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!
B&O Museum Rebrands as National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation

B&O Museum Rebrands as National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation

Museum officials said while the name is changing, it remains dedicated to the history of America’s first common carrier. 


NC&StL 576 Fired Up For First Time in 74 Years

NC&StL 576 Fired Up For First Time in 74 Years

The Nashville Steam Preservation Society, the non-profit restoring Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway 4-8-4 576, has fired up the locomotive for the first time since 1952.


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: How to Railfan With a Drone (Legally)

Camera Bag: How to Railfan With a Drone (Legally)

For years, if you were flying a drone for recreational purposes (aka: Railfanning) you did not need to take a test, but that’s changed.


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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