John Emanuel Pappas, ERA first vice president and associate editor of Headlights magazine, died on the morning of Monday, July 29, 2019 at the age of 75. He had been battling cancer for almost a year. Read more here
John Emanuel Pappas, ERA first vice president and associate editor of Headlights magazine, died on the morning of Monday, July 29, 2019 at the age of 75. He had been battling cancer for almost a year. Read more here
MNYBA invites you to our annual end-of-season bus enthusiasts tour, riding a comfortable Coach Tours bus, to visit locations north of New York City, to observe and photograph bus and rail in the Hudson Valley. Our Autumn excursion will take us to visit bus properties and a trolley museum north on the western side of the Hudson Valley from New Jersey to New York locations on both sides of the Hudson. More details here
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A behind-the-scenes look at one of the newest, most state-of-the-art railroad maintenance facilities in the United States. We are limited to only 25 participants, so hurry! More details here
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The dates are final and the itinerary has been set: our 2020 International Tour will be to Greece and the Balkan countries! Greece and the Balkans will cover two cities in Greece and seven Balkan cities in an extensive 16-day tour. The tour will include visits to six major regional cities that have electrified transit operations such as trams, metros or trolley buses, and includes first-class travel on the new Greek high-speed rail line between Athens and Thessolaniki, followed by coach travel throughout the Balkan countries. Sightseeing opportunities will be provided to cover many beautiful and historic places in Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Read more here
OrderFor its 2019 Annual Convention, the ERA will visit three transit hotspots of the Southwestern U.S. for the first time — Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas.
Amtrak’s Sunset Limited from Tucson to El Paso. Carl Jackson, who managed the construction and launch of the El Paso Streetcar, will be the keynote speaker at our Annual Banquet in the DoubleTree by Hilton, Downtown El Paso hotel, our El Paso Headquarters.
The American Southwest is new territory for ERA annual conventions. And it is only our third convention featuring Amtrak intercity travel. You will not want to miss this special convention, so book today! More details here
Sold Out!Ticket sales for the convention are now closed.
Our friends at MBS will be touring France for their Fall 2019 Convention, and everyone from the ERA is invited. They will cover three major French cities in an eight-day program. The tour will include first-class travel on France’s high-speed trains, bus transfers to and from railway stations and hotels, and a short ride in a historic bus as part of a visit to the Paris-area transport museum. There will also be general sightseeing opportunities provided to introduce the group to Paris and Lyon. More details here
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The Elevated Railways of Manhattan, 2nd Edition (2016).
A typical Manhattan Railway steam train turning south onto Front Street from Coenties Slip in 1894.
A northbound train of MUDCs has just crossed the Harlem River and entered The Bronx. This is a post-1940 view, so only Third Avenue trains are operating.
Looking north at 110th Street and Eighth Avenue (Frederick Douglass Boulevard).
A train of R12 and R14 cars is seen entering Queensboro Plaza during the 1950s or early 1960s.
Looking at the Manhattan Bridge approach from the Canal Street station on May 9, 1955.
Looking north from 34th Street and Third Avenue in the late 1940s or early 1950s.
During demolition at Third Avenue and 42nd Street looking north.
A May 1955 view of MUDC 1266 northbound at the 59th Street station.
A view closer to the bridge entrance.
A rare color view of gate cars on the Third Avenue Line.
The demise of the Third Avenue El. This is a demolition view on October 20, 1974 along Webster Avenue just south of East 204th Street. The 1965 GM “fishbowl” bus in the picture would be retired about 1980.
A DeSoto taxi heads northward and over the trolley tracks (the last streetcars ran in 1946) at 45th Street.
The 99th Street El station northbound platform. The buildings on the east side of Third Avenue have been razed for a new public housing project, the George Washington Houses.
A southbound five-car train with two 1938 Steinway motors on either end with a Low-V trailer in the center is traveling on Webster Avenue while crossing Mosholu Parkway. The El would close on April 29, 1973, thus ending the elevated era in New York City.
“The Elevated Railways of Manhattan” counted as the 2013-2014 issues of Headlights for members. It traces the colorful history of New York’s elevated railway system from its earliest steam days until its demise. There are 372-pages of rare photos, many in color, and never-before-seen rosters of incredible detail. Now in its second edition, this is a must-have collectible for classic rail enthusiasts and hobbyists alike. The gorgeous El book by Eric Oszustowicz is only $59 plus $6.95 shipping.
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Acrobat PDFs of every Headlights since 1996 are now available for purchase online. Use our online order form to select the date or dates you want and we will e-mail PDFs of each issue you order. These high-resolution PDFs have the same content as the limited-edition printed copies sent to ERA members.
