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!
N&W Business Train Cars Reunited

N&W Business Train Cars Reunited

The Norfolk & Western Business Car 300 Preservation Society has reunited its two passenger cars on the Hoosier Valley Railroad in Indiana.


Mt. Rainier Puts Polson 2-8-2 Back in Service

Mt. Rainier Puts Polson 2-8-2 Back in Service

Washington’s Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has completed a Federal Railroad Administration-mandated overhaul on Polson Lumber Co. 2-8-2 70.


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: Project Photography and Layering

Camera Bag: Project Photography and Layering

Many railroad photographers over the years have practiced the idea of project-based photography, that is going back to the same subject time and time again.


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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