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the summer season.
VIRGINIA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE The Cavalier State enjoys a rich railroading heritage. Unfortunately, Virginia train rides are few; only the Buckingham Branch Railroad offers public excursions. However, BALTIMORE & OHIO 4-6-4 LOCOMOTIVES: SPECS, ROSTER, PHOTOS It's tough to argue that the New York Central fielded some of the most gorgeous Hudsons ever put into service. Who can ever forget those iconic Class J3a's styled by Henry Dreyfuss to pull the initial version a streamlined 20th Century Limited. Some other roads to field fleets of classic 4-6-4s included the Canadian Pacific's Royal Hudsons, Chicago & North Western's Class E-4's, the Milwaukee QUANAH, ACME & PACIFIC RAILWAY: MAP, ROSTER, HISTORY The Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railway (reporting marks, QAP), also sometimes referred to as The Quanah Route for its bridge status began as a system by another name in the very early 20th century to serve northern Texas.. A few years later it was renamed as the QA&P and had much more grand aspirations to begin pushing west. MONTANA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Charlie Russell Chew-Choo Dinner Train. Without question this attraction is the state's most popular (and only) scenic train ride. The Charlie Russell Chew-Choo utilizes a section of the former Milwaukee Road's Northern Montana Lines, taking passengers on trip from Lewistown to Denton (and back).. The entire trip covers about 56 miles and is the only such venue offered throughout the state PLYMOUTH LOCOMOTIVE WORKS: HISTORY, PHOTOS, MODELS The Plymouth Locomotive Works was an historic builder of small gasoline and diesel-electric switchers. Its most popular models weighed 25 tons or less although it produced variants as large as 120tons.
C&NW'S "FLAMBEAU 400" (TRAIN): TIMETABLE, SCHEDULE, CONSIST By the early 1940s the C&NW was launching new 400s as fast as the equipment arrived and soon it had a fleet serving the entire Upper Midwest to complement the numerous Union Pacific-owned City trains fielded between Omaha and Chicago. The Flambeau 400 joined the fleet during May of 1950 to provide service between Chicago and Ashland, Wisconsin (via Green Bay) with a seasonal summer schedule SOUTH BRANCH VALLEY RAILROAD (WV): ROSTER, MAP, OVERVIEW The South Branch Valley Railroad (SBVR) is a state-owned line using former B&O trackage in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. Along with hauling freight it also hosts excursions. OHIO RAILROAD STATIONS (HISTORIC): PAST & PRESENT (LIST) Ohio was an incredibly important state to railroads; one of the nation's first opened in 1839, the Mad River & Lake Erie (a future component of the New York Central), and key cities were located there offering substantial business for the industry; Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown, Cleveland, Canton, Akron, Toledo, and Dayton. OFFICIAL GUIDE OF THE RAILWAYS (PDF): 1940'S, 1950'S & MORE The Official Guide Of The Railways was once the premier source for one traveling by train. The publication, released each month during its height, was first produced by the Edward Vernon in 1868. In its most recognized form the Guide was published by the National Railway Publication Company of New York.. The publication included every common-carrier railroad in operation, whether they provided SCENIC DINNER TRAIN RIDES BY STATE (2021): A COMPLETE GUIDE Montana Dinner Train Rides 2021. Charlie Russell Chew Choo: A sometimes forgotten dinner train operation is the Charlie Russell Chew Choo is based in Lewistown along the only former Milwaukee Road still intact in the west-central region of the state.. The train covers 28 miles (56-mile round trip) and operates nearly every weekend duringthe summer season.
