American Railroads: History, Travel & Today’s Industry
Last revised: August 12, 2026
By: Adam Burns
American-Rails.com is a free educational guide to the railroads of the United States—classic fallen flags and streamliners, steam and diesel locomotives, engineering landmarks, today’s Class I freights and short lines, scenic tourist trains, Amtrak, museums, and railroad jobs. Whether you are planning a trip, researching a railroad that no longer exists, or simply love the iron horse, start with a path below or browse more than 2,800 pages of history and travel coverage.
A handsome Rio Grande F7A, #5664, in Denver, Colorado, circa 1970. Robert Eastwood, Jr. photo. American-Rails.com collection.
Start Here
Not sure where to click? These are the main doors into the site:
| If you want to… | Go here |
|---|---|
| Ride a scenic or tourist train (state guides, fall foliage, holidays) | Tourist Trains · Fall Foliage · Christmas Trains |
| Study classic railroads that merged or disappeared | Fallen Flags · Railroad History |
| Learn locomotives — steam, diesel, electric | Steam · Diesel · Locomotive History |
| Understand today’s freight industry | Class I Railroads · Regionals · Short Lines |
| Explore streamliners, landmarks & stations | Streamliners · Landmarks · Stations |
| Research railroad jobs & crafts | Railroad Jobs · Conductor · Engineer |
Seasonal Travel (Right Now)
- Fall foliage train rides — national hub; pair with state guides such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, and New Hampshire
- Dinner trains · All tourist / scenic trains
- Amtrak for long-distance and corridor travel (see also our Amtrak overview)
Swap this section when holidays approach: point to Christmas and Polar Express hubs.
Pillars of American-Rails.com
| Section | What you’ll find |
|---|---|
| Industry History | Origins, Golden Age, regulation & revival, timeline |
| Fallen Flags | Classic railroads absorbed by merger or bankruptcy |
| Tycoons & Barons | Builders of the Gilded Age network |
| Steam / Diesel / Electric | Locomotive types, builders, and eras |
| Passenger cars / Freight cars | Rolling stock explained |
| Interurbans & streetcars | Electric traction beyond main-line railroads |
| Narrow gauge / Logging lines | Mountain and timber railroads |
| Museums / State history | Where to visit and state-by-state context |
| Glossary | Terms and railroad language |
Santa Fe F3A #29-L just off the turntable at Redondo Junction in Los Angeles during the 1960s. Fred Worsfold photo. American-Rails.com collection.
A Brief Word on U.S. Railroad History
From early experiments in the 1820s through the steam locomotive and the Civil War boom, American railroads stitched together a continental economy. Mileage peaked near 254,000 route miles around 1916—the so-called Golden Age, when four-track mains, great passenger stations, and heavy freights defined modern transport.
Twentieth-century highways, airlines, and tight federal regulation eroded that monopoly. By the 1970s, bankruptcies (including Penn Central) forced Amtrak (1971) to take most intercity passengers and Conrail (1976) to reorganize Northeastern freights. The Staggers Rail Act of 1980 deregulated much of the rate and abandonment process; freight rail recovered into today’s Class I, regional, and short-line map.
For the full story—timeline, inventors, decades, and operating philosophy—see Railroad History (USA). For the classic corporate names that vanished into mergers, start at Fallen Flags.
Travel: America by Rail
Even under Amtrak, long-distance trains still cross New River Gorge country, Glacier, the Rockies, the Southwest, and the Pacific coast. Tourist railroads and dinner trains recreate pieces of the Silver Age experience—Strasburg steam, Durango narrow gauge, Napa Valley dining, and hundreds of state-by-state options.
- Scenic & tourist train rides
- Amtrak · Rail tours · Passenger train guide
- Dinner trains · Named streamliners (history)
Louisville & Nashville U25B #1602 leads a manifest northbound near Louisville, Kentucky, July 19, 1972. American-Rails.com collection.
About This Site
I have been interested in trains for as long as I can remember. When I could not find a single, detailed free resource covering American railroad history online, I began building one in 2007. American-Rails.com grew from that project into a large reference covering fallen flags, locomotives, passenger and freight equipment, landmarks, interurbans, logging roads, museums, tourist railroads, and employment crafts.
I do not claim to be an industry insider—only a careful student of the subject. If you spot an error, please contact me. Corrections from readers have improved the site for years.
More: About · Creating the site · Works cited / resources
Note: This site is not a railroad and does not hire employees. Job pages explain crafts and where to look; they are not a placement service. See Railroad Jobs.
