Now you have 365 days to shoot your best shots for Railroads Illustrated Annual! Starting March 20, 2025, and ending March 19, 2026, plan your own seasonal railfan getaway, or find some trackside time on your family vacation. You may submit up to three images per season within our deadlines. Each season deadline will be one week after the close of spring, summer, fall, and winter. We will present the images in that order beginning with the 2026 issue. Here is the schedule:

Spring — March 20, 2025 to June 19, 2025. (Deadline to submit: June 27.)
Summer — June 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025. (Deadline to submit: September 29.)
Fall — September 22, 2025 to December 20, 2025. (Deadline to submit: December 28.)
Winter — December 21, 2025 to March 19, 2026. (Deadline to submit: March 27, 2026)

This new format replaces DINA. We now call it SINA. We’ll be partial to images that define the season, but don’t pass up submitting great shots regardless. Instead of us choosing one particular day that may not work for you, has drab weather, or lacks the classic look of the season, you get to choose when the time and action are right.

Please see the additional information in our 2025 Railroads Illustrated Annual coming out in May. But don’t wait to get out as two months of spring will be gone by then. If you wish, you may contact the editor directly through our website.