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Railnews Review 2021: A Look Back at the Biggest Stories in Railroading

The editors of Railfan & Railroad take a look back at the biggest railroad stories of the year, while also looking ahead to see what railroading will look like in 2022. Photo by Kevin EuDaly. 

Railnews Review 2021: A Look Back at the Biggest Stories in Railroading

By Railfan & Railroad Staff

‘Tis the season for reflection. In December 2021, the editors of Railfan & Railroad Magazine took a look back at the biggest railroad stories of the year, while also looking ahead to see what railroading will look like in 2022. Enjoy this look back at 2021 and, if you enjoy what we do, consider subscribing.

Mother Nature Pushes Railroads to the Limit

Since the beginning of railroading, Mother Nature has been a force to be reckoned with and in 2021, she made her presence known from coast-to-coast, disrupting operations on Class I, short line and passenger railroads alike. Click here for more…

 

A 50th Year Marked by Highs and Lows For Amtrak

It was not the birthday celebration that anyone had hoped for. Long before anyone had heard of COVID-19, Amtrak officials were hoping for a big party to mark its 50th anniversary in 2021, something on par with the 40th anniversary a decade earlier, which included an exhibit train roaming the country. The pandemic derailed those hopes — as it has many celebrations — but Amtrak still had a big 50th year, one that featured highs and lows, just like its first half-century. Click here for more…

 

A Calm Year For Steam Foretells Busy Ones Ahead

While 2021 wasn’t the busiest year for steam fans, there were plenty of memorable moments: two Nickel Plate Road Berkshires reuniting in Ohio; the sounds of a 2-6-6-2 echoing off the hills of Appalachia for the first time in decades; a Big Boy steaming across the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans; and a fleet of victorian-era iron horses roaming amongst the sagebrush in New Mexico and Colorado. But it was the scenes that didn’t happen — but could in the future — that will be what 2021 is remembered for in the world of steam preservation.Click here for more…

 

Preserved Diesels Get Their Due

The steam locomotives always get the glory, but in 2021, railroad museums from coast-to-coast stepped up their efforts to preserve diesel locomotives as well, from small switchers to main line streamliners.Click here for more…

 

Mergers and Acquisitions Will Change the Map in the New Year

The North American railroad map could look very different on New Year’s Eve 2023. Click here for more…

This article was posted on: December 31, 2021