Features:

Spike 150 Celebration at Promontory • by Steve Barry — Thousands of visitors descended upon Golden Spike National Historical Park to mark the 150th anniversary of the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad.

Replicating Pride for Promontory • by Jeff Terry — You’ll be forgiven if you thought the two modern replica steam locomotives built for the National Park Service were the real thing.

Big Boy • by Steve Barry — Union Pacific’s Steam Team accomplished the impossible with their five-year rebuild and restoration of Big Boy 4-8-8-4 4014.

How The West was Done: Part 1 • by Mike Schafer — For three weeks in July 1969, Jim Boyd led two young railfans on an epic railroad tour through the American West.

R.J. Corman’s Greenville Line • by David T. Rohdenburg — This Ohio short line operation was once a part of New York Central’s “Big Four Route” (with a piece of the Pennsy thrown in).

Departments:

Capitol Lines/commentary from Washington: Don Phillips

Departures/commentary: Alexander Benjamin Craghead

LocoNotes/diesel spotters: Kenneth M. Ardinger

Markers/additional thoughts from your editors

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

Parting Shot/Rolf Stumpf

Railnews/top news stories and photos from our readers

Railroadiana/new product, book, and video reviews

Scan Man/the world of railroad radio: Vincent Reh

Through My Lens/trackside memories: Kevin EuDaly

Timetable/railroad event listings submitted by our readers

Transit Currents/transit news: Bob Gallegos