TRAINS December 2004

Field of dreams
Perishable trains from the Salinas Valley were once a Southern Pacific hallmark. Can Union Pacific bring them back?

Lima Louie
For Lima Locomotive Works photographer Louis Thouvenin, Saturday was busman’s holiday.

Ribbons of steel
To cope with heavier trains and more traffic, rail is getting bigger and better — and some of it is made in Japan.

Railroad Blueprint: Walla Walla Valley, 1968
Twilight of a former interurban in produce country.

Map of the Month: Branded passenger trains
From the Chiefs to the Rockets, branded trains promised consistent service. We map America’s named passenger-train fleets.

Plus expert analysis covering every aspect of railroading.

Railroad News & Photos: Amtrak exits Mail & Express business.

Don Phillips: Half of railroading made a truly wise decision.

Mark W. Hemphill: You only get what you pay for.

Locomotives: It’s compliant: The SD70M becomes a "Dash 2."

Passenger:Trains are running faster in Amtrak’s winter timetable.

City Rail: San Francisco’s Muni strains under crushing popularity.

Preservation: Union Station Kansas City buys Milwaukee train.