Features:

Black Mesa Finale • by Adam Twombly — The low price of natural gas forced the closure of the coalfired Navajo Generating Station in the northern Arizona desert, spelling the end of the line for the isolated Black Mesa & Lake Powell Railroad.

Hagans Junction • by Ron Flanary and Samuel Phillips — Built by Louisville & Nashville, this unusual mountain switchback continues to move coal for CSX.

Michigan Central Station: Part 2 • by Emily Moser — Following a long postwar decline, Detroit’s grand gateway was left for ruin, until an unlikely savior came along.

Needle in a Haystack • by Frank Keller — Chasing a rare snowplow run on the Alaska Railroad is a grand adventure across America’s final frontier.

Portraits of Railroading • by James D. Porterfield — A dozen fresh faces answered this year’s call for entries, each presenting an artistic look at the world of railroading.

Departments:

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/Joseph Cermak

Preservation Topics/this stuff is old, man: Otto M. Vondrak

Railnews/top news stories and photos from our readers

Railroadiana/new product, book, and video reviews

Technology/how it works: David C. Lester

Through My Lens/trackside memories: Kevin EuDaly

Timetable/railroad event listings submitted by our readers

Transit Currents/transit news: Bob Gallegos