Troop train on the SP A doubleheaded troop train passes the Army’s Camp San Luis Obispo as it climbs Cuesta Grade on Southern Pacific’s L.A.–San Francisco Coast Line in the early 1940s. SP photo […]
Photo of the Day

Troop train on the SP A doubleheaded troop train passes the Army’s Camp San Luis Obispo as it climbs Cuesta Grade on Southern Pacific’s L.A.–San Francisco Coast Line in the early 1940s. SP photo […]
An Alco PA/PB/PB consist leads the Union Pacific’s Pony Express across the desert near Victorville, Calif., in the early 1950s. The railroad’s 14 PAs and PBs were assigned to passenger service in the West. Donald Sims photo […]
Aboard the Train of Tomorrow’s observation car Moon Glow, the rear car of the General Motors Train of Tomorrow, contained a variety of lounge spaces, including this sunken area underneath the dome. GM photo […]
Baltimore & Ohio 4-6-2 No. 5068 departs Grafton, W.Va., with a Korean War-era troop train that originated at Fort Meade, Md., in May 1953. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Train time at Chadron, Nebr. Way out on Chicago & North Western’s lonely “Cowboy Line,” 4-6-2 No. 1588 arrives Chadron, Nebr., with daily-except-Sunday train 13 from Omaha, 447 miles to the east. The train is bound for Rapid City, S.Dak., 104 miles west. Fred H. Ragsdale photo […]
4-8-2 on the Creole’s connection Illinois Central 4-8-2 No. 2438 pulls out of Carbondale, Ill., with train 208, the St. Louis connection for the Creole, in September 1954. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Rock Island TA diesel Electro-Motive Corp.’s model TA passenger diesel of 1937 was a lighter, less powerful counterpart to the builder’s EA of the same year. Although they shared the same styling, the single-engine, 1,200 h.p., B-B TA was a derivative of EMC’s power cars for streamlined trains, while the twin-engine, 1,800 h.p., A1A-A1A EA […]
Several packing houses were located in close proximity to each other along the Santa Fe in Placentia, Calif. Styles varied from the frame building at left to the concrete structure at center. Note the semaphore signal installations at right. Photo by Tom Baxter […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]