Santa Fe F7A #260-C and other F units head west over Cajon Pass near Keenbrook, California, circa 1960. Fred Worsfold photo. American-Rails.com collection.
Popular Starting Pages
- Pennsylvania scenic train rides · National tourist train guide
- Fallen flags · New York Central · Railroad tycoons
- Steam locomotives · Diesel locomotives · Class I railroads
- Famous landmarks · Railroad jobs · Glossary
Use the site search or the navigation menu for a full directory. New articles also appear in the blog / recent articles feed below.
Thank you for visiting. Enjoy exploring America’s railroads—past and present.
Recent Articles
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Atlantic and Danville Railway: Serving Southern VA
Oct 13, 26 04:32 PM
Atlantic and Danville Railway, chartered in 1882, incorporated September 1883. Three-foot line to Claremont, then Norfolk to Danville. Southern lease from September 1, 1899, to July 1, 1949. Alco RS2s… -
Norfolk, Franklin and Danville Railroad: Map, Roster, History
Oct 13, 26 04:26 PM
Norfolk, Franklin and Danville Railway, chartered October 2, 1962, and operating from November 1, 1962. Norfolk to Danville, 210.8 miles. Two Alco RS36s and four RS11s. Merged into the N&W on December… -
Norfolk & Western Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 12, 26 11:59 PM
Norfolk & Western diesel roster, all-time. 1,464 locomotives built new for the railroad, from the 1955 GP9s and RS-3s through the C36-7s, plus the merger fleets. -
Norfolk & Western Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Oct 12, 26 11:52 PM
Norfolk & Western steam since 1898. The Roanoke grid: 1,266 locomotives, the J, the A, and the Y, and the last road steam on May 7, 1960. -
Norfolk & Western Railway: Map, Logo, Rosters, History
Oct 12, 26 11:45 PM
The Norfolk & Western, from the City Point Railroad of 1838 to Norfolk Southern. Pocahontas coal, Roanoke steam, and the 1964 expansion. -
Louisiana Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 12, 26 11:24 PM
Louisiana railroad museums—the DeQuincy depot, the Long Leaf sawmill, Jackson’s model railroad, and Southern Pacific 745. Confirm hours on each site. -
Michigan Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 12, 26 11:14 PM
Michigan railroad museums—Pere Marquette 1225 at Owosso, Durand Union Station, The Henry Ford, and the Mount Clemens depot. Confirm hours on each site. -
Mississippi Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 12, 26 10:52 PM
Mississippi railroad museums—McComb’s rebuilt Illinois Central depot and Illinois Central 2542, and the Casey Jones museum at Water Valley. Confirm hours on each site. -
The "E2b": PRR's Experimental Freight Electrics
Oct 12, 26 10:33 PM
PRR class E2b: six GE B-B freight electrics, 4939–4944, 2,500 hp, 11 kV AC. Specifications, roster, and the 1964 scrap. -
Alaska Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 12, 26 10:10 PM
Alaska railroad museums—the Museum of Alaska in Wasilla, Tanana Valley No. 1 at Pioneer Park, and the Engine 557 shop. Confirm hours on each site. -
Western and Atlantic Railroad: Map, History, Timetables
Oct 12, 26 09:55 PM
The Western & Atlantic Railroad of the State of Georgia, authorized December 21, 1836, from Atlanta to Chattanooga. The state still owns the 137.33-mile line. CSX leases it. The through railroad opene… -
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Oct 12, 26 09:52 PM
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis steam since 1900. Drury's class grid: Consolidations, 51 Mikados, three 2-8-8-2s, Pacifics, and 25 4-8-4s. Last steam was January 4, 1953. -
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 12, 26 09:27 PM
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis diesel roster, all-time. Switchers from 1941, 37 GP7s, and the F3s and F7s. The quantity column totals 132 locomotives. -
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway: Map, History, Logo
Oct 12, 26 08:41 PM
The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis, the Dixie Line. Charter of December 11, 1845, the Cumberland tunnel, and the Louisville & Nashville merger of August 30, 1957. -
Idaho Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 12, 26 02:44 PM
Idaho railroad museums—Nampa’s 1903 depot, Wallace’s Northern Pacific depot, and Boise’s 1925 Union Pacific depot. Confirm hours on each site. -
Hawaii Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 12, 26 12:50 PM
Hawaii railroad museums—the Hawaiian Railway Society at Ewa Beach and the Laupahoehoe Train Museum on the Big Island. Confirm hours on each site. -
Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad: Map, History, Timetable
Oct 12, 26 11:44 AM
Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad, chartered March 8, 1845 as the Belpre & Cincinnati. Opened in April 1857, sold under foreclosure December 9, 1882, and succeeded by the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern… -
Tennessee Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 12, 26 11:39 AM
Tennessee railroad museums—TVRM and Southern 4501 in Chattanooga, the Tennessee Central museum in Nashville, Casey Jones in Jackson, and the depots at Cookeville, Cowan, and Townsend. -
Virginia Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 12, 26 09:40 AM
Virginia railroad museums—Roanoke’s Virginia Museum of Transportation and the O. Winston Link Museum, the C&O center at Clifton Forge, and the depots in Richmond, Fairfax Station, Suffolk, Parksley, a… -
Louisville & Nashville Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 12, 26 12:15 AM
Louisville & Nashville diesel roster, all-time. Switchers from 1939, the cab units, and EMD, Alco, and GE hoods through the SD50s. The quantity column totals 1948 locomotives, plus 29 yard slugs. -
Louisville & Nashville Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Oct 11, 26 05:44 PM
Louisville & Nashville steam since 1900. Drury's class grid: Consolidations, 165 heavy Mikados, 42 Big Emma 2-8-4s, Pacifics, and 22 Mountains. Last steam January 1957. -
Louisville and Nashville Railroad: Map, Rosters, History
Oct 11, 26 05:39 PM
Louisville & Nashville, the Old Reliable. Charter of March 5, 1850, Milton H. Smith, the 921-mile main line, Big Emma, and the December 29, 1982 merger. Steam and diesel rosters are companion pages. -
Oregon Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 11, 26 05:19 PM
Oregon railroad museums—the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Brooks trolleys, Canby’s 1891 depot, Medford’s Willamette, and Train Mountain. Confirm hours on each site. -
Texas Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 11, 26 05:15 PM
Texas railroad museums—Frisco’s Big Boy 4018, Galveston’s Santa Fe depot, Temple’s 1911 station, Plano’s interurban, and Fort Worth & Denver 304. Confirm hours on each site. -
Wisconsin Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 10, 26 11:51 PM
Wisconsin railroad museums—Green Bay’s Big Boy 4017 and Eisenhower’s A4, Mid-Continent at North Freedom, East Troy’s interurban, and the Riverside & Great Northern. Confirm hours on each site. -
Interstate Railroad (Virginia): Map, Roster, Logo, History
Oct 10, 26 11:22 PM
Interstate Railroad, a Virginia coal road chartered February 18, 1896. Andover shops. Ten Alco RS3s, 30–39. Southern control in 1961. The company ended October 31, 1985. -
North Carolina Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 10, 26 11:16 PM
North Carolina railroad museums—Spencer Shops, Wilmington’s Atlantic Coast Line 250, Hamlet’s Seaboard depot, and the New Hope Valley Railway. Confirm hours on each site. -
New Mexico Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 10, 26 10:54 PM
New Mexico railroad museums—Santa Fe 2926 in Albuquerque, the Clovis depot, Alamogordo’s Toy Train Depot, and Belen. Confirm hours on each site. -
New York Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 10, 26 09:33 PM
New York railroad museums—Phoenicia, Medina’s New York Central freight house, the Transit Museum, Long Island 35 and 39, and GG1 4933. Confirm hours on each site. -
Columbia, Newberry & Laurens Railroad: History, Timetable, Roster
Oct 10, 26 09:08 PM
Columbia, Newberry & Laurens Railroad, Columbia to Laurens, 75 miles. Chartered in 1885. Five Atlantic Coast Line GP7s, 100–104. Merged into the Seaboard System on April 30, 1984. -
New Haven Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 10, 26 06:35 PM
New Haven diesel roster, all-time. 558 road numbers: 60 DL-109s, 30 FA-1s, 27 PA-1s, 60 FL9s, and the switchers from HH600 0900. Serials and order numbers. -
New Haven Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Oct 10, 26 06:31 PM
New Haven steam since 1900. Drury's class grid: 226 Moguls, 33 Mikados, 50 Santa Fes, 70 Mountains, 141 Pacifics, and 10 Hudsons. Last fan trip July 19, 1953. -
New Haven Railroad: Rosters, Map, Logo, History, Trains
Oct 10, 26 06:26 PM
New York, New Haven and Hartford. The Shore Line, Hell Gate, the 1952 map at 1,838.89 miles, and the railroad Penn Central took at 11:59:59 p.m. on December 31, 1968. -
C&O's 4-6-4 "Hudson" Locomotives (Class L): Specs, Roster, History
