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“For God’s sake! Real trains run on two-rail track!” was a common reaction among astute children and adults when they gazed at the popular three-rail O gauge and standard gauge trains that dominated the toy train industry in the pre-World War II era. That sentiment was not lost on the legendary A. C. Gilbert when …
Continue reading “Celebrating 75 Years of American Flyer S Gauge Trains”
This weekend we celebrate freight transportation by rail. Sure, for at least 150 years railroad passenger service received much attention. That network was truly impressive and was an integral part of the American culture before 1950. But, it was true then, truer now, Freight Pays the Bills. Historically, hauling freight was the principal objective of …
From the dawn of railroading, train stations have served as an important focal point on just about every system. While their purpose is primarily functional, few inanimate structures are able to inspire the same level of emotion as these iconic landmarks. From the tearful farewells of soldiers going to war to the heart-warming reuniting of …
With less than 1000 route miles to its name, the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railroad was very much an underdog of mainline railroads. It was however a critical link for rail operations in the Pacific Northwest. Never intended for a prolonged existence, the railroad was jointly operated by the Great Northern and Northern Pacific for …
Continue reading “The History of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway”
Following the Transitional Era, railroads were no longer the primary method for moving people and goods; they now had to adapt by shedding unprofitable services and aggressively embrace new freight car designs, partner with shippers to advance unit train operations and improve diesel-electric motive power designs. Working in concert with trucking companies, railroads developed trailer …
Remembered as an extension of the golden era, this period was arguably the most difficult one in railroad history. The route redundancy from the previous century coupled with lingering effects of the Great Depression forced many carriers into bankruptcy by the end of the 1930s. The traffic surge incident to World War II offered a …
In the early 20th Century, US railroads reached their peak of 254,000 route miles. The railroads were the dominant providers of transportation, serving both small industries and large populations in every town and city across the country. This was the era of the great long distance luxury trains, marketed as the most civilized way to …
The Pioneer Era was one of the most exciting periods in railroading history; beginning with the Civil War, transcending the era of the Wild West, and ending in the early 20th century. This was the era when railroading established its supremacy and surpassed waterways, canals and turnpikes dotted with horse-drawn wagons as the undisputed leader …
In 1913 when our founder Benjamin Morris Klein founded our Company on the east side of Baltimore’s commercial district, selling basic hardware items was his primary goal. It was only logical that his product mix promptly changed due to the dominance of railroading in the fabric of Baltimore’s civic and economic culture. The founding of …
In 1827, the Baltimore and Ohio became the first common carrier rail company to operate in the United States. Barley fifty years had passed since the Declaration of Independence was signed, and America was still very much in it’s infancy. Early operations depended on horse-drawn carts for startup operations. Those pioneer railroads had to invent …