By Railfan & Railroad Staff

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Long-time Railfan & Railroad columnist Wes Vernon has died due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 89 years old. 

Vernon was a broadcast journalist for nearly 50 years working in radio in Utah, Montana, and Wyoming, before becoming a correspondent for CBS News in Washington D.C. He wrote for numerous railroad publications and penned Railfan & Railroad’s “Capital Lines” column covering news from Washington D.C. for 14 years. He retired from the magazine in 2018. He was also past president and board member of the Chesapeake Railway Association. 

Vernon loved railroading and had fond memories of watching trains pass his grandparent’s home in Logan, Utah. He was a passionate advocate for passenger rail. Earlier this year, the Robertson-Powell Foundation and National Press Club Journalism Institute created a scholarship for young journalists in Vernon’s honor. 

He is survived by his wife Alida, their four children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.