Oct 10, 26 05:36 PM
Chesapeake & Ohio Class L 4-6-4 Hudsons. Eight L-2s, five L-1 rebuilds, five L-2-As. Specs, Baldwin works numbers, and the roster. No. 490 survives. -
Alton Railroad: Map, History, Timetables
Oct 09, 26 10:31 PM
Alton Railroad, chartered February 27, 1847 as the Alton & Sangamon. Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City, the 1937 Official Guide, and the May 31, 1947 merger into the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio. -
Mobile & Ohio Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Oct 09, 26 12:26 PM
Mobile & Ohio steam since 1900. Drury's class grid: 48 six-wheel switchers, 107 Ten-Wheelers, 15 Consolidations, 58 Mikados, and 14 Pacifics. Last revenue steam October 7, 1949. -
Mobile & Ohio Railroad: History, Map, Timetable
Oct 09, 26 11:31 AM
Mobile & Ohio Railroad, chartered in 1848. Columbus on April 22, 1861, the Cairo & St. Louis, the March 1940 Official Guide, and the September 13, 1940 merger into the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio. -
Gulf, Mobile & Northern Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Oct 09, 26 10:42 AM
Gulf, Mobile & Northern steam since 1900. Drury's class grid: Ten-Wheelers, Mikados, Russian Decapods, Pacifics 425 and 426, and three light 4-8-2s. Last revenue steam October 7, 1949. -
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 09, 26 10:41 AM
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio diesel roster, all-time. The 1935 boxcab, DL-107s, 55 FA-1s, F3s and F7s, the Ingalls 4-S, GP30s through GP38-2s, and 21 SD40s. Serials and order numbers. -
Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad: History, Rebel Route
Oct 09, 26 10:36 AM
Gulf, Mobile & Northern, from the 1890 Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City to the Rebel and the September 13, 1940 merger into the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio. Steam roster is the companion page. -
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad: Map, Photos, Trains, History
Oct 08, 26 11:48 PM
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, chartered in 1938 and merged September 13, 1940. The Mobile & Ohio, the Alton on May 31, 1947, the Rebel Route, and Illinois Central Gulf on August 10, 1972. -
New Jersey Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 08, 26 11:37 PM
New Jersey railroad museums—Whippany, Maywood, Pine Creek, Mahwah’s Erie depot, Phillipsburg, and Boonton. Confirm hours on each site. -
New Hampshire Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 08, 26 11:34 PM
New Hampshire railroad museums—North Conway, the Flying Yankee, Ashland, Gorham, Raymond, and Sandown. Confirm hours on each site. -
Missouri Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 08, 26 11:00 PM
Missouri railroad museums—the National Museum of Transportation, Patee House, Frisco 4524, the Chicago & Alton depot, and Marceline. Confirm hours on each site. -
Milwaukee Road X3800: Deer Lodge’s Shop Goat
Oct 08, 26 04:28 PM
Milwaukee Road X3800, the a home-built shop goat that served the Deer Lodge, MT yard. It was a 220-volt DC switcher, powered through an extension cord that moved electrics into a roundhouse where the… -
Key West Extension (Overseas Railroad): History, Construction, Decline
Oct 08, 26 03:59 PM
Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad, Miami to Key West, 1905–1935. The Seven Mile Bridge, the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, and the road that became U.S. 1. -
Florida East Coast Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Oct 08, 26 02:34 PM
Florida East Coast steam since 1897. Seventeen Ten-Wheelers, twenty Atlantics, eighty-seven Pacifics, ninety Mountains, fifteen Mikados, and the switchers. -
Florida East Coast Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 08, 26 02:12 PM
Florida East Coast diesel roster, all-time. E units from 1939, F3s, BL2s, GP7s and GP9s, the GP40-2 orders, 22 SD40-2s, and 24 ES44C4s. Serials and EMD order numbers. -
Florida East Coast Railway: Map, History, Rosters
Oct 08, 26 01:46 PM
Florida East Coast Railway, Henry Flagler's line from Jacksonville to Miami and Key West. Receivership in 1931, the 1963 strike, Grupo México in 2017, and Brightline on the same track. -
Minnesota Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide
Oct 08, 26 10:32 AM
Minnesota railroad museums—the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Two Harbors, Jackson Street, Willmar’s Great Northern 2523, and Currie. Confirm hours on each site.