VIRGINIA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE The Cavalier State enjoys a rich railroading heritage. Unfortunately, Virginia train rides are few; only the Buckingham Branch Railroad offers public excursions. However, BALTIMORE & OHIO 4-6-4 LOCOMOTIVES: SPECS, ROSTER, PHOTOS It's tough to argue that the New York Central fielded some of the most gorgeous Hudsons ever put into service. Who can ever forget those iconic Class J3a's styled by Henry Dreyfuss to pull the initial version a streamlined 20th Century Limited. Some other roads to field fleets of classic 4-6-4s included the Canadian Pacific's Royal Hudsons, Chicago & North Western's Class E-4's, the Milwaukee QUANAH, ACME & PACIFIC RAILWAY: MAP, ROSTER, HISTORY The Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railway (reporting marks, QAP), also sometimes referred to as The Quanah Route for its bridge status began as a system by another name in the very early 20th century to serve northern Texas.. A few years later it was renamed as the QA&P and had much more grand aspirations to begin pushing west. MONTANA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Charlie Russell Chew-Choo Dinner Train. Without question this attraction is the state's most popular (and only) scenic train ride. The Charlie Russell Chew-Choo utilizes a section of the former Milwaukee Road's Northern Montana Lines, taking passengers on trip from Lewistown to Denton (and back).. The entire trip covers about 56 miles and is the only such venue offered throughout the state PLYMOUTH LOCOMOTIVE WORKS: HISTORY, PHOTOS, MODELS The Plymouth Locomotive Works was an historic builder of small gasoline and diesel-electric switchers. Its most popular models weighed 25 tons or less although it produced variants as large as 120tons.
C&NW'S "FLAMBEAU 400" (TRAIN): TIMETABLE, SCHEDULE, CONSIST By the early 1940s the C&NW was launching new 400s as fast as the equipment arrived and soon it had a fleet serving the entire Upper Midwest to complement the numerous Union Pacific-owned City trains fielded between Omaha and Chicago. The Flambeau 400 joined the fleet during May of 1950 to provide service between Chicago and Ashland, Wisconsin (via Green Bay) with a seasonal summer schedule SOUTH BRANCH VALLEY RAILROAD (WV): ROSTER, MAP, OVERVIEW The South Branch Valley Railroad (SBVR) is a state-owned line using former B&O trackage in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. Along with hauling freight it also hosts excursions. OHIO RAILROAD STATIONS (HISTORIC): PAST & PRESENT (LIST) Ohio was an incredibly important state to railroads; one of the nation's first opened in 1839, the Mad River & Lake Erie (a future component of the New York Central), and key cities were located there offering substantial business for the industry; Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown, Cleveland, Canton, Akron, Toledo, and Dayton. VIRGINIA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Ashland Museum. The Ashland Museum tells the history of a community that was originally founded in 1858. From a railroading perspective it is home to a double-tracked, north-south main line that for many years was operated by the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (today, CSXTransportation).
B&O'S "NATIONAL LIMITED" (TRAIN): TIMETABLE, ROUTE, CONSIST Listed as trains #1 and #2 on the B&O's official timetable, the original routing left the Jersey Central's Jersey City Terminal, located along the Hudson River waterfront (passengers took ferries into the downtown area and then boarded B&O buses once they reached the Big Apple), traveled down the east coast to Washington, D.C./Baltimore, and then journeyed west through the hills of West MONTANA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Charlie Russell Chew-Choo Dinner Train. Without question this attraction is the state's most popular (and only) scenic train ride. The Charlie Russell Chew-Choo utilizes a section of the former Milwaukee Road's Northern Montana Lines, taking passengers on trip from Lewistown to Denton (and back).. The entire trip covers about 56 miles and is the only such venue offered throughout the state PLYMOUTH LOCOMOTIVE WORKS: HISTORY, PHOTOS, MODELS The Plymouth Locomotive Works was an historic builder of small gasoline and diesel-electric switchers. Its most popular models weighed 25 tons or less although it produced variants as large as 120tons.
