Previews

Previews from the pages of the all new Railroads Illustrated Annual! Get inspired by 100 pages of creative railroad photography from yesterday and today.

White Knights, Candy Stripes, Belles, and Beavers

October 15, 2023

White Knights, Candy Stripes, Belles, and Beavers

With the STB’s approval, the combination of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern means old paint schemes fade into the history books.

Rhody Rails: The Little State With Big Railroading

October 15, 2023

Rhody Rails: The Little State With Big Railroading

One of the smallest states in the Union is home to big railroading action from Providence & Worcester, Seaview Transportation, Amtrak, and MBTA.

Running Down a Dream: My Search for Remnants of the Rio Grande

October 15, 2023

Running Down a Dream: My Search for Remnants of the Rio Grande

In the shadow of merger with Union Pacific, one photographer documents his search for remnants of the mighty Rio Grande.

Railroads Illustrated 2021 Preview

September 28, 2021

Railroads Illustrated 2021 Preview

Railroads Illustrated 2021 Annual is an exciting portfolio of colorful railroad photography from coast to coast, from classic to contemporary. Enjoy this preview of this year’s edition, including a tribute to Amtrak’s 50th anniversary!

Railroads Illustrated 2020 Preview

August 30, 2020

Railroads Illustrated 2020 Preview

Enjoy our special coverage of 50th and 40th anniversary tributes to Burlington Northern and CSX Transportation, the first-ever “Seasonal Day in North America,” and slow trains on the Iowa Interstate. All this and much more in Railroads Illustrated Annual 2020.

A Day in North America: March 9, 2019

August 20, 2019

A Day in North America: March 9, 2019

This year’s “Day in North America” took place on March 9, 2019, as photographers headed trackside to capture a typical day on the rails.

Railroads Illustrated Annual 2019 Preview

July 8, 2019

Railroads Illustrated Annual 2019 Preview

You’ll want to add this edition to your railroad library as this year’s annual commemorates the historic first run of restored Union Pacific “Big Boy” 4014.

Single Track Memories on BN’s Crawford Hill

February 5, 2018

Single Track Memories on BN’s Crawford Hill

In February 1981, Burlington Northern embarked on a massive re-engineering project to eliminate tight curvatures, add a second main line track, and daylight the only tunnel in Nebraska. In 1978, I was fortunate to experience Crawford Hill before the massive engineering project.

Railfanning in the Shadow of the Pennsy

December 8, 2017

Railfanning in the Shadow of the Pennsy

Born and raised in the railroading town of Altoona, Pennsylvania, I have always been exposed to trains in some way. It’s hard to escape the influence of the old Pennsylvania Railroad, even 50 years after the last Tuscan Red trains rolled into the history books.

Alcos of Olean

December 4, 2017

Alcos of Olean

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the former Erie Railroad mainline between Hornell and Meadville is alive once again. Founded in 2001, the new Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad operates a colorful fleet of four- and six-axle Alco locomotives from its headquarters in Olean, N.Y.