Frustration on Horseshoe Curve

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In position for a shot of Pennsylvania Railroad J1 2-10-4 No. 6427 climbing Horseshoe Curve with empty hopper cars in September 1955, photographer Phil Hastings had to settle for this view when a mixed freight overtook the Texas type on the outside track. Philip R. Hastings photo […]

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Early SP piggyback train

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Southern Pacific train 372, the Advance Overnight, departs the freight terminal at 4th and Berry streets, San Francisco, at the start of its run to Los Angeles in the mid-1950s. SP was a leader in adopting piggyback freight. William D. Middleton photo […]

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Riding trains in the 1940s

Steam locomotive on passenger on curve among trees

I still remember riding trains in the 1940s.   During my pre-school and primary school days we lived on the South side of Chicago near 76th and Coles Avenue. My father worked at the Wisconsin Steel Division of the International Harvester Co. making steel for the war effort and for civilian use following the completion […]

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Boy Scout Jamboree on the Reading

Having ridden a GP7-powered train in from the National Jamboree camp at Valley Forge, Pa., Boy Scouts troop down a platform at Reading Terminal, Philadelphia, en route to tour historic sites in July 1957. RDG photo […]

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The first Hudson comes to life

Brand-new New York Central J-1a 5200 — the first of the road’s famous fleet of Hudsons, and the first example of the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement in North America — steams through a ceremonial banner at Alco’s Schenectady plant on February 14, 1927. NYC photo […]

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GM’s Train of Tomorrow

GM’s Train of Tomorrow In the blaze of postwar passenger optimism, General Motors and Pullman-Standard produced the Train of Tomorrow — an E7 diesel and four dome cars, all dressed in blue with stainless-steel trim — to showcase the possibilities of rail travel in the future. GM photo […]

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Railroad strike duty: the job nobody liked

Center-cab diesel locomotive with freight cars passes brick station and open parking lot

Anyone who spent much time at all as an “excepted” (non-union) employee could expect, sooner or later, to be required to work railroad strike duty. This was especially true if he was a supervisor in the mechanical, engineering, or operating departments. Your personal feelings were inconsequential when these events occurred–you did what you had to […]

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EMD RS1325 light road switcher

Green and red diesel locomotives with freight train in yard

  The EMD RS1325 light road switcher. Someone at EMD must have thought, “here’s an idea that can’t miss!” We’ll offer a modern light road switcher for railroads needing a little bit more oomph than a standard end cab unit that don’t need a heavier and more complex traditional Geep or RS-series locomotive. The concept […]

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Publicizing NYC’s Pacemaker service

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New York Central’s Pacemaker merchandise service debuted in 1946, with specially equipped and painted (vermillion and gray) boxcars. The railroad even painted five cabooses for the service, one of which trails this consist assembled for publicity photos. NYC photo […]

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