CAMDEN AND AMBOY RAILROAD: MAP, HISTORY, PHOTOS A History Of The Camden And Amboy Railroad. The Camden & Amboy Railroad was one of the earliest systems chartered in the United States. It was created on February 4, 1830 as the Camden and Amboy Rail Road and Transportation Company by Robert Stevens with the purpose of connecting the Delaware River, upon which the city of Philadelphia sat with the Raritan River, which ran into New York Cityto
FEC'S "HAVANA SPECIAL" (TRAIN): TIMETABLE, CONSIST, PHOTOS The Special, however, was not meant as a regional train serving only the east coast of Florida between Key West and Jacksonville.The FEC intended the train to operate up and down the U.S. eastern seaboard, almost literally the entire length. To do so required a partnership with other lines including the Atlantic Coast Line (between Jacksonville and Richmond, Virginia), Richmond Fredericksburg NORTH DAKOTA RAILROADS: MAP, HISTORY, ABANDONED LINES North Dakota is usually thought of for two things, lots of originating grain and other agricultural products (of which 70% makes up the state's total overall originating freight) and CHESAPEAKE WESTERN RAILWAY: MAP, HISTORY, PHOTOS The Chesapeake Western Railway (reporting marks, CHW) was a bucolic shortline located within the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. While the CW is technically still a subsidiary of Norfolk Southern it has not been an independently run operation since the mid-1950s. WYOMING RAILROADS: MAP, HISTORY, PHOTOS Wyoming railroads date back to the Union Pacific when the railroad reached the state’s eastern fringes in 1862 en route to its eventual meeting with the Central Pacific Railroad in May of 1869 at Promontory Point, Utah to complete the famed Transcontinental Railroad. UNION PACIFIC'S "CITY OF ST LOUIS" (TRAIN): SCHEDULE, CONSIST The Union Pacific was so impressed with the train (although it did have some mechanical issues), and the response it received from the public that the railroad purchased seven more sets and the City fleet was born! Following the City of Salina, also in 1934, was the City of Portland, City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, and finally Cityof Denver in 1936.
OFFICIAL GUIDE OF THE RAILWAYS (PDF): 1940'S, 1950'S & MORE The Official Guide Of The Railways was born through a need to provide an efficient source of scheduled passenger trains as rail service expanded across the country during the 1860's. While the Civil War created uncertainty and tension throughout the United States the decade also witnessed the Transcontinental Railroad's completion inMay, 1869.
TENNESSEE SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Tennessee Scenic Train Rides: A Complete Guide. With its first railroad chartered in the 1840's and Appalachian Mountain location, Tennessee scenic train rides offer a combination of history and beauty. You will enjoy breathtaking views of rolling green hills, VIRGINIA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Virginia Scenic Train Rides: A Complete Guide. The Cavalier State enjoys a long history with the iron horse thanks to its eastern seaboard location. Railroading in the United States has its genesis here. In nearby Baltimore, Maryland the country's first common-carrier (Baltimore & Ohio) was chartered in 1827 while not far away in thePalmetto
GRAND TRUNK WESTERN RAILROAD: MAP, LOGO, HISTORY, ROSTERSEE MORE ONAMERICAN-RAILS.COM
ILLINOIS TERMINAL RAILROAD: MAP, ROSTER, PHOTOS, HISTORYSEE MORE ONAMERICAN-RAILS.COM
ONTARIO NORTHLAND RAILROAD: MAP, ROSTER, HISTORY Ontario Northland Railway. The Ontario Northland Railway (reporting marks, ONT) grew into one of Canada's largest regional systems, spanning more than 500 miles in length between North Bay and Moosonee in the province's eastern region. Since it was first incorporated during the early 20th century (when the railroad was then known by adifferent
PLYMOUTH LOCOMOTIVE WORKS: HISTORY, PHOTOS, MODELS Plymouth Locomotive Works. The Plymouth Locomotive Works was an historic builder of small gasoline and diesel-electric switchers. Its most popular models weighed 25 tons or less although it produced variants as large as 120 tons. According to the book, " Critters, Dinkys & Centercabs " by author Jay Reed, Plymouth was the mostsuccessful
ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD: MAP, PICTURES, LOGO, HISTORY, TIMETABLES The fabled Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a legend in its own time. A Might Fine Line was immortalized in song when Clarence Wilson, a member of the Rock Island's Colored Booster Quartet (an employee choir group from the railroad's Biddle Shops in Little Rock, Arkansas) wrote "Rock Island Line" in 1929. A few different versions sprang up in the succeeding years, the most famous FM "H16-44" LOCOMOTIVES: DATA, HISTORY, PHOTOS & MORE Milwaukee Road H16-44 #426 (built as #2506) lays over in the road's terminal at Bensenville, Illinois in 1968. The FM H16-44 began production in the spring of 1950, following the early H15-44 model. It utilized Fairbanks Morse standard 2-cycle 38D8 1/8 opposed piston prime mover which could produce a slight increase of 1,600 horsepower. OKLAHOMA RAILROADS: MAP, HISTORY, ABANDONED LINES Oklahoma railroads date back to 1871 (36 years before Oklahoma officially became a state) when the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, long known in late years as The Katy, entered Indian Territory (as it was then known) heading south to connect to New Orleans.The railroad dated back to the Union Pacific Railway of 1865, intended to connect Junction City, Kansas with New Orleans. OFFICIAL GUIDE OF THE RAILWAYS (PDF): 1940'S, 1950'S & MORE The Official Guide Of The Railways was born through a need to provide an efficient source of scheduled passenger trains as rail service expanded across the country during the 1860's. While the Civil War created uncertainty and tension throughout the United States the decade also witnessed the Transcontinental Railroad's completion inMay, 1869.
