Railway Age
U.S. industry trade (railroad sector)
Background
Railway Age traces its origins to the Western Railroad Gazette, founded in April 1856 in Chicago by Stanley C. Fowler, making it the oldest continuously published transportation trade journal in the United States. The publication was renamed the Railroad Gazette in 1870. In 1908 it merged with its chief rival, The Railway Age (founded in 1876), and eventually settled on the name Railway Age in 1918. The Railway Review, another competitor, was absorbed in 1927. The publisher, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation — whose name derives from Railroad Gazette's vice president E. A. Simmons and editor William H. Boardman — became employee-owned in 1954 when controlling interest was sold to a group of longtime employees. In 1992, Railway Age acquired Modern Railroads, consolidating its position as the dominant U.S. rail trade magazine. Today the monthly print edition reaches roughly 28,000 industry professionals, with a companion website, daily newsletter, and sister publications including Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal. As a B2B trade publication, Railway Age's editorial perspective is shaped by the interests of railroad operators, suppliers, and the broader freight and passenger rail ecosystem rather than by partisan politics.
Sources
- Railway Age – Wikipedia
- Simmons-Boardman Publishing – Wikipedia
- About Us – Railway Age
- Marking a Milestone: Spanning the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries – Railway Age
- New York Times Editorial: There Is a Liberal Answer to the Trump-Musk Wrecking Ball – Railway Age
- Railroad Gazette – Wikipedia
- Publisher – International Railway Journal (Simmons-Boardman)
Profile compiled 2026-07-29; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.