“I enjoy the excursion part because you can see the awe on people’s faces for the first time” Steam locomotives are much more than machines. Ask anyone that works with these iron horses and they all say that it’s like they have a mind of

“This is my only chance to see some things, because in a few years it will change” There’s no doubt that railroading in America has seen its fair share of changes over the past few years. As more railroads adopt systems of cutting operations to

“It’s more than a locomotive, it’s a second family” Trains are a lot more than just iron machines that bring goods and people back and forth. Those of us who are involved in the industry know that a culture around railroading has been formed over

 “I was more terrified than interested, but I guess the thing that you’re most afraid of is actually the thing you’re most interested in”. One of the hallmarks of this industry we’ve all come to love is the fire-breathing iron horses that once prowled every

“It’s our job as people who love trains to make sure those details that make railroading so great are not lost” There’s a certain joy of behind the person in charge of a locomotive, who grasps the throttle and waves to those watching in awe

“When you tell people you’re a locomotive engineer, they’re intrigued. It’s really different than anything else” -Bill Bivins Bill Bivins was born on September 24th, 1966 in Anchorage Alaska. Born into a railroad family, his grandfather was a conductor for the Alaska Railroad and his

Hello everyone and welcome to Behind the Throttle. My name is Max Harris, and I’ve started this blog to shed some light on a seldom seen perspective in the world of railroading. All too often I’ve felt that railroaders are undermined by the machines they