The All Aboard Podcast by All Things Trains

Regional Railroads are a key part of the rail network. They aren't new, but the genesis of today's group is worth looking into. Share and Subscribe to keep the All Aboard Podcast on the rails! _______________ Show Bibliography: 1. The Chicago, Missouri & Western Story-1 The Road of Misfortune. Michael W. Blaszak, Trains Magazine, September 1992 2. In re Chicago, Missouri Western Ry. Ca...

Phil had such a fun time talking about his time railfanning in Boston, he decided to share a bonus episode with a few more stories, including railroads and the Big Dig, the New England Patriots' football special trains, and the Kingston Trio. Thumbnail Photo Credit: Derek Yu, via Wikimedia Commons ________________ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AllThingsTrains Website: https://www.allthingst...

The Talgo isn't just a novelty...it's a mainstream part of rail transportation around the world. We talk about its history and its impact on US passenger rail.____________Episode Links:1. The Jet Rocket (Streamliner Memories): https://streamlinermemories.info/?p=22622. The John Quincy Adams and Speed Merchant (Streamliner Memories)https://streamlinermemories.info/?p=22833. The history of t...

Precision Scheduled Railroading has been a lighting rod for the rail industry in recent years. Here, Phil breaks down the history of PSR, and talks about E. Hunter Harrison, a four-time, award-winning rail CEO who was its biggest champion. And thanks to INFORMS for providing great data on this, which is linked below: _________________________ Episode Links: What, Precisely, Is Precision Scheduled...

VIA Rail is Canada's national passenger rail system. Phil talks about why it came about, why it doesn't operate through trains with Amtrak, and why its system isn't very large. ___________ Episode Links: 1. Trackside Treasures: https://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-history-of-via.html 2. VIA Rail Canada Inc. and the Future of Passenger Rail in Canada https://lop.parl.ca/si...

The Auto Train was a great idea, and it did very well...but by 1981 it was bankrupt and out of business. But a white knight was found in Amtrak, specifically W. Graham Claytor, Jr. who was the driving force in resurrecting the train and making it a shining star in the company's fleet of trains.________________________________________________Episode Links: Amtrak's Auto Train by Doug Riddel...

Money. Power. Intrigue. It sounds like the plot line of a great movie, but it's the story of the rail industry for much of the 20th Century, told by Professor Richard Saunders, the author of several in-depth books on railroading and a veteran of the New York Central Railroad during its latter days. Let us know what you think of Merging Lines and if Phil is on the...right track... _____________...

Continuing our discussion of intermodal transportation, we discuss the auto-train, which was a revolutionary effort in the 1970s to bring passengers back to the rails. Phil talks a little about why intermodal transportation is needed, how an auto train concept operated in Canada and then the original of the original A-T itself. ___________________ Episode Links: 1. Episode 017: Intermodal Does NOT...

No, we're not talking about sex. We're talking about how railroads use multiple modes of transportation to move people and goods. This overview covers the history and some interesting examples, including efforts by the North Shore Line, New Haven, and Commodore Vanderbilt. _________________________ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AllThingsTrains Website: https://www.allthingstrains.com Ru...

We had a great time in Episode 015 talking about electrification in the railroad industry, but we had forgotten to talk about a few of the more interesting ones. This episode covers electrifications on the Virginian and Norfolk & Western Railways in Virginia, the Boston & Maine in Massachusetts, the Detroit, Toledo, & Ironton in Michigan, and how Henry Ford could have changed the rail...

Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been big news lately, but did you know that railroads have long been big users of EVs and are the most prolific users today? Phil talks about why that is and should stay that way. Hit the like button and subscribe!! And thanks to all of our fellow #RobberBarons out there! ______________ Show Links: 1. (EDN.com) Edison’s 1st test of electric railway, May 13, 1880: https...

When anyone mentions diversification by railroads, someone always gets upset. Phil talks about what diversification is, examples of railroads who did it, including the Penn Central (and how it relates to Donald Trump!) and the curious case of Norfolk Southern... ______________ Episode Links: 1. Tickets to see All Things Trains @ The Greenberg Train & Toy Show in Richmond, VA (January 20-21, 20...