TENNESSEE SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Tennessee Scenic Train Rides: A Complete Guide. With its first railroad chartered in the 1840's and Appalachian Mountain location, Tennessee scenic train rides offer a combination of history and beauty. You will enjoy breathtaking views of rolling green hills, VIRGINIA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Virginia Scenic Train Rides: A Complete Guide. The Cavalier State enjoys a long history with the iron horse thanks to its eastern seaboard location. Railroading in the United States has its genesis here. In nearby Baltimore, Maryland the country's first common-carrier (Baltimore & Ohio) was chartered in 1827 while not far away in thePalmetto
GRAND TRUNK WESTERN RAILROAD: MAP, LOGO, HISTORY, ROSTERSEE MORE ONAMERICAN-RAILS.COM
ILLINOIS TERMINAL RAILROAD: MAP, ROSTER, PHOTOS, HISTORYSEE MORE ONAMERICAN-RAILS.COM
ONTARIO NORTHLAND RAILROAD: MAP, ROSTER, HISTORY Ontario Northland Railway. The Ontario Northland Railway (reporting marks, ONT) grew into one of Canada's largest regional systems, spanning more than 500 miles in length between North Bay and Moosonee in the province's eastern region. Since it was first incorporated during the early 20th century (when the railroad was then known by adifferent
PLYMOUTH LOCOMOTIVE WORKS: HISTORY, PHOTOS, MODELS Plymouth Locomotive Works. The Plymouth Locomotive Works was an historic builder of small gasoline and diesel-electric switchers. Its most popular models weighed 25 tons or less although it produced variants as large as 120 tons. According to the book, " Critters, Dinkys & Centercabs " by author Jay Reed, Plymouth was the mostsuccessful
ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD: MAP, PICTURES, LOGO, HISTORY, TIMETABLES The fabled Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a legend in its own time. A Might Fine Line was immortalized in song when Clarence Wilson, a member of the Rock Island's Colored Booster Quartet (an employee choir group from the railroad's Biddle Shops in Little Rock, Arkansas) wrote "Rock Island Line" in 1929. A few different versions sprang up in the succeeding years, the most famous FM "H16-44" LOCOMOTIVES: DATA, HISTORY, PHOTOS & MORE Milwaukee Road H16-44 #426 (built as #2506) lays over in the road's terminal at Bensenville, Illinois in 1968. The FM H16-44 began production in the spring of 1950, following the early H15-44 model. It utilized Fairbanks Morse standard 2-cycle 38D8 1/8 opposed piston prime mover which could produce a slight increase of 1,600 horsepower. OKLAHOMA RAILROADS: MAP, HISTORY, ABANDONED LINES Oklahoma railroads date back to 1871 (36 years before Oklahoma officially became a state) when the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, long known in late years as The Katy, entered Indian Territory (as it was then known) heading south to connect to New Orleans.The railroad dated back to the Union Pacific Railway of 1865, intended to connect Junction City, Kansas with New Orleans. HEAD-END EQUIPMENT (TRAINS): MEANING, PHOTOS, OVERVIEW Head-End Equipment (Trains) Head-end equipment was a term used almost exclusively to describe passenger trains and specifically meant the cars that traveled directly behind the locomotive that did not involve the cars used or occupied by the paying passengers. During the days that private railroads operated passenger trains this equipment ILLINOIS TERMINAL RAILROAD: MAP, ROSTER, PHOTOS, HISTORY A Brief History Of The Illinois Terminal. The Road Of Personalized Services proved a good slogan for the Illinois Terminal, which worked hard over the years to develop its carload freight business while providing high quality service for customers.. As Dr. George Hilton and John Due note in their excellent title, "The Electric Interurban Railways In America," the IT blossomed into the largest VIRGINIA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Virginia Scenic Train Rides: A Complete Guide. The Cavalier State enjoys a long history with the iron horse thanks to its eastern seaboard location. Railroading in the United States has its genesis here. In nearby Baltimore, Maryland the country's first common-carrier (Baltimore & Ohio) was chartered in 1827 while not far away in thePalmetto
