Railfan & Railroad Magazine
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Railfan & Railroad Magazine is your one-stop-shop for news and information about the hobby and industry. Taking you trackside since 1974!
The Great Plains Transportation Museum has launched an effort to raise $50,000 to cover previously hidden damage to Santa Fe FP45 93, currently being restored at Mid-America Car. railfan.com/more-needed-...
More Needed to Restore Santa Fe F45
The Great Plains Transportation Museum has launched an effort to raise $50,000 to cover previously hidden damage to Santa Fe FP45 93.
railfan.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
The Great Plains Transportation Museum has launched an effort to raise $50,000 to cover previously hidden damage to Santa Fe FP45 93, currently being restored at Mid-America Car. railfan.com/more-needed-...
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, the non-profit restoring two Union Pacific steam locomotives at the former Rock Island shop in Silvis, Ill., has broken ground on a new roundhouse and turntable. railfan.com/rrhma-breaks...
RRHMA Breaks Ground on New Roundhouse
The six-stall roundhouse is on the footprint of the Rock Island’s original facility
railfan.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, the non-profit restoring two Union Pacific steam locomotives at the former Rock Island shop in Silvis, Ill., has broken ground on a new roundhouse and turntable. railfan.com/rrhma-breaks...
A Cook County, Ill., jury has ordered Union Pacific to pay Metra $19.3 million after the freight railroad, which has previously operated commuter trains under contract, refused to have conductors walk trains and collect fares during the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic railfan.com/metra-wins-1...
Metra Wins $19.3 Million From UP Over Covid Restrictions
A jury has ordered Union Pacific to pay Metra $19.3 million after the freight railroad refused to have conductors collect fares.
railfan.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A Cook County, Ill., jury has ordered Union Pacific to pay Metra $19.3 million after the freight railroad, which has previously operated commuter trains under contract, refused to have conductors walk trains and collect fares during the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic railfan.com/metra-wins-1...
The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association needs to raise $15,000 to replace the rod brasses on Reading Company 4-8-4 2100, a vital part of the locomotive’s ongoing restoration railfan.com/american-ste...
American Steam Raising Money For 2100 Running Gear
The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association needs to raise $15,000 to replace the rod brasses on Reading Company 4-8-4 2100, a vital part of the locomotive’s ongoing restoration.
railfan.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association needs to raise $15,000 to replace the rod brasses on Reading Company 4-8-4 2100, a vital part of the locomotive’s ongoing restoration railfan.com/american-ste...
CSX and the CREATE program reached a major milestone on October 15, 2025, when the first train crossed the new Forest Hill Flyover railfan.com/chicago-flyo...
Chicago Flyover Bridge Opens
CSX and the CREATE program reached a major milestone on October 15, 2025, when the first train crossed the new Forest Hill Flyover.
railfan.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
CSX and the CREATE program reached a major milestone on October 15, 2025, when the first train crossed the new Forest Hill Flyover railfan.com/chicago-flyo...
The Heber Valley Railroad in Utah has added two stainless steel domes to its growing fleet of passenger cars railfan.com/heber-valley...
Heber Valley Adds Domes to Growing Passenger Car Fleet
The Heber Valley Railroad in Utah has added two stainless steel dome cars to its growing fleet of passenger cars.
railfan.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The Heber Valley Railroad in Utah has added two stainless steel domes to its growing fleet of passenger cars railfan.com/heber-valley...
More than 34 million passengers climbed aboard Amtrak trains during Fiscal Year 2025, the railroad announced on November 18, a new record for “America’s Railroad” and a 5.1 percent increase over the previous year railfan.com/amtrak-break...
Amtrak Breaks Ridership, Revenue Records
More than 34 million passengers climbed aboard Amtrak trains during Fiscal Year 2025, the railroad announced on November 18.
railfan.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
More than 34 million passengers climbed aboard Amtrak trains during Fiscal Year 2025, the railroad announced on November 18, a new record for “America’s Railroad” and a 5.1 percent increase over the previous year railfan.com/amtrak-break...
Shareholders of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern overwhelmingly approved a plan to merge the two Class I railroads during a special meeting held on November 14. railfan.com/shareholders...