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The El Paso streetcar opened for service on November 9, 2018, making this our timeliest issue of Headlights yet. This is an historic system that refused to die, and John Pappas thoroughly covers every aspect of its fascinating rebirth. In addition to John’s lush photography, there are exclusive photos of the restoration and testing of the PCC cars, and a detailed track map of the system by Sandy Campbell. This issue also includes highlights from ERA’s 2018 Tour of Southern Germany with photogaphy by Ron Yee and John Pappas. Every picture is beautiful. A few extra copies of this amazing issue are available for only $20 each, including shipping, or just $8.95 for the PDF.
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Weighing in at 96 pages, Headlights 2017 is bursting with three spectacular articles, starting with Ron Yee’s colorful look at “Aruba’s Oranjstad Streetcar.” Although they look like vintage trolleys from 100 years ago, these fascinating trams are powered by state-of-the-art hybrid batteries. Next, John Pappas writes about the “Twilight for Western European PCCs.” Travelling city by city, he has documented the last remaining European PCCs in exquisite detail before they vanish forever. We conclude this issue with “Granada Metro Follow-up” by Randy Glucksman, picking up where Headlights 2016 left off with the final opening of this much-delayed system. A few extra copies are available for only $20 each, including shipping, or just $8.95 for the PDF.
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Headlights gets a new look for the first time in 20 years, and some members are calling it the best issue ever published. Eric Oszustowicz, author of “The Elevated Railways of Manhattan,” answers the question of how the Second Avenue Subway might have turned out had it been finished 86 years ago in “The 1931 IND Plans,” his exclusive examination of actual SAS blueprints. Then John Pappas compares the new streetcar systems of Cincinnati, Kansas City and Granada in our gorgeously illustrated cover story, “A Tale of Three Cities.” Also included are three detailed track maps by Sandy Campbell. A few extra copies are available for only $20 each, including shipping, or just $8.95 for the PDF.
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Traction in Japan, Headlights (2015).
Tokyo.
John Pappas (May 4, 2014).
Tokyo.
John Pappas (May 4, 2014).
Misc rail.
John Pappas (May 5, 2014).
Tokyo.
John Pappas (May 7, 2014).
Tokyo.
John Pappas (May 7, 2014).
Toyama.
John Pappas (May 8, 2014).
Fukui.
John Pappas (May 8, 2014).
Takoaka.
John Pappas (May 9, 2014).
Okayama.
John Pappas (May 11, 2014).
Hiroshima.
John Pappas (May 12, 2014).
Hiroshima.
John Pappas (May 12, 2014).
Hiroshima.
John Pappas (May 12, 2014).
Nagasaki.
John Pappas (May 13, 2014).
Kumamoto.
John Pappas (May 13, 2014).
Kagoshima.
John Pappas (May 14, 2014).
Kagoshima.
John Pappas (May 14, 2014).
Kochi.
John Pappas (May 16, 2014).
Matsuyama.
John Pappas (May 16, 2014).
Kyoto.
John Pappas (May 18, 2014).
Kyoto.
John Pappas (May 18, 2014).
Osaka.
John Pappas (May 18, 2014).
Osaka.
John Pappas (May 19, 2014).
Kyoto.
John Pappas (May 19, 2014).
Kyoto.
John Pappas (May 19, 2014).
Sendai.
John Pappas (May 20, 2014).
Hakodate.
John Pappas (May 21, 2014).
Tokyo.
John Pappas (May 23, 2014).
Tokyo.
John Pappas (May 23, 2014).
Misc rail.
John Pappas (May 23, 2014).
The special 2015 “Traction in Japan” issue of Headlights by John Pappas is still available! It provides a modern day pictorial survey of the surviving streetcar systems of Japan as seen by ERA members during a comprehensive tour in May 2014. With 92 pages of spectacular photography by Mr. Pappas, Ron Yee and Michael Glikin and design by Sandy Campbell, this is the most comprehensive edition of Headlights ever printed and has been met with overwhelming praise from members. A few extra copies are available for only $20 each, including shipping, or just $8.95 for the PDF.
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We have added full issues of almost every Bulletin since 2002 through last year for viewing online or PDF download, including our special 2004 NYC Subway Anniversary edition. There are even covers from the current year, which we add to each month, and these issues become available at the end of December. More details here
We have added free PDFs of every Headlights index from 1950–1977 (1971 was the Toronto book by John Bromley) for viewing online or download. Thank you John Swindler for your invaluable scanning work! More details here
