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.
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.
May 16, 2026
RENO: Railfanning from the Sierra to the Great Basin
The scenic area surrounding Reno, Nev., features heavy
main line action from Union Pacific and BNSF Railway.
May 15, 2026
Trona in Transition
California’s Trona Railway faces the challenges of a shifting chemical industry coupled with new environmental concerns.
April 16, 2026
Wisconsin & Southern in the Watco Era
More than a decade has passed since Midwestern regional Wisconsin & Southern Railroad came under the ownership of Watco.
April 16, 2026
Riding Chessie’s Jets
Ride along on two of Chessie System’s hot piggyback intermodal trains between New Castle, Pa., and Chicago in 1982.
March 14, 2026
Conrail’s Boston Line
Conrail transformed the historic Boston & Albany route over the Berkshires into a vital link for New England traffic.
March 14, 2026
Countdown to ConRail: Part 3
The conclusion of the United States Railroad Association story, leading up to conveyance to Conrail on April 1, 1976.
February 15, 2026
Yakima Valley Trolley Finale?
Washington state’s iconic preserved interurban line faces an uncertain future in the wake of Yakima’s city budget crisis.
February 15, 2026
BNSF Along the Clark Fork River
It may no longer be Montana Rail Link, but BNSF’s former Northern Pacific line in western Montana is still a magical railroad.