ONTARIO NORTHLAND RAILROAD: MAP, ROSTER, HISTORY Ontario Northland Railway. The Ontario Northland Railway (reporting marks, ONT) grew into one of Canada's largest regional systems, spanning more than 500 miles in length between North Bay and Moosonee in the province's eastern region. Since it was first incorporated during the early 20th century (when the railroad was then known by adifferent
ONEIDA & WESTERN RAILROAD: MAP, PHOTOS, HISTORY Warren Callwoay photo. What led to the creation of the "Oneida and Western Railroad" began in the late 1970s. The energy crisis of that decade resulted in a rush on coal, which tended to follow the price of other fossil fuels like oil. The demand for coal, however, had also been going up since the late 1960s and the L&N specifically had been QUANAH, ACME & PACIFIC RAILWAY: MAP, ROSTER, HISTORY The Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railway (reporting marks, QAP), also sometimes referred to as The Quanah Route for its bridge status began as a system by another name in the very early 20th century to serve northern Texas.. A few years later it was renamed as the QA&P and had much more grand aspirations to begin pushing west. MAINE RAILROADS: MAP, HISTORY, AND ABANDONED LINES Maine railroads date back to 1836 when the Bangor & Piscataquis Canal and Railroad opened between Bangor and Old Town, a distance of about 12 miles. The railroad was constructed primarily to haul timber products and would go on to be joined with the Bangor and Katahdin Railroad in 1891 to form one of Maine's most remembered railroads, the BALDWIN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS (PENNSYLVANIA): HISTORY, LIST, PHOTOS This history of the Baldwin Locomotive Works dates back to the early 1830s, founded by Matthias Baldwin, and was the oldest locomotive manufacturer in the country by the time it exited the market in the 1950s. During the railroad industry's first century, the 1800s, Baldwin produced thousands of early steam locomotive designs such asthe 4-4-0
DULUTH, WINNIPEG & PACIFIC RAILWAY: MAP, ROSTER, HISTORY W. ith. P. ride. ". The Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway (DW&P) began as a remote logging operation based near Virginia, Minnesota, located some 70 miles northwest of Duluth. What was known as the Duluth, Virginia & Rainy Lake Railway (DV&RL) was privately-funded by two businessmen and had barely gotten underway before it was purchasedby
MONTANA SCENIC TRAIN RIDES: A COMPLETE GUIDE Charlie Russell Chew-Choo Dinner Train. Without question this attraction is the state's most popular (and only) scenic train ride. The Charlie Russell Chew-Choo utilizes a section of the former Milwaukee Road's Northern Montana Lines, taking passengers on trip from Lewistown to Denton (and back).. The entire trip covers about 56 miles and is the only such venue offered throughout the stateCookie Policy
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RAILROADS DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: A HISTORY×
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------------------------- This website's purpose is take you, the casual visitor, on a journey back in time to experience what our great nation's railroads once were, where they operated, the high quality passenger trains they once possessed, and the classic equipment they utilized. The American railroads were once the crown jewel of the world with passenger trains capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph via four-track main lines, terminating at fabulous stations while long, heavy freights moved everything from merchandise to coal in powering the country's mighty industrial complex. There were many reasons for the industry's decline but it largely all began with the passage of several Congressional acts at the turn of the 20th century. These new pieces of legislation (specifically the Elkins Act of 1903, Hepburn Act of 1906, and Mann-Elkins Act of 1910) brought increased regulation and significantly expanded the Interstate Commerce Commission's (ICC)power.
