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
-
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (2026): Sunset Dinner and Moonlight
Sep 21, 26 02:40 PM
2026 Oregon Coast Scenic does not post the old four-course Sunset Dinner. The evening ride is the 21+ Moonlight Excursion from Garibaldi, with pre-ordered sandwiches. Confirm on oregoncoastscenic.org. -
Adirondack Dinner Train (2026): Dates, Tickets & What to Expect
Sep 21, 26 01:38 PM
2026 Adirondack Dinner Train—Utica Union Station, 6 p.m., about 3 hours to Remsen. First Class from $139. Chef Patrick O’Connor. Confirm on adirondackrr.com. -
Lehigh Valley Steam Locomotives: History, Roster & Photos
Sep 21, 26 01:31 PM
Lehigh Valley steam—Camelback Consolidations, 2-10-2s, K-class Pacifics, six Mountains, Wyoming 4-8-4s. Post-1900 roster after Drury. Last steam September 14, 1951. -
Lehigh Valley Diesel Roster: All-Time
Sep 21, 26 01:23 PM
Lehigh Valley diesel—boxcabs 1926, FTs 1945, F3/F7, FA/PA, C628 Snowbirds, GP38-2s, U23Bs. All-time roster with serials and orders. Last steam September 14, 1951. -
Lehigh Valley Railroad: Map, Roster, Logo, History
Sep 21, 26 01:09 PM
Lehigh Valley—DLS&S 1847, named January 7 1853, Mauch Chunk–Easton September 12 1855. Route of the Black Diamond. Jersey City–Buffalo. Conrail April 1 1976. -
Wisconsin Great Northern Dinner Train (2026)
Sep 21, 26 12:47 PM
2026 Wisconsin Great Northern dinner train—Trego, $105, Namekagon River. January 8–31 and May 5–December 17. Confirm on spoonertrainride.com. -
Lehigh and New England Railroad: Map, Rosters, History
Sep 21, 26 12:33 AM
Lehigh & New England—South Mountain & Boston 1873, named April 2 1895. Anthracite, cement, Maybrook. Last Camelbacks, Alco FAs. Voluntary shutdown October 31 1961. -
TVRM Chattanooga Dinner Train (2026): Dates, Tickets & What to Expect
Sep 21, 26 12:20 AM
2026 TVRM Chattanooga Dinner Train Experience—Grand Junction, select Fri/Sat March 6–October 24, three-course, 2–3 hours, from $110. Confirm on tvrail.com. -
Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad: Map, Rosters, History
Sep 20, 26 11:55 PM
Lehigh & Hudson River—Warwick Valley 1860, Railway April 1 1882. Easton–Maybrook bridge road, Alphabet Route, Alco RS-3s and C420s. Conrail April 1 1976. -
Royal Gorge First Class Dinner Train (2026)
Sep 20, 26 11:47 PM
2026 Royal Gorge Route First Class Lunch & Dinner—Cañon City, about 2 hours, from $199+, 12+. Confirm on royalgorgeroute.com. -
GE "44-Tonner" Locomotives: Roster, Specs, History
Sep 20, 26 11:09 PM
GE 44-ton switcher—90,000-pound rule, Caterpillar D17000 center-cab, Sept 4 1940 CB&Q 9103 through Oct 1956 Dansville & Mount Morris 1. Phases, serial roster, PRR 46. -
Strasburg Rail Road Dining (2026): Dinner on the Rails & Elegant Expre
Sep 20, 26 11:00 PM
2026 Strasburg Rail Road seated meals—Dinner on the Rails, Elegant Express, Valentine dinner. Lee E. Brenner diner. Confirm on strasburgrailroad.com. -
International-Great Northern Railroad: Map, History, Timetables
Sep 20, 26 10:43 PM
International–Great Northern—Houston & Great Northern 1866, International Railroad 1870, merged Sept 30 1873. Palestine, Longview–Laredo, Gould, Missouri Pacific March 1 1956. -
Nevada Northern Taste of Italy Dinner Train (2026)
Sep 20, 26 03:25 PM
2026 Nevada Northern Taste of Italy—adults-only multi-course Italian dinner, steam when healthy, East Ely. Sep. 19 gala listed. Confirm on nnry.com. -
Cape Cod Dinner Train (2026): Dates, Tickets & What to Expect
Sep 20, 26 02:53 PM
Cape Cod Central Dinner Train—Hyannis, Buzzards Bay, and Falmouth. Four-course, 3–3½ hours, from $99.99. Confirm on capetrain.com. -
