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Join Trains Magazine June 8-20, 2026 for an unforgettable rail tour of the magic and wonder of Switzerland’s mountains and railways. Organized by our tour partner, Special Interest Tours, this 11-night, 12-day adventure includes: Rail excursions include: Bernina Express Gotthard Panorama Express Furka steam train Oberwald-Realp Gornergrat excursion by rail Excursion to Rochers-de-Naye by rail […]
Back after a bit of a hiatus, it’s our latest edition of Recommended Reading: Articles from elsewhere that you might find of interest. First up this time around, former Trains editor Kevin Keefe wrote our obituary of the late, great Don Phillips, but we thought you might also like to see the Washington Post version, […]
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Rail Road’s annual Santa Train will visit 11 communities over three days as part of its annual trip across the railroad, set for Dec. 5-7, 2025. It will be the 35th year for the Santa Train. The train offers community members the chance to climb aboard vintage passenger equipment to visit […]
BROOKFIELD, Wis. — It wasn’t the trip I wanted. Or planned. But you don’t always get to choose your experiences. And while I’m still tremendously disappointed to have missed the Trains/Special Interest Tours UK Celebration of Steam event — with its four steam excursions and visits to three notable rail museums — I’m trying to […]
HOBOKEN, N.J. — NJ Transit is partnering with three other organizations for a “Meet Our Rail Fleet” event — featuring displays of historical equipment and an opportunity to learn about careers with the transit agency — set for Sunday, Oct. 12, at Hoboken Terminal. The event — in conjunction with the United Railroad Historical Society […]
Tis the season for trains Checking the list twice for holiday specials Tis the season for winter holiday trains! My advice for holiday planners hoping to have a wonderful winter train ride is to follow Santa’s example: make your list and check it twice. However, if you get a lump of coal, consider that a […]
SLOUGH, England — A quick update for those who might be interested: I finally tested negative for COVID on Sunday and again today (Monday, Sept. 29), meeting the requirement that would allow me to rejoin the Trains/Special Interest Tours UK Steam tour. The only problem is that it happened so late there’s no point in […]
SLOUGH, England — File this under “knowledge I could have done without:” home COVID-19 tests are far less expensive in the UK than the U.S. I know this because I needed to take one, tested positive, and am now self-quarantining on the outskirts of London while the Trains/Special Interest Tours UK Steam trip moves on […]
STRATFORD, England — Back at my London base for the first part of this tour, a hotel adjacent to the Stratford station. Unlike my first stay a week ago, I this time asked for a room with a railway view. (Clerk: “No one has every asked for that before.” I now understand why; you can […]
GLASGOW, Scotland — Another night, another sleeper train. Tonight, I’ll be concluding my two-night experience with Scotland’s Caledonian Sleeper, taking the 11:40 p.m. train from Glasgow Central Station back to London Euston, where I started this quick excursion into Scotland on Tuesday night. Since my previous post, I have made a 418-mile, 12-hour, 45-minute trip […]
LONDON — Greetings from London, where I am preparing for my third international Trains Magazine/Special Interest Tours, following earlier trips to Germany and Switzerland. This one begins Sept. 23 and was scheduled to mark the bicentennial of modern railroading, which began in September 1825 with the first steam-powered train on the Stockton & Darlington Railway. […]
This summer, my wife Kris and I took a three-day railroad-themed mini-vacation to Scranton, Pa. This fascinating place is a wonderful way to experience history. Scranton is a complex, layered city with many fascinating elements of railroading to explore and enjoy, but you need to take the time to seek it out — both at […]
