Departures
Just what does it mean to be a railfan? In Departures, we attempt to answer this question. Geeky but cool, obsessive yet interesting, artistic yet accessible, it’s a broad hobby with something for everyone. But what does it mean to you? We’ll discuss the leading trends in photography and how they shape our approach to the craft. For the historian and the collector, we’ll explore our rich past and look ahead to the future. Join us as we embark upon exciting railway journeys and discover what draws us trackside. Learn about the fascinating people who have enlivened our hobby and make us eager to join them. There’s never been a more exciting time to be a railfan, and we’ll show you why each month!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexander B. Craghead, is the author of Departures. He is a writer, photographer, illustrator, and self-described “transportation geek” from Portland, Oregon. His interest in trains was partially inspired by childhood stories about his great-great uncle, who worked for the Portland Traction Company, and his great-great grandfather, who worked for the Southern Pacific.
His writing and photography have appeared in Railfan & Railroad Magazine, Trains Magazine, and the National Railroad Historical Society Bulletin, and in Railroad Heritage published by the Center for Railroad Photography & Art.
February 8, 2022
The Inland Empire
Washington’s Inland Empire was the prime battleground of major transcontinental railroads seeking to link the Northwest to the rest of the nation.
January 15, 2022
Mixed Signals
From their advent as a mixture of movable wooden signs and flags until the latest high-tech computer-controlled installations, signal designs often varied from company to company.
December 8, 2021
Against All Odds
The Coos Bay branch, like Stampede Pass, reminds us that sometimes against all odds, hopes become reality, and the future may still surprise us.
November 8, 2021
What is Historical, Anyway?
What does historical actually mean? Sure, it seems safe to say that the last three decades of the 19th century may be historic… but what about the last three decades of the 20th?
October 8, 2021
The Annual Alco Issue
We hope you enjoy this issue, and let us know if you’d like us to continue this annual tribute to Alco diesels.
September 22, 2021
Back to the Future on a PCC
Introduced in 1936, the PCC trolley brought modern steamlined comfort to aging trolley lines seeking relief from Depression-era economics.
August 17, 2021
Rails to the River
The relationship between railways and rivers is a long one. While rail is, relatively speaking, young and mechanical, and rivers are ancient and natural, it is not an exaggeration to say that without rivers the railways would not exist.
July 22, 2021
Will Another Merger Fix the Map?
For more than 20 years, no U.S. Class I has dared propose a merger with another, paralyzed out of fear of making the wrong choice, of picking the wrong dance partner, then being stuck with the results.
July 17, 2021
Merger Mania: Predicting the Future
Railroad mergers are always a source of railfan speculation. What might we see in the next 50 or so years? I talked with the greatest minds in railroading, and then came up with some predictions of my own.
May 14, 2021
Amtrak at Milepost 50
Amtrak is far from perfect. Many grumble, rightly, about its food, its timeliness, and uneven service levels across the board. Yet, as we look back on its 50 years, all of us are beginning to understand that it isn’t 1971 anymore, and Amtrak, along with all of us, has a future as well as a past.
