The All Aboard Podcast by All Things Trains
Episodes
Who Shot the Passenger Train? All Aboard Episode 073
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the May, 1959 issue of Trains Magazine, editor David P. Morgan discussed the factors that led to passenger rail's decline and what could be don...
The Columbus & Greenville: A Shortline Story
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does a long-gone investment company in Richmond, VA have to do with a shortline railroad in Mississippi? Phil tells the story, from the Greenberg...
All Aboard Episode 071: REJECTED?!? What Happened to the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger?!?
17 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Union Pacific & Norfolk Southern made news this week, but it's not what you think. Phil Bell breaks down what happened and why.
A Passenger Train Par-Tay!
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We dive into Illinois' reorganization of Metra, CTA, and Pace, plus take a look at the Ameristar Rail & its leader Scott Spencer's plans f...
All Aboard! Episode 069: UP NS Merger Application A Live Deep Dive!
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hot off the presses! Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern just filed their merger application and it's a long one! Phil will dive in and take a look...
Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger: A Deep Dive | All Aboard Episode 068
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this joint episode with the Parkview Institute's Center for Transportation Advancement, Phil Bell and C4TA Executive Director David Ozgo discus...
Phil Spills the Tea--Full Episode! | All Aboard Episode 066
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coming to you from the Greenberg's Train & Toy Show in Edison, NJ, Phil gives the full story about his time as a lobbyist for GoRail. Please j...
Piggyback & Containers Book Review | All Aboard Podcast Episode 065
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever seen a truck trailer or shipping container on a train...and wondered how it got there? Well, David J. DeBoer's book, Piggyback and C...
Was Penn Central...A Success?!?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if I told you that almost every aspect of Penn Central succeeded? Would you believe me? Phil Bell, host of the All Aboard Podcast, challenges eve...
Episode 62: Make America ('s Passenger Trains) Great Again!!
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 61, we talked about what was wrong with Amtrak. In Episode 62, we hear Phil's plan to improve America's passenger trains by building on Amt...
Episode 61: Amtrak is a Factory of Sadness
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Phil loves to ride the train and he's had good trips on Amtrak. But let's be honest, it is a Factory of Sadness for those who want to see improved pas...
Episode 60: Was Erie Lackawanna a Bad Idea?!?
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Erie Lackawanna is a beloved railroad among rail enthusiasts, historians, and those who lived along its route. But was the Erie Lackawanna a bad ...
All Aboard Episode 059: Railroad In Review-June 23-29
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in for our weekly review of railroad news, here at The All Aboard Podcast. We cover a brewing controversy with the ownership of N&W 611, the ...
All Aboard Episode 058: Innovation-Anatomy of a Well-Intentioned, Bad Idea
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Amtrak might be making big changes to its Washington, DC-Chicago, IL Capitol Limited and New York, NY-Miami, FL Silver Star. Phil thinks it's a ba...
All Aboard Episode 056: Chicago? Fughetaboutit!!!
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy our episode on the Belt Railway of Chicago, Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, Indiana Harbor Belt, and other ways railroads avoid Chicago! __________...
All Aboard Episode 055: "New Start" Commuter Rail Lines
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When most people think of Commuter Trains, they think of the big city systems that were operated by private railroads in days gone by. Today, we talk ...
All Aboard Episode 053: Demystifying Locomotive Designations
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you've been around trains for any length of time, you've heard someone mention an "SD45-2" or maybe an "AC60" or even...
All Aboard Episode 052: Responding to Your Comments on Freight vs. Passenger Rail
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our clapback to Wendover Productions' YouTube Video "The One Tiny Law That Keeps Amtrak Terrible," sure did stir up a hornet's nest!...
All Aboard Episode 051: Time for a Clapback-Debunking the Freight Preference Hoax
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many rail passenger advocates believe that passenger trains are unfairly hurt by freight train interference and that freight railroad executives priva...
All Aboard Episode 050: Magazine Throwback: April 1980 Trains Magazine
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For our 50th Episode, we take a look back at one of Phil's favorite magazines: The April, 1980 issue of Trains Magazine. This includes the UP-M...
All Aboard Episode 047: 1st Generation EMDs & Today's Trains
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many rail enthusiasts love the 1st Generation EMDs, such as the E8, F7, F3, and GP7. We talk about the Electro-Motive Division itself, and why these l...