This regulatory body lasted for over a century and its new role placed a considerable burden on railroads. However, the industry, itself, could be partially blamed for the stricter government oversight due to its longstanding careless and arrogant attitude towards the general public. The ICC carried the final say in rate increases (or decreases) and potential abandonments. Milwaukee Road boxcab set E-22 leads a long manifest freight eastbound through Kittitas, Washington on November 7, 1964. Today, the right-of-way is empty. Photographer unknown.61Save
------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- Essentially, the free market no longer held true for railroads, everything was controlled and monitored through the agency. Uncle Sam's draconian measures slowly took their toll until many systems were on the brink of collapse by the 1970's. That decade was dark era as several either failed, were liquidated, or handed their once high-class passenger services over to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak ("_American Travel And Track_"). Following several corporate bankruptcies the government, always slow to remedy a problem, created the Consolidated Rail Corporation, or Conrail, to fix the freight mess in the Northeast (brought about through Penn Central's collapse in 1970). In addition, legislation was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter through the Staggers Act of 1980 which greatly deregulated the industry. The passage of this bill proved the turning point as railroads have since made a strong comeback. They are now able to more freely set rates and abandon/sell unprofitable routes. In addition, through technology improvements crew sizes have been reduced from five members to only two (conductor and engineer)._POPULAR SUBJECTS_
A History Of "Fallen Flags" ------------------------- Steam Locomotives, The Iron Horse ------------------------- Streamliners, An Icon Of Rail Travel -------------------------Freight Car Types
------------------------- A History Of Railroads ------------------------- Diesel Locomotives, The Modern Motive Power ------------------------- A History Of Narrow Gauge Railroads ------------------------- Passenger Cars, A History ------------------------- A Look At The Interurban Industry _A BRIEF HISTORY OF RAILROADS..._ The earliest of all American railroads dates back to the New Jersey Railroad Company of 1815, chartered by Colonel John Stevens. The line was ultimately never constructed and while small gravity and mule-powered roads popped up here and there it was the coming of the steam locomotive which changed everything. In August of 1829 Horatio Allen tested an English-built steamer named the _Stourbridge Lion_ in Pennsylvania and the rest, as they say, is history. By the time of the Civil War there were more than 60,000 miles in service and this ballooned to more than 190,000 by the turn of the 20th century. During the so-called "Golden Age," great steel ribbons of rail crisscrossed our great nation. In 1916 there were more than 254,000 miles in service, the all-time record. So thick was the country's network that some smaller municipalities were served by as many as three or four different railroads! Sadly, as the 20th century progressed trains lost their luster and during the post-World War II period many lines were abandoned. In some cases, entire trunk lines were severed including Erie Lackawanna's route to Chicago, Milwaukee Road's Pacific Coast Extension, and Pennsylvania Railroad's "Panhandle Route" to St. Louis among the more notable. An Electro-Motive builder's photo featuring new Monon F3A's, circa1947.
