JANUARY 2026: As Watco acquires Great Lakes Central and reunites it with the former Ann Arbor Railroad, Jim Rowland examines a pivotal moment of change for this Michigan regional. Garry and Roz Miller revisit a rare plow extra on Canadian Pacific in Alberta, while Rick Malo presents a striking black-and-white essay along BNSF’s Transcon in Texas. David Rohdenburg looks back at the final days of B&O-era position light signals on CSX’s Indiana Subdivision, and Marcus Stevens traces the storied six-decade career of EMD’s GP38. All this and more in the January issue of Railfan & Railroad!

RailNews

Nevada State Railroad Museum Restores V&T Transfer Car

The Nevada State Railroad Museum recently completed the restoration of Virginia & Truckee Transfer Car 1.

RailNews

Tier IV Diesels for Lake State

The Lake State Railway in Michigan has purchased four SD70ACe-T4 locomotives from Progress Rail.

Extra Board

Transitions on the Annie

Changing times in Michigan as Watco acquires Great Lakes Central and reunites it with the former Ann Arbor Railroad.

Extra Board

Farewell to CSX Indiana Sub CPLs

Looking back at the last days of classic Baltimore & Ohio color-position light signals along CSX’s Indiana Sub.

Photo Line

Photo Line: The Alcos of Ely

While steam is the star, the Nevada Northern has an eclectic fleet of diesels.

Camera Bag

Camera Bag: Project Photography and Layering

Many railroad photographers over the years have practiced the idea of project-based photography, that is going back to the same subject time and time again.

Departures

Communicating With Light

Lantern signals remain a persistent part of railroad culture, one in which it is light, not words, that carry meaning

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