Passenger Train Journal

11/29/2024

Passenger Train Journal is the only quarterly publication dedicated to passenger trains of yesterday and today! From today's Amtrak trains to the streamliners of yesterday, each issue explores the world of long-distance, commuter, rapid transit, and light rail trains from coast to coast. Stock up on back issues today: https://shop.whiteriverproductions.com/collections/passenger-train-journal

11/28/2024

Enjoy an all-color look at passenger railroading in the metropolitan New York region in the 1970s—a fascinating era of transition, blending relics from the turn of the century with modern Turboliners built by a company that manufactured jet engines, and everything in between. 64 pages, softcover, 95 all-color photos, plus a regional map!

70s Style: Passenger Trains around New York City is an all-color look at passenger railroading in the metropolitan New York region in the 1970s—a fascinating era of transition, blending relics from the turn of the century with modern Turboliners built by a company that manufactured jet engines, an...

11/27/2024

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: In the 1970s, to get anything done involving railroads that required some approval from the U.S. Congress meant going through Harley O. Staggers (1907-1991). He was chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, an influential group that dealt with railroad matters. He joined the U.S. House of Representatives in January 1949, and was to serve in that position consecutively for 32 years.

The politics and legacy of Amtrak’s "Potomac Special" and its kin serving West Virginia and the constituents of Sen. Harley O. Staggers.

11/26/2024

From the editors of PTJ, the 2024 Passenger Train Annual covers your favorite trains from yesterday and today, including an extended cover feature looks back at Budd’s pioneering self-propelled stainless-steel passenger cars that were introduced in 1949 — from origins and owners, to survivors still in service today.

The 2024 Passenger Train Annual covers your favorite trains from the past and present.

11/25/2024

In California, after more than a decade of effort, August 2024 marked the “soft launch” of electrified service on Caltrain's San Francisco Peninsula commuter service. On August 10, local and state dignitaries rode a special train on a round-trip between San Francisco and Millbrae. The following day, two seven-car electric trainsets entered revenue service, covering a small portion of Caltrain’s schedule.

Big changes in the Bay Area as Caltrain inaugurates electric service along the historic commuter corridor between San Francisco and San Jose.

11/22/2024

Emerging from its builder’s Red Lion plant near Philadelphia and making its operational debut on August 1, 1949, the Budd Company’s first Rail Diesel Car, model RDC-1, underwent preliminary performance evaluation on Pennsylvania Railroad’s Delmarva Division. After traveling to Chicago under its own power, the RDC made headlines with its official debut to the railroad industry at the city’s Union Station on September 19...

The self-propelled Rail Diesel Car introduced by Budd in 1949 and launched a revolution in postwar passenger service has been preserved.

11/21/2024

A pictorial look at the Pennsylvania Railroad’s most famous long-distance train, The Broadway Limited includes many photos of the train from its inception through the Penn Central and into the Amtrak era. It is well illustrated with period advertising and includes schedules and dining car menus, along with a substantive historical text.

The Broadway Limited is a pictorial of Pennsylvania Railroad's most famous long-distance train, through the Penn Central and Amtrak eras.

11/21/2024

Route of the Chiefs is the ultimate photographic history of how the Santa Fe rose to being one of the foremost passenger carriers in America’s streamliner era. From the premiere Super Chief to the extensive network of secondary trains, this 256-page volume is the next best thing to being on board.

This long-anticipated volume is finally here! Route of the Chiefs is the ultimate photographic history of how the Santa Fe rose to being one of the foremost passenger carriers in America’s streamliner era. From the premiere Super Chief to the extensive network of secondary trains, this new 256-pag...

11/20/2024

At the end of Amtrak’s first two years (May 1973), the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 ("Railpax" Act) anticipated there would likely be some hard choices as to the scope of Amtrak’s network. In Washington, D.C., there was a tug of war between the “fewer trains on fewer routes less often” advocates on one end of the spectrum, and the “connect all the dots” advocates at the other end...

A half-century-old experience provides lessons for the future as we look back at Amtrak routes that were cut in 1973 for appearances' sake.

11/19/2024

The Metroliners tells the story of the development, marketing, and operational challenges, all of which led to the train becoming the most-used travel mode in the busy corridor between New York and Washington. Authored by industry insiders, The Metroliners follows the story from the turbulent 1960s to the development and introduction of Acela in the 21st century.

When the future of rail travel was in doubt, Metroliner captured the public’s attention and changed the course of American rail travel.

11/18/2024

4th QUARTER 2024: This issue examines rail passenger service in its many forms, ranging from the transformational debut of fully electrified service on Caltrain’s San Francisco-area “commute” operation, and the evolution of rail transit service in Edmonton, Alta., to profiles of tourist-oriented trains in Canada and Argentina. All this, plus insightful columns, the Journal news digest, great photography, and more in the Fourth Quarter 2024 issue of Passenger Train Journal.

11/18/2024

Last week, Caltrain announced it had sold 19 of its F40 locomotives and 90 of its recently retired gallery cars to Lima, Peru, for a new commuter rail service. The equipment was deemed surplus following the electrification of Caltrain between San Francisco and San Jose. Caltrain is being paid $6 million for the locomotives and cars.

19 diesel locomotives and 90 gallery cars will be sent to South America for a new commuter rail service in Lima, Peru.

11/17/2024

Retired Caltrain F40s and gallery coaches will be headed to Peru to help launch a new commuter rail service in Lima!

Borrowing from X to say, we are most definitely headed to Peru! ☺️

11/17/2024

3rd QUARTER 2024: Celebrating PTJ Issue 300! There’s more to the story of PTJ’s Issue 300 than meets the eye, as George Fletcher explains in the update to his all-time PTJ index. Parts 1 through 3 appeared soon after the magazine was revived by White River Productions in 2006, and the milestone of Issue 300 is the perfect time for George to bring this detailed index up to date. Continuing the “300” theme, Amtrak Charger locomotive 300 is front and center on this issue’s cover and leads into “Charger Country,” a photo feature that looks at all of the railroads currently operating this new standard of North American passenger power in intercity and commuter service. All this, plus insightful columns, the Journal news digest, great photography, and more in the 2024-3 issue of Passenger Train Journal.