Charlie’s Trackside Postcards: A Day at the Office

View of a derailment from an office building.

Just another day at his downtown Seattle office for Charlie Conway – until he discovered that a cut of empty hoppers had derailed on the busy BNSF main line routing in front of the building! Chas grabbed his camera and captured the Hulcher Services crew working to get trains rolling again. […]

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Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 40 Union Pacific Sunset Route

Drew Halverson and his crew continue making the most of their trek into the Arizona desert. This time the guys scope out sites along Union Pacific’s transcontinental main line until the sweltering heat becomes unbearable. But even then, the intense action continues at the border town of Nogales, Arizona, in downtown Tucson, Ariz., and along […]

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Taking Care of Business: Caledonian Sleeper, Part 1

A UK locomotive with a wide windshield and yellow paint face the camera head on at a station platform.

Charlie “Chas” Conway finds his way back to the UK. This time The Caledonian Sleeper granted unprecedented access to this legendary overnight rail service connecting London with cities in the Scottish Highlands. Follow Chas as he goes behind the scenes to see what transpires to keep passengers safe and comfortable throughout the journey. […]

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Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 39 – Arizona Spring Training

Man stand in front of a diesel locomotive in a rail yard.

Host Drew Halverson, Charlie Conway, and a motley crew meet in the Arizona desert for a VIP visit to the Copper Basin Railway. In this episode, CBR president L.S. “Jake” Jacobson brings the guys to an active bridge replacement site, hosts a hi-rail tour of the line, and even gets Drew set for a cab […]

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Taking Care of Business: Copper Basin Railway, Part 2

View from inside a locomotive cab at gray with red-stripe diesel locomotives in a yard.

Our insider look at Arizona’s Copper Basin Railway continues, with Charlie Conway focusing his cameras on the real pride of the CBR — its employees! In part 2 of 2, you’ll follow inspectors, mechanics, dispatchers, conductors, engineers, and others who are busy Taking Care of Business. Enjoy this video, and then learn more about the […]

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Taking Care of Business: Copper Basin Railway, Part 1

Two diesel locomotives appear backlit in a rail yard with sunlight glinting off from a low angle.

With Charlie Conway behind the cameras, discover what makes the Copper Basin Railway shine brightly in the Arizona desert. In part 1 of 2, you’ll make a mine run with the crew in the cab of a Geep, take a hammer to hard iron rails, and then get to know president “Jake” Jacobson, right along […]

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Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 38 – Race along the Rails

For their final two days in Alberta, Canada, Drew and The Crew find new places and perspectives for railfanning over Yellowhead Pass. Take a ride with Mike and KJ aboard a VIA Rail Canada regional run, before rejoining Drew (and some of his grizzly friends) for one last dash along CN’s Edson and Albreda Subdivisions. Don’t […]

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Charlie’s Trackside Postcards: Along the Old Milwaukee Road

A gray-colored cement-lined railroad tunnel as seen from the mouth.

Charlie Conway recently joined the Cascade Rail Foundation, which prompted him to take a road trip to learn about their Milwaukee Road Pacific Extension preservation efforts in Eastern Washington State. Follow Chas and his pals Karl and Nicholas on this trek to see and explore lineside structures and more! […]

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Charlie’s Trackside Postcards: Milwaukee Road 5057

An orange-painted BNSF Railway locomotive leads a freight train with a signal bridge in the background.

Charlie’s road trip with Karl and Nicholas along the old Milwaukee Road in Washington State continues with a visit to the locomotive shops of the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad. Chief Mechanical Officer Brad Byrd explains what remains to be done to bring the Cascade Rail Foundation’s GE U25B back to life. […]

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Charlie’s Trackside Postcards: Rail Service at Hull-Oakes Mill

An bird's eye-view of a rail yard and logging facility.

It looks like Charlie has been combing through viewer comments and inquires! I think one viewer will be especially pleased to see that Chas was more than happy to address his question about the Taking Care of Business episode featuring Hull-Oakes Lumber Co. — all in the form of this Trackside Postcard! […]

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