Erie Steam Locomotives: History, Roster & Photos
Sep 20, 26 11:55 AM
Erie Railroad steam—Camelback 2-8-0s, 155 N-1 Mikados, 105 Berkshires, K-class Pacifics, Triplexes. Post-1900 roster after Drury. Last steam March 17, 1954. -
Erie Railroad Diesel Roster: All-Time
Sep 20, 26 11:47 AM
Erie Railroad diesel—boxcabs 1926, FTs 1944, F3/F7, FA/PA, GP7/GP9, Baldwins, Limas. All-time roster with serials, orders, classes. Last steam March 17 1954. EL October 17 1960. -
Erie Railroad: Map, Passenger Trains, Logo, History
Sep 20, 26 11:44 AM
Erie Railroad—New York & Erie 1832, Piermont–Dunkirk May 14 1851, six-foot then standard June 1880, Chicago 1883. High-and-wide fourth way. Erie Lackawanna October 17 1960. -
Colebrookdale Railroad Dining (2026): Secret Valley Dinner Train
Sep 20, 26 11:36 AM
2026 Colebrookdale Railroad dinner in Boyertown—Secret Valley Dining Class, about 2 hours. Saturday evenings. Confirm on colebrookdalerailroad.com. -
Boone & Scenic Valley Wolf Dinner Train (2026)
Sep 19, 26 08:15 PM
2026 Boone & Scenic Valley Wolf Dinner Train—Des Moines River valley, Bass Point Creek High Bridge, Union Pacific dining cars. Confirm on bsvrr.com. -
C&NW 4-6-2s 1617 & 1620: Minnesota 400 Yellow Jackets
Sep 19, 26 11:28 AM
C&NW Class E Pacifics 1617 and 1620—Alco Schenectady 1917, yellow-and-green E-4-style shrouds 1941 for the Minnesota 400. Crews called them Yellow Jackets. Renumbered 617/620. Scrapped 1956. -
Erie Lackawanna Diesel Roster: All-Time
Sep 19, 26 10:13 AM
Erie Lackawanna diesel—Erie and DL&W inheritance, GP35s, U25Bs, SD45/SDP45/SD45-2, U34CH. All-time roster with serials and orders. Conrail April 1 1976. -
Erie Lackawanna Railway: Map, History, Logo
Sep 19, 26 10:06 AM
Erie Lackawanna Railway—Erie and DL&W, October 17 1960–March 31 1976. Von Willer, White revival, Dereco, Agnes, Conrail. High-and-wide Chicago main. Map, logo, what remains. -
"Empire State Express" (1941 Train): Timetables, Route, Consist
Sep 18, 26 10:59 PM
NYC Empire State Express—George Daniels 1891 day train, 999’s 112.5 mph claim, Budd stainless streamliner December 7 1941, Cleveland and Detroit sections, diesels, 1967 name drop. Timetables, consist… -
New York Central 4-6-4s 5426 & 5429: Empire State Express Hudsons
Sep 18, 26 10:32 PM
NYC J-3a Hudsons 5426 and 5429—Alco 1937, Budd stainless shrouds 1941 for the Empire State Express. Pearl Harbor inaugural. Shrouds off by 1950. Neither preserved. -
"Stourbridge Lion" Locomotive: Facts, History, Photos
Sep 18, 26 10:27 PM
Stourbridge Lion—Foster, Rastrick 0-4-0, first steam locomotive in the United States. Horatio Allen, Honesdale, August 8, 1829. Too heavy for D&H gravity track. Boiler in Baltimore; Colonie replic… -
Delaware & Hudson Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Sep 18, 26 10:01 PM
Delaware & Hudson steam—Camelback 2-8-0s, Loree high-pressure compounds, Class K 4-8-4s, forty Challengers. Post-1900 class roster after Drury. Last steam July 21, 1953. -
Boston & Maine Steam Roster (Post 1900)
Sep 18, 26 02:57 PM
Boston & Maine steam—B-15 Moguls, K-8 Consolidations, P-4 Lima Pacifics, T-1 Limas, R-1 Mountains. Post-1900 class roster after Drury. Last steam July 23, 1956. -
Boston & Maine Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Sep 18, 26 01:25 PM
Boston & Maine diesel—boxcab 1100 1935, Flying Yankee 6000, FTs, E7s, BL2s, GP7/GP9, GP38-2s and GP40-2s. All-time roster. Last steam July 23, 1956. -
Mid-Continent Railway Museum Dining (2026)
Sep 18, 26 01:21 PM
2026 Mid-Continent dining in North Freedom—select-date seated meals in luxury cars, reservations required. Pizza Limited June 28. Confirm on midcontinent.org.
