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JULY 2021: When Santa Fe and Southern Pacific announced their bombshell merger plans and started painting locomotives in the new SPSF Railway image in 1985, everyone assumed it was a done deal. Elrond Lawrence was trackside for this turbulent time in Western railroading, recording the most famous merger that never was. Marcus Stevens takes us on a tour of Canadian National’s busy Dundas Sub in southern Ontario, while we take a swing through Michigan to chase vintage Ann Arbor GP35s on the Great Lakes Central. All this and more in the July issue of Railfan & Railroad!

This Month

July 2021

Volume 40, No. 7

Features

Canadian National Dundas Sub

by Marcus Stevens — This busy subdivision hosts a variety of freight and passenger traffic in Southern Ontario.

SPSF: Shouldn’t Paint so Fast

by Elrond Lawrence — Beginning in fall 1985, Southern Pacific and Santa Fe quickly rolled out their bright new merger image, never thinking their proposal would be denied. For trackside railfans, it meant an uncertain future for two giants of the West.

Alco Parts and EMD Hearts

by Steve McKay — These vintage Ann Arbor Geeps are still going strong in home territory, now operated by Great Lakes Central.

Photo Line: Paul Stringham

by Mike Raia — Paul Stringham captured a wide variety of steam, diesel, and electric action throughout the American Midwest.

Second Lives for Executive Fs

by Steve Barry — Former Norfolk Southern executive F-units find new homes on short lines in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Departments

Departures/commentary: Alexander Benjamin Craghead

Railnews/top news stories and photos from our readers: Eric Berger

Transit Currents/transit news: Bob Gallegos

Railroadiana/new product, book, and video reviews

Timetable/railroad event listings submitted by our readers

LocoNotes/diesel spotters: Kenneth M. Ardinger

Through My Lens/trackside adventures and memories: Kevin EuDaly

Rail Technology/how it works: David C. Lester

Camera Bag/photography tips and techniques

On The Menu/railroad dining, art, and culture: James D. Porterfield

High Iron/railroaders share their stories

Preservation Topics/this stuff is old, man

Markers/editorial commentary and musings

Parting Shot

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Railfan & Railroad Magazine, ©2015-2021 White River Productions. All rights reserved.
From steam to diesel, mainline to short line, Railfan & Railroad Magazine takes you trackside.