Two new Atlantic Coast Line EMD E7s pose with a train of lightweight stainless-steel passenger cars shortly after delivery in 1945. The ACL would eventually acquire 20 E7s. Photo by Atlantic Coast Line […]
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Omaha switcher
Baldwin built this 0-8-0 for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, a Chicago & North Western affiliate better known as the Omaha Road, in 1928. The 51-inch drivers are typical for switchers. Photo by Baldwin, H. L. Broadbelt collection […]
Paper trail
Signode introduced its first single-use paper grain door in 1948. Prior to that innovation, wooden boards were used. The remnants of paper grain doors could often be seen as empty cars returned home, as on this Gulf, Mobile & Ohio car. The cars had to be cleaned out before reloading. Photo by Bill Raia collection […]
Pointless Arrow
On May 1, 1971, Amtrak Passenger Service Rep Patty Saunders, who once was a Seaboard Coast Line hostess, poses with the first system timetable. The passenger carrier’s “pointless arrow” logo is featured prominently. Photo by Amtrak […]
Pure Gold
Orange groves are visible across the road from the LaVerne Cooperative Citrus Association packing house, one of California’s largest in 1920. The large building features several rooms and multiple loading tracks. The rooftop refrigeration condenser unit (back center) marks it as having a cooling or cold storage room. Photo by University of Southern California Libraries/California […]
Classic Trains, Fall 2020
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Texas terminal
Just after the turn of the 20th century, large terminal elevators began to appear. Grain gathered in these mammoth concrete structures (the one here holds 3.6 million bushels) at Amarillo, Texas, in 1943, is forwarded by rail to mills and to port elevators for export. Note the three boxcars for scale. Photo by Jack Delano, […]
Roundhouse still life
Roundhouses were filled with life, from steam locomotives to the workers who maintained them. This is a 2-8-2 in the Galesburg, Ill., roundhouse of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy in the 1950s. Photo by Jim Shaughnessy […]
Refined steam
Pennsylvania K4s 4-6-2 No. 5399, built at the railroad’s Juniata shops in 1923, was rebuilt by Lima in 1939 with a front-end throttle and poppet valves to improve performance and efficiency. Photo by Lima Locomotive Works […]
Prototype diesel
An A-B set of drawbar-connected Boston & Maine EMD FTs (in Boston in March 1950) shows the distinctive four-porthole styling and close spacing between units. The boxy structure on the roof is the dynamic brake housing. The F unit’s “bulldog” carbody styling blended nicely with passenger cars but did not facilitate clear views to the […]
Profiles in progress
Chesapeake & Ohio H-8 2-6-6-6 No. 1647 departs Handley, W.Va., with tidewater coal — a dozen 67-inch driving wheels, 90 loads, lend engine slipping wildly. The railroad had 60 such locomotives, built by Lima in 1941-1948. Photo by Philip R. Hastings […]
Packing produce
Orange crates are stacked on end in two layers, with a third horizontal layer. The top of the load is kept below the openings in the bunker (note the full load of ice). Photo by Library of Congress […]
