The United States Railroad Administration (USRA) was the government agency that operated U.S. railroads during the First World War. During its tenure, the agency developed a dozen USRA standard steam locomotive designs for service nationwide. This massive 2-8-8-2 Mallet articulated was the largest of these USRA locomotives. It was 105'-2" long, stood 15'-9" tall, and weighed 531,000 pounds. Mallets were compound engines that used their steam twice: first in the rear high-pressure cylinders and then in the front low-pressure cylinders. American Locomotive Co. (Alco) and the Baldwin Locomotive Works built 80 USRA 2-8-8-2s in 1919 that were allocated to Appalachian coal-haulers. The USRA sent 50 to Norfolk & Western, 20 to the Virginian, and 10 to the Clinchfield. All three companies, plus the Denver & Rio Grande Western and the Northern Pacific purchased additional copies of these locomotives after the war. Many of these big 2-8-8-2s were used until the mid-1950s. Another train running through EMRRC trackage was the Empire Builder.  The Great Northern Railway inaugurated the Empire Builder on June 10, 1929. It was named in honor of the company's founder, James J. Hill, who had reorganized several failing railroads into the only successful attempt at a privately-funded transcontinental railroad. It reached the Pacific Northwest in the late 19th century, and for this feat, he was nicknamed "The Empire Builder." Following World War II, Great Northern placed new streamlined and diesel-powered trains in service that cut the scheduled 2,211-mile-trip between Chicago and Seattle from 58.5 hours to 45 hours. The schedule allowed riders views of the Cascade Mountains and Glacier National Park, a park established through the lobbying efforts of the Great Northern. Re-equipped with domes in 1955, the Empire Builder offered passengers sweeping views of the route through three dome coaches and one full-length Great Dome car for first class passengers.  Just Click Here to see all the action for our latest video in 2019.   If you want to see more pictures of trains and members from Friday night   Click Here.  Vendor Tables are going fast for the EMRRC 2019 Train Show, we have over 85 tables spoken for so far.  CLICK HERE for general and vendor information.   For a schedule on train shows and swap meets in the area Click Here (this is the latest list) courtesy of the Grand River Valley Railroad  Club in Wyoming, MI.  For 2018 Past Announcements at EMRRC  Click Here. Have some fun with model railroading.