All Aboard Episode 046: Rail Preservation: The Good, The Bad, & The Absolute Fugly
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all love to talk about "preserved" rail equipment...but what is rail preservation and why does it drive so many people absolutely crazy? ...
All Aboard Episode 045: NS vs. Ancora-The Aftermath
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For nearly 4 months, Norfolk Southern was engaged in a bruising battle with activist investor Ancora Holdings, which ended in a draw on Thursday, May ...
All Aboard Episode 044: From the Roundhouse to the Statehouse
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Railroads, along with their suppliers and customers have an extensive advocacy network in Washington, DC and in all 50 states. This episode discusses ...
All Aboard Book Review: Fifty Years of Amtrak Trains
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in for Phil's review of Fifty Years of Amtrak Trains by David C. Warner and Bruce Goldberg, as we conclude Passenger Train Week. Also, Phil g...
All Aboard Episode 043: Happy 53rd Birthday, Amtrak!
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate Amtrak's 53rd Birthday, we talk about several trains which Amtrak is no longer running, to help tell the carrier's story. Stop, L...
All Aboard Episode 042: Who REALLY Shot The Passenger Train?
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since Amtrak's 53rd birthday is happening this week, Phil talks about who really shot the passenger train, and his answer may surprise you! ______...
Bonus Episode: Railroad Transactions, Poison Pills, & Junk Bonds
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 041 (Shouldn't Paint So Fast...Or Should You?) Covered the Southern Pacific Santa Fe non-merger, and it meant we needed a clearer explanat...
All Aboard Episode 041: Shouldn't Paint So Fast...Or Should You?
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Southern Pacific Santa Fe would have been a great railroad...but it never turned a wheel. Find out why that is, and if Phil thinks it should be pa...
All Aboard Episode 040-Size Matters: Three Little Railroads with a BIG Impact
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Size really does matter in railroading, so we're talking about three railroads: The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie, the Sandersville Railroad, and the Richmon...
All Aboard Episode 039: Magazine Throwback: Trains March, 1990
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For our first Magazine Throwback, we review several parts of the March 1990 issue of Trains Magazine, including the then-new partnership between the S...
All Aboard Episode 038: Reflections on the Pennsy
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last Saturday (April 13, 2024) was the Pennsylvania Railroad's 178th Birthday. So today, we reflect on the Pennsy itself and how it continues to ...
All Aboard Episode 037: Luxury Trains of the '80s, '90s, and Today!
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The American-European Express and the Rocky Mountaineer are some of the most exciting stories in luxury passenger rail. Phil talks about them here, an...
All Aboard Episode 036: Luxury Trains of Times Gone By
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all love luxury trains...but what is a luxury train? How much does it cost to ride? What made it stand out? In this episode, we talk about the Cal...
All Aboard Book Review: The Men Who Loved Trains by Rush Loving, Jr.
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rush Loving,Jr.--a longtime journalist who covered the rail industry extensively over several decades--wrote a great book that outlines the changes in...
All Aboard Episode 035: ConRail Back In the Day
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part II of our series on Conrail, where we talk about Big Conrail's component roads, a sweep through its history, and how we got to Big Blue in th...
All Aboard Episode 034: Conrail Today
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's Conrail Week! Today we dive in to Conrail as a Shared Asset operator, coupled with a discussion of the fight between CSX and Norfolk Souther...
It's Conrail Week...Let's Go!!
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's Conrail Week, so we'll be talking about Big Blue all week. This video says what we'll be up to...but it's also here for you to sh...
All Aboard Episode 033: After the Disaster--Railroads in Baltimore
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Baltimore, MD's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024. We take a look at the Port of Baltimore, the rail...
All Aboard Episode 032: Norfolk Southern vs. Ancora-Taking a Deep Dive
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is an in-depth explanation of why Ancora Holdings is going after Norfolk Southern, including who Ancora is, what changes they want to make, and w...
All Aboard Episode 031: Directed Service Orders-From the Rock Island to the Blackwell Northern
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Blackwell Gateway Northern Railroad was recently shut down by the Federal Railroad Administration for safety violations, with a Directed Service O...
