American Rails Forums

American Rails Forums
Looking for answers to railroading questions you may have or simply interested in joining a family-friendly railfan community? If so, please take a moment to visit the American Rails forums and it would be great if you could join us!

American Rails Forums Index

Welcome to the American Rails Forums, thanks for stopping by. If you are here from Model Railroader and the Yellowstone Train Repairs advertisement the owner, John Patton, is a member here who's screenname is EM-1. To contact John for general business inquiries, and/or if you would just like to be a part of our community here (which would be fantastic), please register by clicking here.
The time now is Wed May 14, 2008 1:14 pm All times are GMT - 4 Hours	View unanswered posts

The Main Line

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
The ARF Lounge General topics and chat Click here to visit the ARF Chat Room. Always feel free to set up your own time(s) to chat with other members. Moderator ARF Admin	60	333	Tue May 13, 2008 8:28 pm Alco83
The ARF Dispatcher Important forum news and announcements Interested in moderating? Moderator ARF Admin	26	78	Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:13 pm Alco83
Forum Suggestions For any feedback and suggestions Moderator ARF Admin	4	23	Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:09 pm Alco83
Welcome Aboard! Feel free to introduce yourself here whether you are new or a current member! Moderator ARF Admin	27	149	Fri May 09, 2008 6:12 pm Richard59
American-Rails.com General questions, comments, and news about the website. Have a suggestion, concern, and/or comment? Please feel free to mention it here! Moderator ARF Admin	8	165	Tue May 13, 2008 7:34 pm Alco83
Preservation Topics and news on preservation throughout the country Moderator nctrainmaster	35	129	Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:19 pm Alco83
Railroad Art Pertaining to all types of railroad artistry, from paintings, drawings, etc. Moderator railartist	10	45	Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:10 am Richard59
Railroad Photography Highlighting and discussing rail photography. Also, be sure and visit here for helpful photography tips and feedback. This week's banner photo. Have a photo you would like featured on our homepage? Click here to find out how! Moderator ConrailKid	54	265	Wed May 14, 2008 1:48 am Trainboy92
Photography Polls & Contests Check in here to vote for your favorite railroad photograph! The May Photo Banner Contest will be available during the first week of June. Please be sure and check back then to vote for your favorite! Moderator ARF Admin	11	111	Mon May 12, 2008 10:09 pm nctrainmaster
Heads Up! Know the whereabouts of a particular train movement(s) and would like to let others know? If so, post it here! Please Note: Since train movements are old news quite quickly, topics not posted to after seven days are automatically deleted. Moderator Marylandcontributor	1	7	Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:24 pm Chase55671
Your Railroad Blog Interested in writing about your railroad outings and/or experiences on a regular basis? If so, include it all in a blog here! Moderator ARF Admin	9	106	Mon May 05, 2008 5:13 pm TonytheTiger
The Interchange Interested in buying, selling, or trading modeling railroad items, photos, and/or any other railroad memorabilia? If so, this is the place! Moderator ARF Admin	13	24	Thu May 01, 2008 10:30 pm extra7000south
Test Forum To test images, avatars, GIFs, etc. Moderator ARF Admin	3	22	Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:41 pm Martin B

Today's Class Is

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
BNSF Railway Today's BNSF Railway Moderator shadowr434	13	72	Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:56 pm funwithtrains
Canadian National Today's CN System Moderators Alco83, trainman111	14	55	Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:57 am Alco83
Canadian Pacific Today's CP system, including the DM&E Moderators Alco83, trainman111	29	51	Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:47 pm kilroy
CSX Transportation Today's CSX System Moderator EM-1	45	924	Wed May 14, 2008 7:48 am Chase55671
Kansas City Southern Today's KCS System Moderator randycarnley	14	38	Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:48 am Alco83
Norfolk Southern Today's NS System Moderators Alco83, Trainboy92	40	191	Fri May 09, 2008 8:43 pm dtiman
Union Pacific Today's UP System Moderator nssd70	24	109	Tue May 13, 2008 2:52 am WP2009

Tourist Railroads and Museums

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
Tourist Railroads and Museums General discussion regarding tourist railroads and museums not covered Moderators Alco83, Trainboy92	45	242	Sun May 04, 2008 12:42 am WP2009
Cass Scenic Railroad The Cass Scenic Railroad, operating historic Shays in the heart of the West Virginia mountains Moderators Alco83, Spooler734	7	26	Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:44 am Alco83
Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad The Potomac Eagle, located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia; also including the state-owned freight hauler, South Branch Valley Railroad (SBVR) Moderator bandit426	5	17	Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:40 pm bandit426
Strasburg Railroad The Strasburg Railroad, operating in the heart of the Pennsylvania Amish Country Moderators Alco83, Spooler734	8	15	Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:53 pm kilroy
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, operating on portions of the Western Maryland Railway's main line near Cumberland, Maryland Moderators Alco83, Spooler734	10	45	Thu May 01, 2008 8:50 am Spooler734

