JULY 2026: Metra Electric — part of the former Illinois Central main line — marks 100 years of operation, and Douglas W. Davidson looks back at the history and development of this vital Chicagoland commuter route. Steve Patterson recalls when the 1947 American Freedom Train visited Kingsport, Tenn., while Kevin Meisenhelter takes us on a tour of today’s Florida East Coast Railway. All this and more in the July issue of Railfan & Railroad!
Semiquincentennial Rolling Stock Keeps Rolling In

Semiquincentennial Rolling Stock Keeps Rolling In

Even as the Independence Day holiday wound down, several railroads were still showcasing Semiquincentennial rolling stock.


NRHS Awards $187,000 in Preservation Grants

NRHS Awards $187,000 in Preservation Grants

The NRHS recently awarded $187,000 in grants to 34 railroad preservation organizations across the United States.


Speedway to Sunshine: Florida East Coast

Speedway to Sunshine: Florida East Coast

Predictable operations, diverse scenery, and sleek Brightline trains make today’s Florida East Coast a paradise for railfans.


Celebrating a Century of Metra Electric

Celebrating a Century of Metra Electric

Metra Electric, the former Illinois Central six-track main line serving Chicago’s South Side, marks a century under wire.


Railfan & Railroad Announces 2026 Center Spread Contest

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Railfan & Railroad Announces 2026 Center Spread Contest

The Railfan & Railroad Center Spread Contest will provide a skilled and/or lucky photographer the opportunity to see his or her photo grace the center spread of the September 2026 issue.


Camera Bag: When the World was Black & White

Camera Bag: When the World was Black & White

There are few practitioners of black & white photography anymore, and most of them do it for nostalgic sport while shooting color in their real cameras.


Does the Past Matter?

Does the Past Matter?

In the railroad world, the past is never far from reach, and its messages are there if we have the eyes to see them.


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