‘California Zephyr’ preview In the months before the California Zephyr’s March 20, 1949, launch, the new train’s cars began filtering into the heavyweight consist of its predecessor on the CB&Q-DRGW-WP route, the Exposition Flyer, seen here on the Western Pacific at Keddie, Calif., with a baggage car and two domes built for the streamliner. Donald […]
Section: Photo of the Day
Aluminum Alton
Aluminum Alton Alton Route was one of several railroads to dabble with experimental aluminum boxcars for express service. Note the steam line (horizontal pipe) and signal line (small hose below the brake hose) for passenger service. Alton photo […]
‘Crescent Limited’
Crescent Limited At an unknown station on an unknown date, Crescent Limited passengers enjoy the open rear platform of the Southern Railway train’s sleeper-observation car as a Ps-2 light Pacific passes. F. S. McKay photo […]
‘San Francisco Overland’
San Francisco Overland Future excursion locomotive UP 844, having just taken over for an SP locomotive, departs Ogden Union Station with the San Francisco Overland on June 18, 1950. The Fairbanks-Morse “Erie-built” diesels at right will follow with the Los Angeles Limited. Don Sims photo […]
Dixie Line
Dixie Line The Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis rostered 23 F7A and eight F7B units, built 1949-51. Mainline freight and passenger trains were dieselized with GP7s and F units starting in 1948 with the last steam operating in 1953. It was merged into parent Louisville & Nashville in 1957. Linn H. Westcott photo […]
‘Erie Limited’
‘Erie Limited’ The Erie Limited’s route takes it through some of the best scenery in the East. Far above he Susquehanna River and the Delaware & Hudson main line, westbound train No. 1 approaches famed Starrucca Viaduct. Erie Railroad photo […]
Bristol brothers
Bristol brothers Southern and Norfolk & Western shared the N&W roundhouse, located on the Virginia side of Bristol. SOU F3 4151 and N&W J 602 wait to take trains west and east, respectively, on March 2, 1957. Steve Patterson photo […]
Galewood Yard
Galewood Yard The Milwaukee Road’s Galewood Yard in Chicago supported numerous rail-served industries on the city’s west side. A variety of freight cars are visible in this undated view, including boxcars, gondolas, and hoppers of both steel and wood construction. Milwaukee Road photo […]
Pecos River crossing
Pecos River crossing Southern Pacific’s crossing over the Pecos River 65 miles west of Del Rio, Texas, stands 362 feet above the river. It opened in 1944. Southern Pacific photo […]
Chesapeake Western
Chesapeake Western Chesapeake Western DS-4-4-660 No. 662 switches at Harrisonburg, Va., on September 15, 1958. It was one of three such 1946 Baldwins on the 54-mile road. J.W. Swanberg photo […]
Cars of the ‘Century’
Cars of the ‘Century’ Mail-baggage car No. 5020 had a 60-foot Railway Post Office section. The 20th Century Limited typically carried one such car per consist. There were four cars in the 5020-5023 series. Pullman-Standard photo […]
Lane Cutoff
Lane Cutoff Brand-new in mid-1936, one of the two City of Denver trains poses on the Lane Cutoff west of Omaha, a favorite spot for Union Pacific publicity photos. The portholed cab and booster units rode on two trucks each, but were connected by a span bolster, not couplers. Union Pacific photo […]