Train
A series of railroad cars moved as a unit by a locomotive or by integral motors.
A•fi•ci•o•na•do
A person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime.
About Jonathan Higgins
My passion for trains kicked off when I was a kid. Sundays were our special train days, where my dad and I would hang out at the Conrail yard in Middleboro, Massachusetts, watching trains being built or catching the Amtrak CapeCodder rolling through town. We also loved visiting the Edaville Railroad in South Carver, where I really fell for steam locomotives. Besides the big trains, I’ve always had a soft spot for model railroads too. One of our favorite spots was the A&D Toy Train Museum in Middleboro, which was just incredible, with tons of rooms showcasing different train layouts.
In the years that followed, parts of the Edaville Railroad collection made their way to Portland, Maine, specifically to the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad. We frequently checked out this museum, along with the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunk, Maine. That’s where I really developed a passion for streetcars and light rail transit.
In the mid to late ’90s, I got to see the building of a new MBTA commuter rail line right in my hometown. I was really intrigued by the track upgrades and the new commuter rail station going up. This line ended up being my ride to Boston for college.
A few years down the line, I found myself in Attleboro, Massachusetts, which was perfect for exploring the Northeast Corridor. I got to check out all kinds of trains, including the Amtrak Acela/Regional, MBTA Commuter Rail, and local CSX freight. It was also around this time that I kicked off a new blog/website called TrainAficionado.com in 2013.
In the late 2010s, I finally made my first trip to the Horseshoe Curve just outside of Altoona, Pennsylvania. This became one of my favorite places to railfan, and I would frequently visit almost yearly after my first visit.
I left Massachusetts for the first time and spent some time living in Landis, North Carolina. The Norfolk Southern trains went right through the town, and I loved watching them. I would often railfan right in town or travel south into Charlotte or points north of the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
I recently relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, and during that time, I kicked off Train Aficionado Live, a show all about trains and railfanning. Cincinnati has a deep railroad history and sees a ton of train traffic coming and going. Not long after settling in, I joined the Cincinnati Railroad Club, which holds its meetings in the iconic Cincinnati Union Terminal.
Train Aficionado has experienced significant growth in recent years, offering railfan outings, educational programs, and producing online content in 4K resolution. Make sure you join our online communities on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, and YouTube Channel!