Former Apostles Jim Stafford and Charlie Colin, along with Scott Underwood, filled the ranks. What Mannaham and Hotchkiss started had progressed into a fuller, richer sound. Naturally, record companies took notice. Train was signed with Aware/Columbia and released a debut album, Train, in 1998. The album hit #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and remained there for four weeks in 1999. The album went Platinum.

In 1997, Train hit the road, opening for acts like Counting Crows and Barenaked Ladies. The group hit the big time in 1997 when its performance at the famous Fillmore sold out. Train had gained a reputation for showmanship and poignant lyrics, but most of all for putting on a rockin' good show.

In 2001, they released their follow up album, Drops of Jupiter and toured in the spring, including an appearance at the South By Southwest festival.