61Save
The setbacks went beyond just corridor losses; landmark structures such as PRR's iconic Pennsylvania Station (New York City), Central Railroad of New Jersey’s magnificent Newark Bay Bridge, and many of Chicago's great passenger terminals were all torn down. The general public, and even some in the government, viewed railroads as an archaic, old-fashioned mode of transportation. The low point was reached during the 1970s with the collapse of Penn Central. The biggest corporate failure up until that time (Penn Central carried assets of $7 billion and revenues of nearly $2 billion according to Gregory Schneider's book, "_Rock Island Requiem_") forced the federal government into action. The Northeast's bankrupts were reorganized into the Consolidated Rail Corporation, or Conrail, in 1976. Interestingly, after PC exited the business it was renamed American Premier Underwriters, Inc. Today, the corporation is a component of American Financial Group which specializes in commercial insurance for a wide range of businesses. Since that time the public has taken a greater interest in preserving our remaining rail history, including important rail lines and depots. In some cases, corridors have even been restored for renewed freight or commuter service. Santa Fe F7's await their early evening departure from Chicago's Dearborn Station with train #15, the southbound "Texas Chief," during the last week of April, 1971. Henry Butz photo.61Save
_ABOUT AMERICAN-RAILS.COM_ I have always held a personal interest in trains for as long as I can remember. As I began using the Internet more extensively for research purposes I found it a bit frustrating that there was no single website covering the railroad industry in great detail. After some time I began to think, "why not just create such a website myself?" And that, in a nutshell, is the basis behind American-Rails.com; a website designed as an educational resource tool highlighting the American railroads. Similarly, it is my hope this site can be a beneficial guide for both “railfans” out there who may want to know more about a particular subject (for instance, the true history of the downfall and collapse of the fabled Milwaukee Road) or anyone with a passing interest in trains. I will state up front that I in no way claim to be a bonafide expert on the industry (I simply enjoy studying the fascinating history of railroads) and while the information presented here at American-Rails.com is as accurate as I can possibly make it I am aware that there is the likelihood for an occasional error. So, please feel very free to either send me an e-mail or use the Facebook comments section if you see a needed correction (and my sincere thanks in advance). A Baltimore & Ohio FA-2/FB-2/FA-2 set leads a freight train through Maryland's Cumberland Narrows on June 12, 1952. Photographer unknown.61Save
_AMERICA BY RAIL, TRAVELING BY TRAIN_ Many have remarked that even with today's watered down services under the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), experiencing America by rail is one of the very best ways to see the country's magnificent beauty. With trains passing through such scenic vistas as the New River Gorge, Glacier National Park, Rocky Mountains, parts of the Southwest, Pacific coast line, and the Great Lakes its no wonder why so many hold such sentiments. There is even a website dedicated to this very subject, designed to aid travelers in their quest to ride the rails, whether that be a cross-country adventure or local excursion. In his book, _Train_, author Tom Zoellner detailed what it was like to travel America by rail. He not only noted the magnificent views but also the affordability of such an experience. The focus here at American-Rails.com is not to aid in booking such a trip but highlighting America's rich heritage with trains. Many years ago, prior to Amtrak's 1971 formation, one could enjoy countless long-distance journeys by train with a multitude of services to choose from such as relaxing parlor cars, exquisite meals prepared freshly on-board, enjoying an entire room to one's self, nursing and barber services, domes for maximum viewing, and much more. Riding Amtrak is widely regarded as the greatest way to experience America by rail since it provides coast-to-coast service. Here, two young ladies wave to the "Capitol Limited" at Martinsburg, West Virginia on July 29, 2017. Jon Wright photo.61Save
America by rail in those days was an entirely different experience and something to remember. Even today, those who rode such names as the _Super Chief_, _Broadway Limited_, _Panama Limited_, _City of Los Angeles_, _Capitol Limited_, _20th Century Limited_, _Empire Builder_, _Olympian Hiawatha_, _North Coast Limited_, _Sunset Limited_, _Silver Comet_, and _Champion_ still fondly recall these first-class trains. You will never find such services aboard Amtrak although some tourist attractions like the Grand Canyon Railway, Strasburg Railroad, and Napa Valley Wine Train attempt to duplicate the "Silver Age" of rail travel. In a time before airliners and automobiles, the journey itself was as important as the destination and railroads worked incredibly hard to attract ridership and retain patronage. Unfortunately, the freedom of the highway and speed of the jetliner made passenger trains highly unprofitable, resulting in Amtrak's creation (a complete history of this quasi-government company can be found elsewhere at this site). If you are interested in experiencing America by rail there are many ways to do so as mentioned above. Despite today's lack of services it is nevertheless a thrilling, unforgettable experience! Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific F2A #46 and an interesting mix of power lead a long freight train at Ottawa, Illinois in July, 1963. RogerPuta photo.
