Features:

Buchanan Branch • by Billy Hager — This overlooked Norfolk Southern branch line straddles the border of Virginia and Kentucky, serving coal loadouts in the heart of Appalachia.

Images of Railroaders — The results of this year’s Creative Photography Award contest sponsored by the Center for Railroad Photography & Art.

Grand Canyon Railway • by Alexander D. Mitchell IV — Over the last 30 years, Grand Canyon Railway has evolved from a tourist attraction to a bona fide all-weather transportation service.

Achtung! Southern Pacific 9010 Restored • by Elrond Lawrence — Niles Canyon Railway debuts the restored Southern Pacific 9010, the only surviving Kraus-Maffei ML4000 diesel-hydraulic locomotive.

Covered Wagons to the Future • by Otto M. Vondrak — Recording the final years of ex-New Haven FL9s in revenue service on home rails on Metro-North’s branch lines in Connecticut.

Departments:

Camera Bag/tips and techniques: Dennis A. Livesey

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/John Kittredge

Preservation Topics/this stuff is old, man: Mitch Markovitz

Rail Technology/how it works: David C. Lester

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