The March 2026 program will feature Lane Petrosenko of Edmonton and Mark Walton of Ottawa presenting traction past and present in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. Lane will review the history of the Edmonton Radial Railway, including its routes, equipment, and infrastructure, and discuss the preservation work of the Edmonton Radial Railway Society. Mark will then cover modern light rail operations in Edmonton and Calgary using photographs from the ERA/Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation’s 2024 Convention. These cities, along with San Diego, were pioneers of the late 1970s and early 1980s transition from traditional trolley systems to modern light rail in North America. Join us for this fascinating evening exploring the history and evolution of electric rail transit in Western Canada. Read More

The February 2026 program will feature Eric Oszustowicz with an in-depth, extended presentation of high-definition videos and still images covering a wide range of rail subjects. Highlights include a comprehensive look at New York–area rail systems—subways, Metro-North, LIRR, NJ Transit, and SIR—interwoven with rare 1984 subway views emphasizing the short-lived R14 and R15 cars. Additional segments explore rail operations in Boston and Washington, DC, including WMATA, MARC, VRE, and Amtrak, complemented by vintage MARC and VRE imagery from the 1990s. Freight railfans will enjoy coverage of major Class I railroads and the RJ Corman system across several states, while the program concludes with compelling 1980s New York City subway photographs from the graffiti era. Plan on a three to four hours presentation and an evening well worth staying to the end. Read More

For January, ERA's longtime conventions and international trip chairman and past editor of Headlights, Jack May, will present highlights from his recent travels to Paris and the Low Countries. The program features new openings and rolling stock in Paris, a new extension in Luxembourg, the brand-new tramway in Liège, and the relatively recent Utrecht extensions, along with return visits to Rotterdam, Den Haag, and Amsterdam. A special highlight is Den Haag's heritage tram operation in city streets during “Open Monuments” weekend, complemented by scanned slides from Jack's 1960 trip. Don't miss this engaging journey through both historic and modern European transit from one of ERA's most accomplished photographers and speakers. Read More