Silence on railfan photo lines

Silence on railfan photo lines: A high-angle image of a steam and diesel locomotive in a tree covered mountain landscape.

Silence on railfan photo lines is growing in importance as technology evolves and we find new, exciting ways to capture the essence of railroading when participating in rail photography charters. Those of us more enamored with still photography than videography may need to dial in on our photo line etiquette in consideration of how these […]

Read More…

Fort Wayne organization acquires two PRR passenger cars

Two stainless steel passenger cars

NEW HAVEN, Ind. — The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has acquired two Pennsylvania Railroad passenger cars from the Washington, D.C., chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The cars will be used to support the Indiana Rail Experience, a series of excursions with the society’s steam locomotive, Nickel Plate Road No. 765 [see “Indiana […]

Read More…

Bicentennial Santa Fe locomotive to be displayed in Kansas City

Red, white, and blue diesel

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Santa Fe No. 5704, the SD45-2 locomotive cosmetically restored to its bicentennial paint scheme, will be displayed at Union Station Kansas City June 14-19 to coincide with the convention of the Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society on those dates in Overland Park, Kan. The locomotive, which has been donated […]

Read More…

Railfan and train-watching safety

A green locomotive leads a freight train in a rail yard.

Railfan and train-watching safety is key to any successful train-watching trip, whether it be a block away from home or a continent away. One must have situational awareness. Taking the time to know your surroundings, what looks right, what doesn’t look right is essential to ensure you have a great trackside experience. Historically speaking, rail […]

Read More…

NYC subway ‘nostalgia rides’ return

Green vintage subway cars in operation

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s New York Transit Museum is offering true trips into the past, bringing back vintage subway car rides after a two-year, pandemic-related absence. Three “Nostalgia Ride” trips are scheduled, featuring rides on routes of the MTA’s three predecessor lines, some of the on the exact lines those subway systems […]

Read More…

Railfan first aid kits

Man with hand raised to first aid kit.

Railfan first aid kits might be the furthest thing from your mind when planning a train-themed outing. One, however, might be among the most important — if you have a minor injury or a mild medical reaction to something you come across in the field. Trains.com exchanged questions via email with Robert W. Scott, Operations […]

Read More…

East Broad Top team brings history to life: Analysis

When East Broad Top General Manager Brad Esposito was cleaning up rock salt in a shed at the railroad’s shop complex last year, he didn’t bat an eye when he realized he was standing on wooden crates marked “dynamite.” After all, the EBT stored just about anything in dynamite crates that had been emptied at […]

Read More…

Second RS1325 may be preserved

Orange locomotive passes brick building

SANFORD, N.C. — One of just two RS1325 locomotives built by EMD, which had been in danger of being scrapped, may be saved following a Facebook post from a local railfan sounding an alert about the diesel’s status. Former Chicago & Illinois Midland No. 30 has been at North Carolina’s Atlantic & Western Railway since […]

Read More…

Fall for 1309 event sold out, more photo events available

Predawn light illuminates the large plume as steam engine pulls train

Trains Magazine and Western Maryland Scenic will be hosting 60 guests at its sold-out event Nov. 4-6, 2022, to welcome back the last Baldwin-built steam locomotive made for the USA. The world’s largest operating Mallet will perform for guests for three days in its first fall photographers’ event. The event will include a program on […]

Read More…