Shareholders Approve UP-NS Merger Deal
Shareholders of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern overwhelmingly approved a plan to merge the two Class I railroads during a special meeting held on November 14.
railfan.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Shareholders of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern overwhelmingly approved a plan to merge the two Class I railroads during a special meeting held on November 14. railfan.com/shareholders...
After a successful service expansion last year, Amtrak’s Winter Park Express is back for another big season, beginning December 19 railfan.com/winter-park-...
‘Winter Park Express’ Returns for 2025-2026 Season
After a successful service expansion last year, Amtrak’s Winter Park Express is back for another big season, beginning on December 19.
railfan.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
After a successful service expansion last year, Amtrak’s Winter Park Express is back for another big season, beginning December 19 railfan.com/winter-park-...
Alaska Railroad 2-8-0 557 was fired up for the first time on November 8, following a decade-long restoration railfan.com/alaska-railr...
Alaska Railroad 2-8-0 Steams Again
Alaska Railroad 2-8-0 557 was fired up for the first time on November 8, following a decade-long restoration.
railfan.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Alaska Railroad 2-8-0 557 was fired up for the first time on November 8, following a decade-long restoration railfan.com/alaska-railr...
BNSF Railway has installed Positive Train Control on the Canadian section of its New Westminster Subdivision between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., making it the first route in Canada to permanently implement the crash prevention technology railfan.com/bnsf-extends...
BNSF Extends PTC to Canada
BNSF Railway has installed Positive Train Control on the Canadian section of its New Westminster Subdivision.
railfan.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
BNSF Railway has installed Positive Train Control on the Canadian section of its New Westminster Subdivision between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., making it the first route in Canada to permanently implement the crash prevention technology railfan.com/bnsf-extends...
A short line in British Columbia that depends on wood products is suffering due to the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada. Now, it’s leading to the cancellation of popular holiday excursions railfan.com/tariffs-hit-...
Tariffs Hit B.C. Short Line
The Nelson & Fort Sheppard Railway runs on former Great Northern trackage between Frutvale and Columbia Gardens, B.C.
railfan.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A short line in British Columbia that depends on wood products is suffering due to the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada. Now, it’s leading to the cancellation of popular holiday excursions railfan.com/tariffs-hit-...
San Francisco is saying goodbye to a fleet of light rail vehicles that expanded transit service in the city during the 1990s dot-com boom. However, at least one of the retired cars is heading to a new home at the Western Railway Museum. railfan.com/bye-bye-bred...
Bye Bye, Breda: San Francisco Bids Farewell to LRVs
The LRV2 and LRV3s are being retired and the last one is expected to run on November 12.
railfan.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM
San Francisco is saying goodbye to a fleet of light rail vehicles that expanded transit service in the city during the 1990s dot-com boom. However, at least one of the retired cars is heading to a new home at the Western Railway Museum. railfan.com/bye-bye-bred...
The Railway Museum of British Columbia has completed a long-awaited cosmetic restoration of British Columbia Electric Railway motor 960 railfan.com/bc-museum-re...
BC Museum Restores Electric
The Railway Museum of British Columbia has completed a long-awaited cosmetic restoration of British Columbia Electric Railway motor 960.
railfan.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The Railway Museum of British Columbia has completed a long-awaited cosmetic restoration of British Columbia Electric Railway motor 960 railfan.com/bc-museum-re...
Chicagoland transit authorities, including Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority, will avoid falling off the fiscal cliff in 2026 after the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to provide $1.5 billion in funding without creating new taxes railfan.com/illinois-pas...
Illinois Passes Transit Funding
Chicagoland transit authorities, including Metra commuter rail and the Chicago Transit Authority, will avoid falling off the fiscal cliff in 2026.
railfan.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Chicagoland transit authorities, including Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority, will avoid falling off the fiscal cliff in 2026 after the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to provide $1.5 billion in funding without creating new taxes railfan.com/illinois-pas...
Reading & Northern Railroad made a $10 million offer in early October to purchase the railroad assets of the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, which R.J. Corman currently operates railfan.com/reading-nort...
Reading & Northern Looks to Expand
R&N made a $10 million offer in early October to purchase the railroad assets of the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority.
railfan.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reading & Northern Railroad made a $10 million offer in early October to purchase the railroad assets of the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, which R.J. Corman currently operates railfan.com/reading-nort...
