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.
September 15, 2022
BART: 50 Years of Big Plans
Fifty years ago, Bay Area Rapid Transit had the audacity to transform the San Francisco Bay Area with a modern rail transit system.
August 15, 2022
The New Age of Steam?
Steam locotmotive operation ended for most at mid-century… So when, really, did the “age of steam” end? Or are we in a new one?
July 15, 2022
Time Marches on for Towers
The systematic elimination of railroad signal towers was so gradual, we almost didn’t notice until it was too late.
June 9, 2022
The Once and Future Pacific Electric
While the last passenger trains ran in 1961, California’s colorful Pacific Electric Railway remains a fan favorite to this day.
May 15, 2022
Twilight of the Urban Switching Districts
The last vestiges of urban railroading are disappearing across the country as industrial districts are gentrified and transformed, and images of freight trains running down the middle of busy streets becomes a distant memory.
April 9, 2022
Hyperloop Fantasy vs. Rail Reality
Long after the hyperloop has faded into the graveyard of yesterday’s fantasies, the efficiency of steel wheels on a steel rail means railways will still be around, doing their jobs day in and day out.
March 15, 2022
Cog Railways
A curious construction of the 19th century, cog railways in North America were built strictly to carry tourists for profit, unlike their European cousins.
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.
