Railfan & Railroad Magazine September 2025
Features:
Catch a Falling Star • by Otto M. Vondrak — Opened in 2009, Minneapolis Northstar commuter rail has yet to recover from a dramatic pandemic drop-off in ridership.
2025 Center Spread Contest • Special — Of the hundreds of creative trackside photos submitted for our contest, only one winner can grace the coveted center spread.
Boston’s Red Line • by Tim Doherty— Dating back to 1912, and growing to meet the suburbs, the Red Line is the backbone of Boston’s rapid transit system.
A Morning at Highlands • by Justin Franz— What began as a flagstop in the 1870s has grown into a quiet suburban station along Metra’s former Burlington Racetrack.
Route of The Dashing Commuter• by Joe Stroppel — From concrete canyons, to pastoral suburbs, to the vineyards of the East End, Long Island Rail Road has many facets.
Queen of Diamonds• by Dale W. Woodland — Of the eight EMD passenger FP7s purchased by Reading between 1950 and 1952, three survive in preservation to this day.
Departments:
Departures— commentary: Alexander Benjamin Craghead
Passengers Matter
Railnews— top news stories and photos from our readers
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 memories: Kevin EuDaly
Growing Up with Amtrak
Business & Technology— Historic railway preservation: David C. Lester
Time for the Final Round of Railroad Mergers?
Destinations— Detours and distractions/Bryan Bechtold
Van Life: Or, Living in a Van Down by the Railroad
Markers—Additional thoughts from your editors
Parting Shot— Matt Csenge
Lombard Hobbies - Your Valued Shop for Almost 50 Years!
Railfan & Railroad Magazine September 2025
Features:
Catch a Falling Star • by Otto M. Vondrak — Opened in 2009, Minneapolis Northstar commuter rail has yet to recover from a dramatic pandemic drop-off in ridership.
2025 Center Spread Contest • Special — Of the hundreds of creative trackside photos submitted for our contest, only one winner can grace the coveted center spread.
Boston’s Red Line • by Tim Doherty— Dating back to 1912, and growing to meet the suburbs, the Red Line is the backbone of Boston’s rapid transit system.
A Morning at Highlands • by Justin Franz— What began as a flagstop in the 1870s has grown into a quiet suburban station along Metra’s former Burlington Racetrack.
Route of The Dashing Commuter• by Joe Stroppel — From concrete canyons, to pastoral suburbs, to the vineyards of the East End, Long Island Rail Road has many facets.
Queen of Diamonds• by Dale W. Woodland — Of the eight EMD passenger FP7s purchased by Reading between 1950 and 1952, three survive in preservation to this day.
Departments:
Departures— commentary: Alexander Benjamin Craghead
Passengers Matter
Railnews— top news stories and photos from our readers
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 memories: Kevin EuDaly
Growing Up with Amtrak
Business & Technology— Historic railway preservation: David C. Lester
Time for the Final Round of Railroad Mergers?
Destinations— Detours and distractions/Bryan Bechtold
Van Life: Or, Living in a Van Down by the Railroad
Markers—Additional thoughts from your editors
Parting Shot— Matt Csenge
Lombard Hobbies - Your Valued Shop for Almost 50 Years!






