Stories about Steam

  Classic Trains presents Stories about Steam, a six-part series from the era of great locomotives. In this free, 20-page download, you will receive the following stoires: Queen of the First Ladies, all about the Southern’s streamlined Ps-4s Steam’s Dream Team, showcasing a lineup of five great steam engines Bad Coal, a tale of how […]

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Penn Central and its Predecessors

Read unique stories about the railroads that eventually made up the Penn Central: Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central and New Haven. In this free 20-page download, you will receive the following: The Broadway’s Best Years: Pennsylvania Railroad’s post-World War II glory after decades of playing second fiddle to the 20th Century Limited My Summer in […]

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Remembering Pacific Electric Railway freight service

Three freight motors haul a freight train over a trestle.

All this month — October 2020 — Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and images of the Pacific Electric Railway. Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include PE electric-, diesel-, and steam-powered freight trains through time. You might also enjoy this […]

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Produce packing

Packing houses along the Santa Fe

Several packing houses were located in close proximity to each other along the Santa Fe in Placentia, Calif. Styles varied from the frame building at left to the concrete structure at center. Note the semaphore signal installations at right. Photo by Tom Baxter […]

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ACL Es

Two new Atlantic Coast Line EMD E7s pose with a train of lightweight stainless-steel passenger cars shortly after delivery in 1945. The ACL would eventually acquire 20 E7s. Photo by Atlantic Coast Line […]

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Pullman: America’s Hotel on Wheels

Pullman magazine cover

America’s hotel on wheels After a long day of travel, you’ve had a fine dinner and enjoyed a nightcap with new friends in a comfortable lounge a short walk from your table. Now you’re ready for bed, so you head for your room, also a few steps away. It’s small, but not cramped — a […]

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Omaha switcher

Baldwin 0-8-0 switcher

Baldwin built this 0-8-0 for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, a Chicago & North Western affiliate better known as the Omaha Road, in 1928. The 51-inch drivers are typical for switchers. Photo by Baldwin, H. L. Broadbelt collection […]

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Paper trail

Paper grain door on a rail car

Signode introduced its first single-use paper grain door in 1948. Prior to that innovation, wooden boards were used. The remnants of paper grain doors could often be seen as empty cars returned home, as on this Gulf, Mobile & Ohio car. The cars had to be cleaned out before reloading. Photo by Bill Raia collection […]

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Remembering Pacific Electric passenger service

Lighted streetcar train moving over a city street in darkness.

  All through October 2020, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history, grit, and grandeur of the Pacific Electric Railway. Please enjoy this Pacific Electric Railway passenger train photo gallery, originally published in February 2015. If you like this gallery, please take a look at an article on the history of the Pacific Electric, here. […]

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