The new book “Pittsburgh: Streetcar City” looks at the Steel City’s rail transit. Pittsburgh’s trolley system rose to fame as one of the last operations to use original PCC cars in the U.S. Beyond the equipment, however, Pittsburgh’s system offered a smorgasbord of variety: incline elevators, operation on public streets and private rights-of-way, tunnels, bridges, […]
Rock Island perishable traffic: One thing you learn quickly as a new railroad employee is that if you can hold a regular job, it’s because nobody else wants it. In 1973 Rock Island perishable traffic stopped icing at Silvis, Ill. This coincided with Pacific Fruit Express’s exit from the iced reefer business and represented the […]
A trio of the Virginian Railway’s original box-cab electrics rolls downgrade with a freight at Oakdale, W.Va., in September 1953. The road electrified its main line between Mullens, W.Va., and Roanoke, Va., in the mid-1920s. Richard J. Cook photo […]
Three GE U25Bs lead New Haven Railroad eastbound symbol freight OB-6 on the Maybrook Line about 3 miles east of Danbury, Conn., in March 1966. John P. Ahrens photo […]
Santa Fe’s all-Pullman Chief from Los Angeles has just passed through the busy interlocking at 21st Street, Chicago, as it nears the end of its run at Dearborn Station in October 1950. Wallace W. Abbey photo […]
Yosemite Valley Railway 4-4-0 No. 22 stands with a short train at El Portal, end of the line and gateway to Yosemite National Park, in 1940. YV ran 78 miles west to SP and Santa Fe connections at Merced, Calif.; its last run was in 1945. Harre W. Demoro photo […]
Welcome I Like Trains, too Head End A potpourri railroad history, then and now Fast Mail Letters from readers on our Winter 2021 issue True Color A fan for life? Mileposts Commentary by Kevin P. Keefe The Way It Was Tales from railfans and railroaders Car Stop Locals in the Lehigh Valley Bumping Post Toledo’s […]
The Boston–Albany section of New York Central’s Pacemaker train for express freight service pauses at Worcester, Mass., to pick up cars in August 1949. The distinctive vermillion-and-gray boxcars were for on-line use only. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Southern Railway 4-6-2 1395, one of the road’s class Ps-4 passenger engines revered for their handsome lines and green-and-gold livery, takes a passenger train out of Washington, D.C., in the late 1930s or ’40s. Walter H. Thrall photo […]
Two Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines AS16 road-switchers work a freight through Glassboro, N.J., in 1955. The dual-service units were equally at home on passenger trains. Frank Kozempel photo […]
The Denver & Rio Grande Western was an early customer for EMD’s GP30, buying 28 of them during 1962-63. They were the first road units delivered in plain black with “Grande gold” striping on the ends and frame. Hillard N. Proctor photo […]
Two young boys watch New York Central 4-6-0 1290 switch cars at Brigden, Ont., on NYC’s St. Thomas branch in September 1955. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
