to the ground in the rail

13/05/2023

Found these last weekend... video to come.

11/05/2023

On March 18th 2023, SEPTA dropped several miles of welded rail on the Warminster Line, to be installed at a later date. We follow the train from Warminster through Hatboro, Willow Grove, and Crestmont stations.

On March 18th 2023, SEPTA dropped several miles of welded rail on the Warminster Line, to be installed at a later date. We follow the train from Warminster t...

19/04/2023

This past Sunday, SEPTA lent a helping hand to the Allentown & Auburn Railroad, moving their Alco RS1 from Telford on the former Reading Bethlehem Branch to Norristown. The move originated in Quakertown two days earlier, where the locomotive had spent many years, with East Penn taking the unit and its tool car to Telford, and NS picking up where SEPTA dropped them off to complete the move to the A&A.

While SEPTA still owns the Bethlehem Branch, it had been many years since one of their locomotives traversed the line. Pennsylvania Northeastern currently handles all freight traffic and maintenance; passenger service having ended in the 1980s.

24/03/2023

In late January, we spend an unplanned 30 minutes trackside in Suffern, NY, with a concentrated parade of interesting catches...

An unplanned 30 minutes trackside in Suffern, NY ended up featuring more interesting catches than many planned trips to much more highly regarded lines...

18/03/2023

Something a little different today... chased a welded rail train working on the SEPTA Warminster Line.

08/03/2023

A foggy New Year's Eve finds PRR SW1 9206 leading the final day of excursions for 2022 on the Black River & Western. We follow the train on the southbound trip from Flemington to Ringoes, before watching the consist begin its return trip in the opposite direction.

A foggy New Year's Eve finds PRR SW1 9206 leading the final day of excursions for 2022 on the Black River & Western. We follow the train on the southbound tr...

07/03/2023

It was reported today that 184 became the first Amtrak 40th Anniversary Unit to lose its heritage scheme. Here's a throwback to last spring catching it on the head end of the Southwest Chief as it came into Los Angeles with 130 in Phase II following 2nd. Probably one of the best unplanned catches of last year...

23/02/2023

New Blog Post - Sometimes you wait all day for the perfect shot, but on January 25th, just about everything a railfan could hope to catch in Suffern, NY, occured in a single half-hour!

Railfanning is a waiting game. The heritage unit that reportedly departed the yard 40 miles away? Now stopped due to a dragging equipment warning. The Amtrak service with the private car on the rear? Held up by a coal train struggling to make the grade. Now the crew is out of hours. These are typica

20/02/2023

I don't normally upload videos out of sequence, but this was worth it. The East Broad Top Foundation is doing amazing things in Rockhill Furnace, and it's only going to get better!

The 2023 Winter Spectacular saw the return of steam to the East Broad Top for the first time since 2011. Perhaps even more remarkable; the first steam locomo...

20/02/2023

The Winter Spectacular isn't just about narrow gauge trains... the adjacent Rockhill Trolley Museum participates each year by running almost all operable cars throughout the first day of the event!

18/02/2023

The start of a very special weekend...

12/02/2023

The Woodstown Central, operated by SMS Lines, is the newest tourist railroad to open in the United States. Previously operated as a freight line by the Southern Railroad of New Jersey, the route was mostly mothballed in the mid-2000s. Under state ownership, the line was rehabbed and a request was put out for a new operator. SMS was the successful bidder, seeing a tourism opportunity to connect the attractive victorian towns along the route. The line saw a "soft" opening in late 2022 with a Baldwin S-12 and a single Reading RR Caboose operating the length of the route on select weekends. Eventually, the line will become a regularly operated tourist railroad with an ex-US Army steam locomotive and a fleet of former CNJ commuter cars most recently used by the Green Mountain Railroad.

The Woodstown Central, operated by SMS Lines, is the newest tourist railroad to open in the United States as of late 2022. Previously operated as a freight l...

05/02/2023

A "Super 7" leading a road freight in 2023!

This Providence and Worcester GE B23-S7 "Super 7" is currently working with sister G&W railroad Connecticut Southern. On Monday, January 30th, I was fortunate to catch it leading the daily manifest to CSX's West Springfield Yard along with a former UP "Snoot Nose" SD40-2, and a C40-8. From what I understand, this is one of the units the EPA has directed G&W to destroy for not meeting Tier 3 emissions standards.

19/01/2023

A ton of switchers can be found at the Black River and Western, including this interesting centercab serving as a gate guardian at Ringoes.

16/01/2023

For a short segment between Norristown Transportation Center and Ford Interlocking, SEPTA shares trackage with Norfolk Southern traffic headed for their fairly busy Morrisville Line. At Ford, NS crosses over from the extant Reading RR ROW to former PRR trackage to continue to Morrisville. We catch the morning commuter rush on SEPTA as the sun rises, with two NS Intermodals thrown into the mix.

For a short segment between Norristown Transportation Center and Ford Interlocking, SEPTA shares trackage with Norfolk Southern's fairly busy Morrisville Lin...

25/12/2022

Merry Christmas to you and yours!🎄

In this compilation video, we're focusing on trains in the snow. Some footage is from previous videos on the channel, and some are never-before-seen. Enjoy, ...

29/11/2022

America's newest tourist railroad ran its second day of "soft opening" excursions this last Saturday with a Baldwin diesel switcher and a Reading Caboose. The Woodstown Central Railroad in South Jersey will eventually be home to a former US Army steam locomotive and ex-Green Mountain passenger cars.

23/11/2022

Each year the New York Transit Museum brings out a selection of its operating fleet for one weekend to run on the express tracks of the Q Train (only used on weekdays) between Brighton Beach and Kings Highway in Brooklyn. 2022 saw the return of the event after two years of being canceled due to COVID. Trains operating at this year's event included the museum's flagship "Arenine" set, a set of early Jewett Gate Cars, an abbreviated "Train of Many Metals" and the massively popular R32, the newest addition to the fleet.

Each year the New York Transit Museum brings out a selection of its operating fleet for one weekend to run on the express tracks of the Q Train (only used on...

11/11/2022

Stone train on the New Hope Branch...

08/11/2022

Sunrise over SEPTA at Ford Street in Norristown...

01/11/2022

The former Erie mainline between Hoboken and Port Jervis hosts one of the busiest stretches of commuter railroading in NJ Transit territory, particularly north of Ho Ho Kus, where the Bergen County Line joins the Main Line. Adding to the action, Metro North also operates over the line, taking passengers to Port Jervis, NY. At Waldwick, it's possible to see up to 10 trains per hour, with all three lines operating through the station.

The former Erie mainline between Hoboken and Port Jervis today hosts one of the busiest stretches of commuter railroading in NJ Transit territory, particular...

25/10/2022

An NS intermodal with a ghost from the past, and my railfanning buddy for the day...

17/10/2022

Probably one of the quietest stations on the Metro North network, Manitou only sees limited weekend service, with trains passing through at all other times. On this summer afternoon, we catch a selection of Amtrak and Metro North trains at this scenic spot.

Probably one of the quietest stations on the Metro North network, Manitou only sees limited weekend service, with trains passing through at all other times. ...