Arcade & Attica 18: Fall Foliage Steam Train 2025 (4K)

On October 12th, I finally made it back to the Arcade & Attica Railroad to film No. 18 during this year’s Fall Foliage Excursions. This date was also the 19th anniversary of the infamous October Surprise Storm of 2006. I had been meaning to return for a while, but I waited for the fall season when they run two trains a day—making for a more action-packed chase. Originally, I planned to visit on the 11th, but poor weather led me to push the trip to Sunday. That decision paid off—Sunday brought warm temperatures, vibrant foliage, and perfect lighting for photography and video. With no real chase plan in mind, I decided to wing it—revisiting some familiar spots and exploring a few new ones. As always, No. 18 put on a fantastic show, powering up the grades out of Arcade and through the scenic farms, hills, and forests of Western New York.

Join me trackside on Columbus Day Weekend for what may be my final trip to the A&A this year.

About Locomotive No. 18:

Arcade & Attica No. 18 is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive, built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) at the Cooke Works in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1920. It was originally intended for export to Cuba, but the order fell through. Instead, the locomotive served various railroads in Michigan before being acquired by the Arcade & Attica in 1962, where it has remained ever since.

I first saw No. 18 back in 1997, riding behind it with my family. I wouldn’t see it again until 2017. Before the 2018 season, a mechanical issue was discovered, and the railroad decided to perform No. 18’s mandated 1,472-day inspection ahead of schedule. After an extensive, multi-year rebuild, the locomotive triumphantly returned to excursion service in 2024 with the "Welcome Back 18" weekend.

As of right now we are currently in full swing with out Fall Foliage Season. If all goes well this upcoming weekend, I have a convention I am attending, and after that I will be chasing NYSW #142 this engine has been on my list for a long time. After that, if all goes well I look forward to seeing #1702 #611 #4501 and #630 for the final Summerville Doubleheader. After that, if #1225 is ready this year, my plan is to chase it during it's North Pole Express. If you liked this video, please give it a like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more Steam Train Content.
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