Railroad History - ModelTrainStuff Blog

March 5, 2021March 17, 2021

120th Anniversary of the Pacific Locomotive

ModelTrainStuff is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Pacific-type locomotive, wheel arrangement 4-6-2! The Pacific dominated high speed passenger service and express freight service in the United States from 1902 through 1950 until steam locomotives surrendered to Diesel-Electric locomotives. The Missouri Pacific was the first US buyer in 1902 and accordingly the 4-6-2 was christened …

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February 25, 2021August 17, 2021

Founder’s Day – Honoring the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad

This month at ModelTrainStuff we’re paying tribute to the founding of America’s first common carrier the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad on February 27th, 1827. The B&O Railroad Museum once issued a poster with the legend “America Grew Up on Trains” and the B&O railroad started our Nation on that glorious journey. The B&O had to …

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November 19, 2020June 2, 2021

The History of the Chicago and North Western Railway

The Chicago and North Western Railway was in many ways the quintessential midwestern railroad. Operating thousands of miles of trackage primarily serving agricultural customers, the company was also known for its high speed intercity passenger services. At its peak, the railroad was ranked as one of the largest owners of total track mileage in the …

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October 22, 2020June 2, 2021

The History of the Pennsylvania Railroad

With predecessors tracing back to 1830, the Pennsylvania Railroad’s legacy is one of the oldest in the United States, and with more than 10,000 miles of track at it’s peak, the PRR is recognized as one of the greatest business enterprises of the 20th century. Let’s explore the history and legacy of what is perhaps …

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September 17, 2020June 2, 2021

The History of the Erie Railroad

While not the largest of North American railroads, the Erie Railroad was a significant influence on the economic and social development of the Northeastern United States during the late 1800s and first half of the 20th century, particularly along the Southern Tier of New York State. In this article, we’re looking at the rich history …

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August 20, 2020June 9, 2021

The History of the Alaska Railroad

Winding its way through rugged mountains, cavernous valleys, thick forests, and miles of untamed wilderness, the Alaska Railroad is truly a one of a kind operation. For railfans though, it’s uniqueness extends well beyond its geography. Establishment of the Alaska Railroad While railroad building was prolific across most of North America during the 1800s, Alaska …

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July 23, 2020June 2, 2021

The History of the New York Central Railroad

Operating across the Great Lakes and Northeastern regions of the United States, the New York Central Railroad (NYC) served as a primary trunk route from Boston and New York to the Midwest and Chicago. Along with other large railroads such as the Pennsylvania and Union Pacific, it is generally regarded as one of the greatest …

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June 25, 2020June 2, 2021

The History of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) was one of the most prominent East Coast freight haulers of the 20th Century. Operating in eight states at its peak, this historic railroad built a legacy which still impacts freight transportation to this day. The first operations of a company which would eventually become part of the mighty …

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May 14, 2020June 2, 2021

The History of Norfolk Southern

The Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) is one of the “big four” class one freight railroads currently headquartered in the United States. While the Union Pacific and BNSF dominate the western half of the country, the Norfolk Southern Railway operates alongside CSX as one of the largest operators based east of the Mississippi. Maintaining 21,500 route …

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April 16, 2020November 11, 2021

The History of the Santa Fe Railway

The Santa Fe Railway – officially known as the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway or ATSF – is undoubtably one of the most well recognized railroads in American history. Somewhat surprisingly, the ATSF mainline didn’t actually serve the city of Santa Fe, which was only reachable via a branch line. However thanks to the …

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