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In the freight-rail realm, this year’s business uptick put many railroads back on the profitability track — and, at least potentially, in good position to have a good (if not great) 2005. Or so traffic trends and Class I financial statements suggest. But we weren’t sure if rail execs with profit-and-loss responsibilities felt the same way. So we checked in with 40 freight rail leaders to learn what they were thinking about as they prepared for the year ahead. Would it be a better year? Did they feel good about where their respective roads were? If so, why?

Even though they expect to get hammered again by fuel costs — and, to an extent, their own inability to handle increasing traffic volumes — the overwhelming majority of freight-rail execs we spoke with feel better than they have in years about their respective roads’ prospects for generating top-line growth in 2005, as we report in "More Than Half Full," this month’s cover story. Passenger rail execs weighed in, too – they’re a bit more cautious about near-term growth, but they told us they’re viewing the 2005 glass as (at least) half full.

During the past two-and-a-half years, Amtrak President David Gunn has designed and implemented a back-to-basics plan, and devised fiscal controls to help the national passenger railroad conduct deferred maintenance while staying within budget. Next on his list: enhancing the onboard experience. And, relying on his tell-it-like-it-is attitude, Gunn’s out to show that Amtrak is a vital link in the national transport chain, as Assistant Editor Angela Claypool reports in "Gunning For Better Service."

Good people make the rail industry go ‘round, and Robin Eisenbrei is good people. That Eisenbrei serves as a top official and owner of a company — Morrison Metalweld Process Corp. -- in a male-dominated industry is just about as impressive as the road she took to get there, as Claypool puts it this month in her profile of Eisenbrei, who recently received The League of Railway Industry Women’s 2004 "Outstanding Woman of the Year" award, which is sponsored by Progressive Railroading.

On the mechanical beat: Rail-car industry consultant (and Progressive Railroading Columnist) Toby Kolstad offers his exclusive forecast for 2005 freight-car deliveries, along with a 2004 market recap.

C&S technology: Suppliers now offer a variety of systems to help railroads find faulty components before they reach the breaking point as Managing Editor Jeff Stagl notes in "Detection Selection."

Special Report: Members of the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association can look back on a list of 2004 successes ranging from passage of key legislation to implementation of new safety programs and an equipment auction. NRC leaders also are pressing ahead with aggressive agenda that they hope will lead to continued gains for their members as well as the entire railroad industry, as NRC officials reveal this month in "Building a Rail-Centered Coalition."