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This is perfectly fine with me because I am very interested in always learning more about railroads as well as helping others with questions they might have. Since I first began writing the website back in 2007 it has grown well beyond the initial intended scope. Today, you can find information on everything from streamliners, fallen flags, and notable engineering landmarks to surviving depots/stations, interurbans and trolleys, and logging railroads. In total, there are currently more than 1,300 pages of information available on all of these subjects and many others (if you are looking for a particular topic just use the Google search tool presented at the top of each page). It has been an incredible amount of work, not just in researching the topics but also the more tedious technical tasks. However, the enjoyment of it all, and the many thanks I receive from readers, makes it well worth it. As time allows plans call for writing about many other topics so please stay tuned! (If you may like to know when new pages are added, subscribe to the site's RSS feed or join our Facebook and/or Twitter pages.) A pair of Lehigh Valley "Snowbird" C628's and a Delaware & Hudson C628 pass the depot as they depart the yard in Binghamton, New York with a westbound freight in March of 1973. Tom Trencansky photo.61Save
There are also sections within this site that go beyond the history of the industry such as areas covering tourist railroads, museums (broken down by state), and dates/times where you can find _Thomas the Tank Engine_ as well as _Polar Express_ trips during the holiday season. Additionally, there is a large section covering jobs within the industry. This includes individual positions like engineer and conductor as well as a breakdown by state of railroads which operate there. You can also find more information about schools and classes to gain certificates in the above mentioned fields as well as others. Overall, it should be strongly mentioned that the jobs section of this site does not provide information on how to obtain employment within the industry only the background regarding some of the best known fields and what you can expect on the job. With all of the above said, I really appreciate your time and interest in visiting the site and without bugging you further feel free to explore around the site using either the navigation buttons located along the left side of the page or the links here at the bottom of the homepage. Have fun and I hope you enjoy the site!61Save
_While everything you do is beyond any amount of thanks that could ever be spoken please know that it is deeply and very much appreciated. Truly, mere words just cannot express our thanks... God Bless you, please stay safe, and Godspeed in returning home._CLOSE
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------------------------- _STEAMLOCOMOTIVE.COM_ Wes Barris's STEAMLOCOMOTIVE.COM is simply the best web resource in the study of steam locomotives. The amount of information found there is quite staggering; historical backgrounds of wheel arrangements, types used by virtually every railroad, preserved and operational examples, and even those used in other countries (North America and beyond). It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. Itis a must visit!
------------------------- Header Photo: Drew Jacksich ------------------------- ------------------------- _RESEARCHING RIGHTS-OF-WAY_ A popular pastime for many is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way. Today, there are tens of thousands of miles scattered throughout the country. Many were pulled up in the 1970's and 1980's although others were removed long before that. If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVERY'S (USGS) HISTORICAL TOPOGRAPHICMAP EXPLORER
. It is an
excellent resource with thousands of historic maps on file throughout the country. Just type in a town or city and click on the timeline of maps at the bottom of the page!_STUDYING DIESELS_
You will be hard pressed at finding a better online resource regarding diesel locomotives than Craig Rutherford's THEDIESELSHOP.US . The website contains everything from historic (fallen flags) to contemporary (Class I's, regionals, short lines, and even some museums/tourist lines) rosters, locomotive production information, technical data, all notable models cataloged by the five major builders (American Locomotive, Electro-Motive, General Electric, Fairbanks-Morse, and Baldwin), and much more. A highly recommended database! ------------------------- _ELECTRO-MOTIVE DATABASE_ In 1998 a gentleman by the name of Andre Kristopans put together a web page highlighting virtually every unit every out-shopped by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. Alas, in 2013 the site closed by thankfully Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his UTAHRAILS.NET site (another fine resource). If you are researching anything EMD related please visitTHIS PAGE
first. The information includes original numbers, serials, and ordernumbers.
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