Steam in snow

Steam locomotive moves freight train along snow-lined tracks

Steam in snow Milwaukee Road 2-8-2 No. 327 rolls south on the Indiana Harbor Belt at La Grange, Ill., in December 1950, bound for Terre Haute, Ind. Robert Milner photo […]

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10-million bushels

Brown boxcars in front of concrete grain elevator

10-million bushels The Santa Fe’s 10-million bushel grain elevator at Argentine (Kansas City), Kan., was among the largest in the country when photographed here in 1943. Jack Delano photo […]

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‘California Zephyr’ preview

Streamlined and heavyweight passenger train on steel trestle

‘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 […]

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Aluminum Alton

Silver-colored boxcar among tall brick industrial buildings

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 […]

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‘Crescent Limited’

Open platform passenger car aside brick station with steam locomotive nose

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 […]

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‘San Francisco Overland’

Steam and diesel locomotives line up in passenger station

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 […]

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Dixie Line

Man in coveralls stands by blue and gray streamlined diesel locomotive in profile

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 […]

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‘Erie Limited’

Steam locomotive with passenger train on hillside above river valley

‘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 […]

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Bristol brothers

Green and white diesel lines up beside streamlined black and maroon steam locomotive

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   […]

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Galewood Yard

Freight cars line up in a rail yard seen from above

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 […]

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Pecos River crossing

Steam-powered passenger train on deck truss bridge supported by concrete piers

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 […]

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Chesapeake Western

Green and gray diesel locomotive coupled to boxcars with men in white hats in the cab

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 […]

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