Phil sure got railfans stirred up last week with his column (https://www.allthingstrains.com/post/from-the-e-hunter-harrison-chair-where-is-amtrak-going) on AllThingsTrains.com. In this episode, Phil explains why he's an #Amtrak hater and why he thinks the concept of a national rail system is fundamentally flawed. ______________ Show Links: 1. (All Things Trains): From the E. Hunter Harrison C...

On January 4, 1987, Amtrak's northbound Colonial collided with 3 Conrail locomotives at Gunpow Interlocking in Chase, MD. The Conrail engineer, Ricky Gates, was under the influence of Marijuana and missed several signals, with the result being 16 dead, many more injured, millions of dollars in damage, and the implementation of engineer licensing. With Marijuana now being 'legal' in man...

Most people think of shortline railroads as a new concept, but in reality they have been part of railroading for generations. This is a discussion of the different epochs of shortline railroading and why they matter. ________________________ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AllThingsTrains Website: https://www.allthingstrains.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-4552931 YouTube: https://www.youtube....

For our first Train Book Thursday, we review Gregg M. Turner's William and Henry Walters Father & Son Founders of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. This is a quick and easy read that goes in-depth about the little-known duo behind one of America's greatest railroads. Phil also gets in some commentary about Positive Train Control and over computerization of railroading. Our next Train B...

Today we talk about Parallel Systems, a new company that is developing autonomous railcars. We discuss how it could open the door for railroads to once again carry higher-value, short-distance freight, a business long lost to trucks. Phil also tells the story of how he took his friends Ed and Nancy on an involuntary railfan trip... ____________________ Links: 1. Parallel Systems 2. Dot. LA article...

Phil LOVES to travel by train, but has a complicated relationship with Amtrak. So here, he talks about Amtrak, what led to its creation, and his travel aboard the Silver Star at Christmas time during the 1980s. Happy New Year to all of my fellow Robber Barons out there! _______________ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AllThingsTrains Website: https://www.allthingstrains.com Rumble: https://rumble....

We're glad you enjoyed Episode 006 on the Erie Lackawanna. So, let's delve into the conditions that led to the creation of Erie Lackawanna's successor Conrail. We'll spotlight the Old Colony Railroad and Central Railroad of New Jersey to give you an idea of the challenges faced by Northeastern railroads after WWI. 1. (Wikipedia): Old Colony Railroad Map from 1893:  https://en.wikip...

Back in October, we recorded this episode about the Erie Lackawanna Railroad and its 63rd birthday...but for whatever reason we didn't release it. So enjoy this trip down the Friendly Service Route and share your thoughts on the EL in the comments! _________________ Key News: 1. (Railfan &Railroad): Cosmetically Restored U34CH Makes Debut in New Jersey https://railfan.com/cosmetically-rest...

Today, we're talking train shows, the Unitah Basin Railway, and CN's acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway. Read the articles below to learn more and follow us on Patreon: ___________________ 1.(Railway Age) Report: Court Will Not Rehear Uinta Basin Railway Case https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/report-court-will-not-rehear-uinta-basin-railway-case/ 2. (Railway Age) Report: Court Halts...

Phil is back, talking about the Seaboard Coast Line, the Family Lines System, and several reasons behind the post-1957 rail merger movement. Oh, and he throws in a rant about Florida State's snub by the College Football Playoff Committee. _____________________ Follow Us: Website : ⁠www.allthingstrains.com⁠ Rumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/c/c-4552931⁠ YouTube : ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AllThingsTr...

Today's s trip into transportation excellence reviews the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, competitor to the Seaboard Air Line and a railroad that formed the backbone of today's rail system in the Southeast. We'll talk about history, paint schemes, and the prominent people in its history. Speaking from the E. Hunter Harrison Chair at the Bell Institute for Advanced Railroad Studies, Phil...

Today's excursion into transportation excellence takes us to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, one of the southeast's most prominent railroads. We'll talk about its history, competitors, passenger trains, such as the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star, and its 1967 merger into the Seaboard Coast Line. We also talk about Phil's plane & train trip to Milwaukee, and our new HO scale...