Less Than Carload

Delivery truck backed up to side of rail motorcar

Less Than Carload Buffalo Creek & Gualey motor “B’s” awaits departure from Dundon, W.Va., for Widen, in 1948. A truck has arrived with LCL freight, including a new tire, which is being leaned against a rattan seat. After loading was complete, freight filled the front of the car back into the second row of seats. […]

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Hippo

Steam locomotive front in profile at speed

Hippo Pennsylvania 2-10-0 4414 races north along Route 14 north of Williamsport, Pa., at 40 mph. The locomotives’ lumbering appearance gave rise to the nickname “Hippo.” Jim Shaughnessy photo […]

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Imperial

Steam locomotive with train from overhead with mountains beyond

Imperial Southern Pacific GS-4 No. 4439 leads train No. 40, the eastbound Los Angeles-Chicago Imperial, 3 miles north of Corona, N.M., on the Golden State Route, as it nears its handoff to the Rock Island at Tucumcari, N.M., on May 27, 1949. The route was a significant one for the SP. D.L. Ingersoll photo […]

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F unit parade

Two diesel-powered freight trains pass

F unit parade Two Great Northern paint schemes are on display as GN Extra 312-A passes Extra 311-C, waiting in the siding at Floodwood, Minn., on Aug. 16, 1969. Doug Wingfield photo […]

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Seatrain Georgia

Ship carrying railroad freight cars

Seatrain Georgia Seatrain Georgia, built in 1951 as one of the last two 1928-style rail car ships, is on the Hudson River at the start of a voyage. The vessels carried mostly boxcars, with tank cars and gondolas a distant second and third. Her colors are gray and white, with red funnel markings. U. S. […]

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Sunset Limited station stop

Steam locomotive with passenger train by station platform

Sunset Limited station stop Southern Pacific 4-8-2 4326 has just entered Arizona from California as it brings the Sunset Limited into the station at Yuma sometime in the 1940s. Seated on the platform are local Indians with souvenirs to sell to passengers. Classic Trains collection […]

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Grain train on the prairie

Diesel powered freight train switches cars at wooden grain elevator

Grain train on the prairie A Canadian Pacific GP9 switches the grain elevator at Headingley, Manitoba, in August 1980. In this time of transition, the cars to be loaded are a mix of cylindrical covered hoppers and boxcars. John Uckley […]

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Flexi-Van flexibility

Semi truck backs onto railroad flatcar

Flexi-Van flexibility A driver loads a New York Central Flexi-Van container from a truck bogie onto a flatcar in 1958. No overhead crane was needed, just a flat area next to the track. The NYC had more than 7,000 Flexi-Van containers in service by the mid-1960s. Photo by New York Central […]

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Extra 6311 East

Freight trains pass on mountainside

Extra 6311 East A westbound freight, led by an F7 quartet, coils past Extra 6311 East near Alta, Calif., in October 1957. The eastbound’s helpers are just visible up ahead. Photo by Philip R. Hastings […]

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Windy City excursion

Diesel locomotives with passenger train at brick station in snow

Windy City excursion A Michigan Railroad Club special from Detroit to Chicago pauses for a crew change at Battle Creek, Mich., in February 1967, following a 28-inch snowfall. The two locomotives, Nos. 4900 and 4901, were the GTW’s first passenger diesels, acquired as Nos. 1750-1751 in 1954. Photo by J. David Ingles […]

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Newsworthy

Patrons visit the newsstand in New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

Newsworthy New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal’s newsstand is centrally located in the facility’s main room. The $25.5 million facility had 12 tracks and opened in May 1954. Photo by James G. La Vake […]

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