Regionals and Shortlines

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
Regionals and Shortlines General discussion regarding regionals and shortlines not covered Moderator extra7000south	38	152	Tue May 13, 2008 11:10 am Alco83
Florida East Coast Railway The historic FEC Moderator Richard59	8	26	Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:27 am Richard59
Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad The LAL family of shortlines including the B&H and WNYP Moderator railwatcher	37	273	Tue May 06, 2008 10:48 pm railwatcher
Ohio Central System The Ohio Central and subsidiaries Moderator River Run	10	24	Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:07 am River Run
Southeastern Shortlines Covering shortlines throughout the southeastern states including Texas and the Gulf Coast regions Moderator extra7000south	9	46	Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:40 pm randycarnley

State and Regional Operations

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
State and Regional Operations General discussion regarding state and regional operations not covered Moderator extra7000south	27	55	Wed May 07, 2008 12:58 pm Alco83
New Jersey New Jersey railroading Moderator Wanderer	24	74	Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:40 pm Alco83
New York New York railroading Moderator Matt Langworthy	76	379	Wed May 14, 2008 12:54 pm Alco83
North Carolina North Carolina railroading Moderator Richard59	18	49	Tue May 13, 2008 11:11 am Alco83
Ohio Ohio railroading Moderator dtiman	32	231	Wed May 14, 2008 12:24 pm Alco83
West Virginia West Virginia railroading Moderator C&OFan7484	41	304	Tue May 13, 2008 7:43 pm Chase55671

Fallen Flags

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
General Fallen Flags General discussion regarding all other fallen flag railroads not covered below Moderator CSXT163	13	46	Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:30 pm Alco83
Baltimore & Ohio The venerable B&O, our country's first common carrier, merged into CSX in 1987 Moderator EM-1	33	198	Thu May 01, 2008 12:15 pm Tsgtbob
Central Railroad of New Jersey The Jersey Central, a New Jersey institution, would become part of Conrail in 1976 Moderators RAH, 57Plymouth	22	145	Tue May 13, 2008 4:34 pm Alco83
Chesapeake & Ohio The C&O, creator of the legendary Chessie the sleeping kitten. The railroad disappeared into CSX in 1987. Moderator C&OM1500	15	79	Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:05 pm ChessieSystem
Chessie System Included the C&O, B&O, and WM. Created in 1972 the holding company was dissolved into CSX in the 1980s. Moderator EM-1	13	260	Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:31 am dtiman
Chicago & North Western The C&NW, serving America's Heartland for nearly 140 years until its merger into UP in 1995 Moderator cnwrailfan	6	20	Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:13 pm cnwrailfan
Conrail The Consolidated Rail Corporation, a product of the struggling northeast rail industry in the 1970s, divided among CSX and NS in 1999 Moderator CSXT163	6	34	Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:42 am River Run
Delaware & Hudson The legendary D&H, our country's oldest transportation company and while technically still a corporation on paper, no longer carries on independently Moderator Matt Langworthy	13	86	Mon May 12, 2008 7:53 pm Matt Langworthy
Erie Lackawanna The EL, created between the mergers of the Erie Railroad and Delaware, Lackawanna & Western it eventually became part of Conrail in 1976 Moderators RAH, Matt Langworthy	29	164	Sat May 10, 2008 11:11 pm Alco83
Lehigh Valley The LV, "The Route of the Black Diamond," would fall into the Conrail fold in 1976 Moderators RAH, Scot Lawrence	21	146	Sat May 10, 2008 11:08 pm Alco83
Louisville & Nashville The Dixie Line would fall under The Family Lines banner in the 1970s and merged into the CSX system in the 1980s. Moderators Alco83, Trainboy92	4	13	Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:12 am Richard59
Milwaukee Road The CMStP&P, the legendary road of the Hiawathas and electrified Pacific Extension Moderator nctrainmaster	14	32	Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:19 pm Alco83
New York Central The NYC, merged with the PRR in the late 1960s to form the ill-fated Penn Central Corporation Moderator Scot Lawrence	3	18	Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:43 pm Alco83
Nickel Plate Road The NKP, a Midwestern road which was merged into the N&W in 1964 Moderator River Run	6	14	Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:09 am River Run
Norfolk & Western The N&W, a coal-hauling money-maker, merged with the Southern Railway in 1982 to form today's Norfolk Southern system Moderators Alco83, Spooler734	9	19	Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:47 pm Alco83
Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsy, would go on to merge with the NYC in the late 1960s to form the ill-fated Penn Central Corporation Moderator Scot Lawrence	7	16	Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:47 pm kilroy
Penn Central The ill-fated Penn Central Corporation involving the marriage of the NYC and PRR. The company declared bankruptcy in the early 1970s and the resulting fallout of the northeastern rail market resulted in the formation of Conrail in 1976. Moderator C&OFan7484	8	40	Sun May 11, 2008 9:35 am Alco83
Reading Lines The Reading Railroad, famous for its "Bee Line Service" logo would fall into the Conrail fold in 1976 Moderators spikemic, Tooling17039	19	46	Thu May 08, 2008 11:50 pm Tooling17039
Seaboard System The Seaboard System, including all predecessor roads; ACL, SAL, L&N, Clinchfield, etc. Dissolved into CSX in 1982. Moderators Alco83, Chase55671	13	90	Sat May 03, 2008 9:46 am Chase55671
Soo Line The Soo Line was a Northern Plains/Midwest railroad that is most remembered for purchasing the remnants of the Milwaukee Road in 1985 until it became a part of the Canadian Pacific in 1990. Moderator nctrainmaster	3	14	Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:29 am nctrainmaster
Southern Pacific The Espee, a juggernaut until the 1970s, it was purhcased by Rio Grande Industries in 1988 and eventually merged into UP in 1996 Moderator CSXT163	7	12	Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:13 pm Alco83
Southern Railway The Southern was a true gem of the railroad industry, earning handsome profits until its merger with the N&W in 1982 to form today's Norfolk Southern system Moderator extra7000south	9	41	Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:19 pm Richard59
Western Maryland The "Wild Mary" was never a large railroad but its legend lives on in the hills of Maryland and West Virginia Moderator EM-1	20	152	Wed May 14, 2008 9:16 am Spooler734

