The thunder of passenger trains and freight trains of all classes and descriptions once reminded communities that the railroads were the lifeblood of a town. The action occurred at the depot where any journey locally or long distance began. The depot was also the place where the products manufactured or harvested by a community went …
Watch Those Drivers Roll! The Santa Fe Class 3460 Hudson
One could convincingly argue that the Santa Fe represented best practice in American railroading and was the ultimate in mobile ambience in the period 1930 – 1960. The SF had a direct route from Chicago to Los Angeles and the railroads signature trains, clad in gleaming stainless steel, were the preferred conveyance of the kings …
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Trail Blazing TOFC
TOFC – Trailer On Flat Car represents both response to challenge and the rapid velocity of change within the railroad industry. Like most advances known to the populace, TOFC was prompted by challenge – evidence of new competition and the erosion of market share. That competition was discernable initially to carriers that were less prosperous …
Great Steam! The Southern Pacific GS Daylight Locomotives
The image remains brilliant – the streamliner with the visual impact of a bright orange and red projectile, with accents of silver and black, that still rockets through the minds of those familiar with the Southern Pacific Daylight trains. Inaugurated on March 21, 1937, that memorable image of the streamliner at speed was the product …
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Lasting Legacy of Inspection Cars
“Heads Up!” – Be Alert – was a constant warning to trackmen that labored along the mainline in the unrelenting battle to maintain the right of way. The need to be fully vigilant about the total condition of the mainline prompted regular track inspections by the army of senior operating personnel and civil engineers that …
Signature Freight Power of the 1970s
The 1970s were pivotal time for the railroads and motive power they employed. The eastern railroads had merger and financial challenges to overcome but the western railroads were basking in the economic glow of westward migration in demographics The exploitation of Powder River Basin Coal reserves driven by Clean Air Act, drove the demand for …
Setting the Standards for Steel Passenger Cars
Several years ago, Broadway Limited Imports released what is regarded to be the most accurate and fully detailed model of the famous Pennsylvania Railroad class P-70 passenger coach. That basic car was produced in several paint schemes to reflect different eras of PRR painting practice with details adjusted to match accordingly. BLI choose well since …
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Aerodynamics Briefly Resurfaces
Railroad technology underscores the fact that change is unrelenting. The velocity of change made a quantum leap forward in the 1930s with the perfection of the diesel-electric locomotive for road service. Despite the readily apparent efficiency, early diesel locomotives were modest in size and were housed in retrogressive-looking, boxy car bodies that were not inspiring …
Hot Water Bottle on Rails
Some called them “Hot Water Bottles” and others called them “Fireless Cookers” but no matter, both nicknames referred to Fireless Locomotives. The process was simple: construct a locomotive that was propelled by superheated water – from a stationary steam plant and piped to the locomotive that had a reservoir – as opposed to a traditional …
Mail by Rail
Although “snail mail” gets no respect – its journey over time by rail does. Despite contemporary critics, amplified by attitudes in the information age, the United States Postal Service was one of the many stellar achievements of our pioneer Nation. The ability to effectively and efficiently exchange correspondence was the foundation of interstate commerce and …