All Aboard Episode 030: From a Boy Who Loved Trains to a Rail Industry Leader
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, Phil Bell interviews Michael E. Allen, who works as a consultant for storied rail consultancy R.L. Banks & Associates. We...
All Aboard Episode 029: Take the A-Train: Amtrak's History & Place in Railroading
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Think you know Amtrak? Well tune in for this conversation about what led to Amtrak, what it does, and who really owns it! "Like" and subscri...
All Aboard Book Review: Romance of the Rails by Randal O'Toole
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a review of Randal O'Toole's book: Romance of the Rails--Why the Passenger Trains We Love Are Not the Transportation We Need _____...
All Aboard Episode 028: Robert R. Young & Rail Innovation
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode of The All Aboard Podcast, we discuss Robert R. Young and Railroad Innovation. All Aboard!! _______________ Show Bibliography: ...
All Aboard Episode 027: Activist Investors Are Nothing New
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The rail industry is buzzing about Ancora Holdings' effort to oust Norfolk Southern Chief Executive Alan Shaw. Today, Phil breaks down the NS-Anco...
All Aboard Episode 026: A Railfan in the Garden State
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Phil spent years as a railfan in Boston...but North Jersey is his railroad home. In this episode, we talk about the railroad scene in North Jersey in ...
The Regional Railroad Movement Pt. 2
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Guilford Transportation Industries, Pan Am Railways, The New York, Susquehanna & Western, the Milwaukee Road, Wisconsin Central...these are some o...
The Regional Railroad Movement Pt. 1
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Sub...
All Aboard Bonus Episode--MORE Boston Railfan Stories
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 railroa...
All Aboard Episode 022: Talgo Time!
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
All Aboard Episode 021: Precision Scheduled Railroading Is Terrible...Or is it?!?
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ab...
All Aboard Episode 020: VIA Rail Canada
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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, an...
All Aboard Episode 019: Auto Train Pt. 2-A Legendary Comeback
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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, spec...
All Aboard Podcast Book Review: Merging Lines by Richard Saunders Jr.
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
All Aboard Episode 018: Auto Train Pt. 1-A Shining Light in a Dark Time
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our discussion of intermodal transportation, we discuss the auto-train, which was a revolutionary effort in the 1970s to bring passengers b...
All Aboard Episode 017: Intermodal Does NOT Mean Sex
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No, we're not talking about sex. We're talking about how railroads use multiple modes of transportation to move people and goods. This overvie...
All Aboard Episode 016: Railroads & EVs Pt. 2: Electrifications Forgotten
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 intere...
All Aboard Episode 015: Railroads...America's Biggest User of EVs?!?
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 to...
All Things Trains Episode 014: The Big "D" ...Diversification in the Rail Industry
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When anyone mentions diversification by railroads, someone always gets upset. Phil talks about what diversification is, examples of railroads who did...
All Aboard Episode 013: Why All the Amtrak H8?
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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-goi...
All Aboard Podcast Episode 012: The Crash at Chase, 37 Years Later
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On January 4, 1987, Amtrak's northbound Colonial collided with 3 Conrail locomotives at Gunpow Interlocking in Chase, MD. The Conrail engineer, R...
Aboard Episode 011: An Overview of Shortline Railroads
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
All Things Trains Episode 010 Book Review: William and Henry Walters
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For our first Train Book Thursday, we review Gregg M. Turner's William and Henry Walters Father & Son Founders of the Atlantic Coast Line Rai...
All Aboard Episode 009: No Crew, No Couplers, & No Engines?!?
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 on...
All Aboard Episode 008: Ranting & Reminiscing About Amtrak
31 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 trav...
All Aboard Episode 007: The Conditions for Conrail
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
All Aboard Episode 006: Celebrating Erie Lackawanna
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
All Aboard Episode 005: Railroad Regulation & Industrial Evolution
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're talking train shows, the Unitah Basin Railway, and CN's acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway. Read the articles below to learn mo...
All Aboard Episode 004: The Seaboard Coast Line & Rail Mergers
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
All Aboard Episode 003: The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's s trip into transportation excellence reviews the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, competitor to the Seaboard Air Line and a railroad that fo...
All Aboard, Episode 002: The Seaboard Air Line Railroad
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's excursion into transportation excellence takes us to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, one of the southeast's most prominent railroads. ...