FEBRUARY 2025: This month we climb aboard BNSF Railway’s business car fleet — one of the largest of all the Class I railroads — with associate editor Justin Franz. We also take a look at short line and regional railroads with private passenger cars fleets. Tim Doherty takes us to Readville, Mass., a busy crossroads on the Northeast Corridor, while Michael Burkhart takes us on a tour of today’s Jamaican Railways, now with a return to passenger service. All this and more in the February issue of Railfan & Railroad!

This Month

February 2025

Volume 44, No. 2


Features

Not Just Business

by Justin Franz — BNSF Railway owns one of the largest fleets of Class I business cars for office car specials, engineering inspections, and more.

Regional Business Train Roundup

by Lou Capwell— Short lines revive the golden era of passenger rail with a fleet of some of the finest passenger cars in North America.

Thurmond: Hidden Gem of the Past

by Samuel Phillips — Venture into West Virginia’s New River Gorge for a glimpse at the ghost town of Thurmond, a place time has forgotten.

Readville: Crossroads on the Corridor

by Tim Douherty — Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter trains mix with Amtrak and CSX at this busy Northeast Corridor crossing.

Return to Jamaican Railways

by Michael T. Burkhart — A new passenger service in Jamaica breaks the three-decade deadlock of freight trains on the island’s railways.


Departments

Departures/commentary: Alexander Benjamin Craghead

Railnews/top news stories and photos from our readers: Justin Franz

Transit Currents/transit news: Bob Gallegos

Railroadiana/new product, book, and video reviews

Timetable/railroad event listings submitted by our readers

Through My Lens/trackside adventures and memories: Kevin EuDaly

Business & Technology/how it works: David C. Lester

Camera Bag/photography tips and techniques

Destinations/detours and distractions along the right of way

Observation Car/railroad culture, dining, and art

High Iron/railroaders share their stories

Preservation Topics/this stuff is old, man

Markers/editorial commentary and musings

Parting Shot


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