http://www.american-rails.com/railroads-blog.html The American-Rails.com Blog keeps you up-to-date with all additions and changes to the American-Rails.com web site such as new articles and updated information with others. Subscribe here. en-us railroads Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:21:19 GMT Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:21:19 GMT american-rails.com http://www.american-rails.com/turboliner.html The Turboliner began as another test of high speed rail service by Amtrak during the 1970s. Designed by a French company the trainsets became the most successful idea to come out of the 1970s. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:21:19 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/turbotrain.html The UAC's TurboTrain was late era streamlined passenger train reminiscent of trainsets built in the 1930s. It was meant to be the next generation of rail travel but proved rather unsuccessful. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:19:19 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/amtrak.html A look at the history of Amtrak, its operations today, and how the national carrier has been under a constant threat of service cuts since its inception in 1971. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:37:02 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/index.html A free informational and educational resource guide covering the American railroad industry. Learn more about everything from the classic fallen flags to steam and diesel locomotives. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:18:43 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/lucin-cutoff.html The Southern Pacific's Lucin Cutoff was the railroad's ambitious project to bypass its original Promontory Summit line. Today, the Great Salt Lake Causeway has replaced it. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:17 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/kinzua-viaduct.html The Erie Railroad's Kinzua Viaduct was a massive iron bridge that spanned the Kinzua Valley in northern Pennsylvania. It was first completed in the 1880s and used for more than 100 years until 2003. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:37:56 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/helmstetters-curve.html The Western Maryland's Helmstetter's Curve was the railroad's famous sweeping horseshore that was located just west of Cumberland. Today, it is still used by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:14:20 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/hoosac-tunnel.html The Boston And Maine's Hoosac Tunnel is legendary not only for its immense length but also the incredible amount of time required to complete the structure. It is still used today by Pan Am Railways. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:41:22 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/great-northern-railway.html The Great Northern Railway was the second company to reach Seattle doing so in 1893. It was part of the James Hill's vast empire. The GN disappeared into Burlington Northern in 1970. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:25:35 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/keddie-wye.html The Western Pacific's Keddie Wye was the railroad's most well known location due to its breathtaking scenery and incredible feat of engineering. It is still used today by Union Pacific. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:23:41 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/diesel-locomotives.html Read about the history of diesel locomotives, how they function and operate, and the dozens of different models built by the five major manufacturers dating back to the 1930s. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:52:49 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/rail-diesel-car.html The Rail Diesel Car, better known as RDCs, were a very successful self propelled rail car constructed by the Budd Company from the late 1940s through the 1960s. A few are still in service today. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:45:51 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/iron-trails-of-north-america-1978-2008.html Iron Trails Of North America, 1978-2008 is a book of photography from the collection of Robert W. Burns. During the time period featured the author features everything from Conrail to Union Pacific. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:21:33 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/baldwin-locomotives.html Baldwin Locomotives is a title put together by the folks at Schiffer Publishing using old company data and papers detailing many of its steam designs around the turn of the 20th century. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:10:34 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/doodlebugs.html Doodlebugs became a popular early motorized rail car used by the industry to reduce expenses associated with passenger operations on light branch lines. Most were retired by the 1960s. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:21:47 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/fallen-flags.html The term fallen flags describes the classic railroads that once dominated the American landscape. Featured here are histories of more than 100 of these companies. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:27:40 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/chicago-and-western-indiana-railroad.html The Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad was a terminal line serving the Chicago region. While initially independent it was acquired by a consortium of railroads to reach Dearborn Station. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:25:57 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/gateway-western-railway.html The Gateway Western Railway is a former Class II, regional line which connected Kansas City and St. Louis. It was purchased by the KCS in 2001. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:43:15 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/shortlines.html Class III railroads, which are known simply as shortlines, are in vastly greater numbers today as Class Is continue to shed trackage. Many of these small lines are featured here. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:40:17 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/butte-anaconda-and-pacific-railway.html The Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway is one of Montana's best known railroads, dating back to the 19th century hauling copper ore. It still operates its original 26 mile main line. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:38:41 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/sand-springs-railway.html The Sand Springs Railway is a former interurban line based in Oklahoma that survived the industry's downfall during the 1920s and 1930s to become a successful freight hauler. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:51:13 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/railroad-stories.html Railroad stories are what bring to the light the personal and human side of the industry often unknown to outsiders. If you have one to share please contact me! Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:25:28 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/scrap-iron-big-foot-and-a-nice-day-on-a-branch-line.html Scrap Iron, Big Foot, and A Nice Day on a Branch Line is a tale by Tom Schuppert describing stories of those he worked with on the railroad and their unique nicknames. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:23:59 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/tulsa-sapulpa-union-railway.html The Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway is today a Class III shortline whose history began as an interuban with a rocky start. Its recovery was thanks to interchanges with two Class Is that continues today. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:57:56 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/grafton-and-upton-railroad.html The Grafton And Upton Railroad is an historic Class III, shortline which dates to the 1870s. After being dormnant for several years its new owner has big plans for the railroad despite opposition. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:34:57 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/iowa-traction-railroad.html The Iowa Traction Railroad today is the last original interurban line still in operation using electric locomotives. It dates to 1897 and has changed names but still operates its original route. Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:35:35 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/cedar-rapids-and-iowa-city-railway.html The Cedar Rapids And Iowa City Railway, which is also known by its motto as the Crandic Route, is one of only a few original interurbans still operating today as a Class III, shortline railroad. Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:13:13 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/new-york-subways-and-stations.html New York Subways And Stations is a book put together by Tod Lange and presents a pictorial history of the New York transit systems from 1970 through 1990 during an era of dirt, crime, and grime. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:27:47 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/grand-trunk-western-railroad.html The Grand Trunk Western Railroad was a corporation created by parent Canadian National in 1928 to operate its U.S. properties. The GTW remains a CN subsidiary today. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:59:44 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/wellsville-addison-and-galeton-railroad.html The Wellsville, Addison and Galeton Railroad was a classic shortline operation that dates to the 1950s on former B&O lines in Pennsylvania and New York. It was abandoned in 1979. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:39:47 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/central-oregon-and-pacific-railroad.html The Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad is a regional, Class II line that operates the original Southern Pacific route in Oregon known as the Siskiyou Line and is currently owned by RailAmerica. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:53:42 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/buffalo-and-pittsburgh-railroad.html The Buffalo And Pittsburgh Railroad is a Class II, regional line serving northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York to Buffalo. It has been in service since 1988. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:06:19 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/pan-am-railways.html The Pan Am Railways was created in 2006 as a renaming of the Guilford Rail System in New England, which dated back to 1981. Today, Pan Am remains a signficant Class II railroad in the region. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:04:22 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/americas-fighting-railroads.html America's Fighting Railroads is a book written by Don DeNevi that provides perhaps the most complete look at how the industry helped win the conflict during World War II. Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:24:03 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/west-virginia-logging-railroads.html West Virginia Logging Railroads is written by William E. Warden, an author well known for his work covering Appalachian railroads with this title covering logging operations in the Mountain State. Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:28:14 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/durbin-route.html The Durbin Route is written by William McNeel and offers the most complete and detailed history of the Chesapeake & Ohio's famous Greenbrier Division in West Virginia. Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:31:29 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/steam-in-the-alleghenies.html Steam In The Alleghenies: Western Maryland is a book written by Ross Grenard and John Krause which desribes the company's operations during the steam era across its system mostly through photography. Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:27:17 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/appalachian-coal-mines-and-railroads.html Appalachian Coal Mines And Railroads is written by Thomas W. Dixon, Jr. and highlights railroad mining operations in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:53:47 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/norfolk-and-western-railways-magnificent-mallets.html Norfolk And Western Railway's Magnificent Mallets is a book written by William Warden that details the eastern line's massive 2-8-8-2 steam locomotives found in regular use until the 1950s. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:50:59 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/the-pennsylvania-railroad.html The Pennsylvania Railroad is a book written by well known railroad historians Brian Solomon and Mike Schafer offering a general history of the Pennsy from its creation to final years in the 1960s. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:20:14 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/brian-solomons-railroad-stations.html Brian Solomon's Railroad Stations is a coffee table book that features vivid photography of both large terminals and small depots found across the country, as well as some even overseas. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:55:51 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/a-field-guide-to-trains.html A Field Guide To Trains is a book written and illustrated by Gerald Foster that offers readers a look at various models of diesel locomotives broken down by their identifiable features. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:51:36 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/history-of-north-american-rail.html The History Of North American Rail is a book put together by Christopher Chant describing, through vivid photography trains in the United States and Canada from the 1830s through today. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:26:21 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/tourist-railroads.html Whether you are interested in riding tourist railroads or finding out more about a particular one, all of that can be found here. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:17:44 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/railroad-museums.html Find out about all of the many railroad museums that operate around the country, which work to keep alive our nation's history with trains. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:34:40 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/class-i-railroads.html In railroad jargon, Class I railroads refer to the largest companies in the industry and all seven in North America are highlighted here. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:15:18 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/making-all-stops.html Making All Stops, Volume One is put together by Peter Funk and essentially is a photography book detailing the history of New York's subways from the 1970s. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:17:03 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/electro-motive-f-units-and-e-units.html Electro-Motive F Units And E Units is a newer book released by well knonw rail historian Brian Solomon which highlights the evolution of the classic diesel that silenced the steam locomotive. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:56:43 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/railroad-stations.html This page offers a general history of railroad stations and many of the most well known structures like Pennsylvania Station. Also, learn about surviving depots still standing all around the country. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:57:49 GMT http://www.american-rails.com/sunbeam.html The Southern Pacific's Sunbeam, and its counterpart the Hustler, were regional train that served New Orleans and Dallas. It was inaugurated originally in 1925 and survived only until the 1950s. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:25:41 GMT