Extra Board
Welcome to Railfan & Railroad Extra Board, a monthly exploration of the passion for trains from many perspectives. Extra Board welcomes your submissions. We’re looking for about 1500 words accompanied by two or three photos. Each photo should be no smaller than 14 inches (or 1024 pixels) across at 72 dpi (no verticals, please). Brief caption information must accompany each photo. Please send your inquiries to the Webmaster for consideration.
October 16, 2026
America 250 Locomotive Celebration at Spencer
A once-in-a-lifetime gathering of colorful patriotic locomotives and equipment at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, co-sponsored by Railfan & Railroad.
October 15, 2026
A Hundred Years on the Route 66 Railway
The “Mother Road” celebrates a century, intertwined with the former Santa Fe rails that follow it to the Pacific.
September 20, 2026
Quebec’s MLW Survivors
Regional railroads across Quebec continue to keep vintage Montreal Locomotive Works diesels busy hauling freight.
September 20, 2026
WNYP Alco Farewell
After 25 years of four and six-axle Alco power, Western New York & Pennsylvania’s colorful Century fleet is giving way to secondhand EMDs.
August 15, 2026
The F40 at 50
How a utilitarian EMD design based on the reliable GP40 became the face of modern passenger railroading in North America.
August 15, 2026
MBTA Blue Line: Boston’s Missing Link to Wonderland
Boston’s shortest rapid transit route still lacks the connections needed to reach its full potential serving East Boston.
July 20, 2026
Siskiyou Freight Finale
Troubled times for the former Southern Pacific route connecting Oregon and California as CORP suspends operations over Siskiyou Summit.
July 20, 2026
Southern’s Steam Legacy
Looking back at an ambitious steam excursion program launched by Southern Railway and carried on by Norfolk Southern.
June 15, 2026
Speedway to Sunshine: Florida East Coast
Predictable operations, diverse scenery, and sleek Brightline trains make today’s Florida East Coast a paradise for railfans.
June 15, 2026
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.