Passenger Rail

Forum		Topics	Posts	Last Post
	Passenger Trains and Operations General discussion regarding passenger trains Moderator Needed!	18	21	Tue May 06, 2008 9:51 am Alco83
	Amtrak Today's Amtrak system Moderator shadowr434	44	160	Tue May 13, 2008 9:14 pm Espee9180

Transit and Commuter

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
Transit and Commuter General discussion regarding transit and commuter operations Moderator Needed!	22	184	Thu May 08, 2008 1:31 pm Alco83
NYC Area Commuter Operations New York City area commuter operations Moderator Needed!	11	52	Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:55 pm kilroy
Traction and Trolleys Trolley and streetcar operations (including light rail) Moderator Needed!	14	15	Thu May 08, 2008 1:31 pm Alco83

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
Diesel Locomotives General diesel locomotive discussions Moderators GP30Lvr, supertrain24	28	153	Tue May 06, 2008 12:09 pm Alco83
Electric Locomotives General electric locomotive discussions Moderator cnwrailfan	3	11	Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:39 pm kilroy
Rolling Stock General rolling stock discussions Moderator CSXT163	13	50	Thu May 01, 2008 1:30 pm Alco83
Steam Locomotives General steam locomotive discussions Moderator BnO_Hendo	25	81	Fri May 02, 2008 6:30 pm Alco83
Maintenance-Of-Way Equipment MOW equipment discussions Moderator EM-1	10	52	Sun May 11, 2008 9:15 pm cribbercat

Physical Plant

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
Infrastructure and Physical Plant General discussion regarding railroad infrastructure and physical plant Moderator randycarnley	6	9	Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:43 pm WP2009
Signals Discussions regarding various signals and their operations Moderator CSXT163	8	79	Wed May 07, 2008 10:47 am Chase55671
Stations and Depots Topics related to railroad stations and depots Moderator randycarnley	18	60	Tue May 13, 2008 1:24 pm Alco83

Model Railroading

	Topics	Posts	Last Post
Model Railroading General discussion about model railroading Moderator ghslaw31	39	217	Wed May 14, 2008 8:03 am modeba
HO Scale Modeling in HO scale Moderator EM-1	47	648	Wed May 14, 2008 1:01 am EM-1
G Scale Modeling in G scale Moderator Scot Lawrence	1	12	Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:01 pm EM-1
O Scale Modeling in O scale Moderator C&OM1500	9	41	Fri May 09, 2008 7:01 pm Martin B
N Scale Modeling in N scale Moderator BnO_Hendo	15	55	Fri May 09, 2008 7:57 pm co_riff

Miscellaneous/Special Interest

Forum		Topics	Posts	Last Post
	Railroad Marine Operations Any and all topics related to railroad water/marine operations Moderators RAH, Nova55	6	21	Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:53 am Richard59
	Railroad/Modeling Organizations Generally covering topics and conversation related to model railroad clubs, the NRHA, NTRAK, live steam modeling, etc. Moderator extra7000south