The city of Ottawa, Ont., is studying the potential to transfer the responsibility of the O-Train light rail system to the province railfan.com/ottawa-consi...
Ottawa Considers Transferring Light Rail
The city of Ottawa, Ont., is studying the potential to transfer the responsibility of the O-Train light rail system to the province.
railfan.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The city of Ottawa, Ont., is studying the potential to transfer the responsibility of the O-Train light rail system to the province railfan.com/ottawa-consi...
One of only three surviving Denver & Rio Grande Western C-16 class 2-8-0 locomotives will be restored to operation railfan.com/rio-grande-c...
Rio Grande C-16 2-8-0 to be Restored to Operation
One of only three surviving Denver & Rio Grande Western C-16 class 2-8-0 locomotives will be restored to operation.
railfan.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM
One of only three surviving Denver & Rio Grande Western C-16 class 2-8-0 locomotives will be restored to operation railfan.com/rio-grande-c...
BNSF Railway announced this week that the years-long effort to install Positive Train Control along the former Montana Rail Link is nearly complete. Activation of PTC is expected to bring about several significant changes along the route railfan.com/ptc-almost-d...
PTC Almost Done on MRL
Activation of PTC, which could happen as soon as this week, is expected to bring about several significant changes along the route.
railfan.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
BNSF Railway announced this week that the years-long effort to install Positive Train Control along the former Montana Rail Link is nearly complete. Activation of PTC is expected to bring about several significant changes along the route railfan.com/ptc-almost-d...
In an era of fast digital cameras, photographer Dennis Livesey decided to slow things down. Read all about it in this month's Camera Bag railfan.com/using-a-spee...
Using a Speed Graphic: Come With Me to the Dark Slide - Railfan & Railroad Magazine
Learning to use a vintage Speed Graphic large-format view camera to take railroad photos that have a classic feel.
railfan.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
In an era of fast digital cameras, photographer Dennis Livesey decided to slow things down. Read all about it in this month's Camera Bag railfan.com/using-a-spee...
Amtrak service could return to Detroit’s famed Michigan Central Station — or at least a new one built nearby railfan.com/amtrak-could...
Amtrak Could Return to Michigan Central
Amtrak service could return to Detroit’s famed Michigan Central Station — or at least a new one built nearby.
railfan.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Amtrak service could return to Detroit’s famed Michigan Central Station — or at least a new one built nearby railfan.com/amtrak-could...
The Willamette Shore Trolley became Oregon’s first solar-powered railroad this fall and only the second in the world railfan.com/willamette-s...
Willamette Shore Trolley Goes Solar-Powered
The Willamette Shore Trolley became Oregon’s first solar-powered railroad this fall and only the second in the world.
railfan.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The Willamette Shore Trolley became Oregon’s first solar-powered railroad this fall and only the second in the world railfan.com/willamette-s...
For the first time in the agency’s history, Metro-North trains will serve New York’s Capital Region railfan.com/metro-north-...
Metro-North to Expand to Albany
For the first time in the agency’s history, Metro-North trains will serve New York’s Capital Region.
railfan.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:27 PM
For the first time in the agency’s history, Metro-North trains will serve New York’s Capital Region railfan.com/metro-north-...
Cando entered the lithium-ion era with the launch of a new battery-powered locomotive this fall railfan.com/cando-goes-b...
Cando Goes Battery Powered
Cando entered the lithium-ion era with the launch of a new battery-powered locomotive this fall.
railfan.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Cando entered the lithium-ion era with the launch of a new battery-powered locomotive this fall railfan.com/cando-goes-b...
One of the nation’s largest railroad unions is calling for a drone ban at rail yards and along main lines, a move that could significantly impact railroad photographers who have recently taken to the sky to capture photos railfan.com/rail-union-c...
Rail Union Calls For Drones to be Grounded
One of the nation’s largest railroad unions is calling for drones to be grounded at rail yards and along main lines
railfan.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
One of the nation’s largest railroad unions is calling for a drone ban at rail yards and along main lines, a move that could significantly impact railroad photographers who have recently taken to the sky to capture photos railfan.com/rail-union-c...