IC’s Central Station, Chicago

Illinois Central Railroad Central Station

Illinois Central opened its Central Station on Chicago’s lakefront in April 1893. This 1950s view shows the grand arched waiting room, which was marred in 1962 by the installation of a false ceiling. Demolition came in 1974. IC photo […]

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Lehigh & Hudson River heavy 2-8-0

Leghigh and Hudson River Railway in Lake, New York

With cars from the New Haven Railroad interchange at Maybrook, N.Y., a Lehigh & Hudson River freight makes a smoky passage through Lake, N.Y., en route to Allentown, Pa. Up front is one of L&HR’s heavy 2-8-0s. Donald W. Furler photo […]

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UP storage mail car

Union Pacific Railroad mail storage car

Union Pacific No. 5702 was assigned and lettered as a mail storage car. Built by ACF in 1949, it was a long (85-foot) streamlined lightweight car riding on six-wheel trucks. Union Pacific photo […]

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Wheeling & Lake Erie 2-8-4

Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Berkshire 6430

On June 20, 1950, seven months after the Nickel Plate Road leased the 500-mile Wheeling & Lake Erie, W&LE Berkshire 6430 rolls 75 cars toward Toledo along the Sandusky River north of Fremont, Ohio. Soon NKP would renumber the Wheeling Berks into its 800 series. Bob Lorenz photo […]

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Western Allegheny at dusk

Western Allegheny Railroad 2-8-0 with Bessemer and Lake Erie hopper cars

Ex-Pennsy H10s 2-8-0 No. 85 of the 21-mile Western Allegheny Railroad heads a train of big Bessemer & Lake Erie hopper cars loaded with coal and limestone out of Kaylor, Pa., in September 1955. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Santa Fe 2-10-2

Santa Fe Railway 2-10-2 locomotives

The Santa Fe Railway pioneered the 2-10-2 type in 1903 with a group of engines that were essentially 2-10-0 helper locomotives with trailing trucks to aid in downhill reverse movements. The wheel arrangement, known as the Santa Fe type, evolved into a general-purpose heavy freight hauler found on dozens of roads. AT&SF 3864 was built […]

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WM coal train in Blackwater Canyon

Western Maryland Railway coal train

Western Maryland 2-8-0s 840 and 816 swing around one curve and into another as they lead a coal train east through rugged Blackwater Canyon between Elkins and Thomas, W.Va., in May 1952. Three more 2-8-0s at mid-train, and two more on the rear, help the 78-car train upgrade. Ed Theisinger photo […]

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Swift refrigerator cars

Swift refrigerator cars

A mix of older wood reefers and new steel cars mingle on the cleanout and ready tracks at Swift’s Sioux City (Iowa) plant in 1954. A lone car in the old yellow scheme stands out among a sea of cars in the red 1950 paint scheme. George Berkstresser photo […]

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