Deepen your passion for model railroading. Learn about the history of trains and locomotives in the United States dating back over 100 years ago.
New passenger train inaugurals have historically commanded attention of the public. Any new travel option and adventure of discovery touches the heart of our desire to be in motion accompanied by the hope for a memorable journey. All of that came to life on June 2, 1929 when the Erie Railroad introduced its primary, namesake …
The importance of that message and reverence for that date was not lost on the AmericanRailroads, especially after prolonged World War II. That conflict, among other valuable lessons,revealed the dangers of imbalance in society and unchecked governance. Railroads and theFederal Government used those lessons learned to underscore the importance of freedom anddemocracy and took that …
No matter what term applied, emblems, heralds, insignias or logos, the importance of selecting an eye-catching if not dynamic corporate image surfaced in early within railroading. That was especially critical in the expansionistic period of the industry from 1870 to 1900 when clearly several sectors of the Nation had too many individual railroad companies. …
To many, the last public legacy of the once mighty Pennsylvania Railroad disappeared on March 20th, 1972. True, the successor Penn Central had taken over four years before. But that date in March was the start of a three-day auction of the storied library and corporate museum of the former “Standard Railroad of the …
Countless authors, railroad enthusiasts, and model railroaders have been captivated by the legendary Overland Heritage of that joint Southern Pacific-Union Pacific-Chicago North Western route. For decades, that was a primary transcontinental route that was direct, normally featured the most modern equipment the railroads could offer, and to the historically-minded, was a tangible reminder of the …
Amtrak is here to stay! That might seem like a no-brainer now, but that would most certainly shock the men who created it back in 1970-71. The minds that manufactured Amtrak had a two-fold mission: publicly, they wanted to assure travelers that some form of the railroad passenger network in the US would endure; privately, …
That message was part of the 10-minute introduction to a Chesapeake and Ohio Lines promotional film released in 1935. The film was a travel log of a journey over the historic and scenic C&O route that began with views of their premier train, The George Washington, headed by a spotless class F-19 Pacific, preparing to …
This weekend, we respectfully take time to honor those who have given their lives for our nation and the greater mission of freedom. The value of freedom is often obscured in a world full of disconnects, let alone the full understanding of the human sacrifice that has frequently been necessary in our history to preserve …
Referring to a class-one railroad as a rip-track – a remote, unmaintained siding in a rail yard where obsolete equipment is broken up and parts are salvaged – is anything but complimentary. But that is how one Great Northern official described a historic Midwestern line in its final days. Another rail authority described the line …
To those faithful to the rails, May 10th, 1869, will always be remembered for the Driving of the Golden Spike. Countless articles, books, and an epic motion picture have been produced, all celebrating that milestone in U.S. and transportation history. Contemporary trends have altered the concept of popular history, and national focus has shifted to …