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!
Promontory NRHS Chapter Saves Rare MK50-3

Promontory NRHS Chapter Saves Rare MK50-3

A rare MK50-3 locomotive that spent more than a decade moving freight over Utah’s famed Soldier Summit has been saved by the Promontory Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.


IRM Saves 50-Foot Railbox Boxcar

IRM Saves 50-Foot Railbox Boxcar

The Illinois Railway Museum has added a 50-foot Railbox boxcar to its collection.


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: What’s The Deal With Mirrorless Cameras?

Camera Bag: What’s The Deal With Mirrorless Cameras?

So then just what the heck do you get if you go with one of these newfangled cameras? At the outset, you will be getting the latest in sensor technology and image quality with features such as a tilting screen that makes very low or very high angle shots possible.


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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