“TAG Route” freight

Tennessee Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway in Chattanooga

The Tennessee, Alabama & Gulf’s entire diesel roster — a GP38, GP18, and three GP7s — heads a freight out of Chattanooga in 1970. The 90-mile TA&G, which linked Chattanooga with Gadsden, Ala., was absorbed by the Southern Railway Jan. 1, 1971. William J. Husa Jr. photo […]

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Bangor & Aroostook Railroad remembered

Blue, red, and white Bangor & Aroostook Railroad horizontal striped boxcar

Northern Maine’s Bangor & Aroostook Railroad was a relative latecomer to the American railroad map, being organized under the General Laws of Maine on Feb. 13, 1891. There had been earlier efforts, but this one succeeded in linking northern Maine to the central Maine city of Bangor and the country’s rail network. First was the […]

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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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