American-Rails.com Blog
Here is your one-stop shop for learning about all of the newest additions or changes happening at American-Rails.com. Listed below is every page that is either new or which was updated within the last few days. Simply click on the link "Continue Reading..." under each heading to visit the page in question. With new articles added on a regular basis be sure and either check back here often or subscribe to the website's RSS feed to keep up with the latest.
Sep 20, 2021
Lehigh Valley Railroad: Map, Timetables, Photos, Rosters
The Lehigh Valley dates as far back as 1853. At its height the anthracite road connected Buffalo with eastern New Jersey.
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Sep 18, 2021
Lehigh & New England Railroad: Map, Locomotives, Roster
The Lehigh & New England was another Northeastern anthracite coal hauler. An early victim of the times it shutdown in 1961.
Continue reading "Lehigh & New England Railroad: Map, Locomotives, Roster"
Sep 18, 2021
Erie Railroad: Map, Steam Locomotives, Logo, Photos
The Erie Railroad's earliest history dates back to the 1830s and later in the 19th century as one of the most powerful lines.
Continue reading "Erie Railroad: Map, Steam Locomotives, Logo, Photos"
Sep 17, 2021
EMD "SD40" and "SD40-2" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Roster
The SD40, SD40-2, and their variants were first released in 1966 and became an instant success with more than 5,000 manufactured.
Continue reading "EMD "SD40" and "SD40-2" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Roster"
Sep 17, 2021
Lackawanna Railroad: Map, History, Viaducts, Timetables
The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (DL&W) operated from Buffalo to Hoboken, New Jersey and is remembered as another of the classic anthracite lines.
Continue reading "Lackawanna Railroad: Map, History, Viaducts, Timetables"
Sep 17, 2021
GE "U30C," "U30CG" and "P30CH" Locomotives: Data And Roster
The 3,000 horsepower U30C was the first very successful Universal model for GE and was the first sign that EMD had a serious competitor.
Continue reading "GE "U30C," "U30CG" and "P30CH" Locomotives: Data And Roster"
Sep 16, 2021
Delaware & Hudson Railway: Map, Passenger Trains, History
The Delaware & Hudson Railway, which began as the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, was a classic carrier that even predated the Baltimore & Ohio.
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Sep 15, 2021
Southern Pacific Railroad: Map, History, Logo, Pictures
The Southern Pacific was a California institution and one of the West's most powerful railroads.
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Sep 14, 2021
GE "U30B" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster
The U30B followed the earlier U25B and U28B with a slight increase in horsepower.
Continue reading "GE "U30B" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster"
Sep 14, 2021
C&O's George Washington (Train): Timetable, Route, Consist
The George Washington became the C&O's flagship train between Cincinnati and Norfolk after it was inaugurated in 1932. It survived until Amtrak in 1971.
Continue reading "C&O's George Washington (Train): Timetable, Route, Consist"
Sep 14, 2021
Fall Foliage Train Rides (2021): A Complete Guide
As the leaves begin to turn fall foliage train rides have become a popular way to see the vibrant colors. Find out where you can find these excursions here in 2020.
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Sep 13, 2021
Chessie System (Train/Railroad): Logo, Map, Photos
The Chessie System was a holding company created in 1972 composed of the B&O, C&O, and Western Maryland.
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Sep 13, 2021
GE "U28B" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster
The U28B was a slightly more powerful diesel road-switcher that replaced the company's original U25B. It saw marginal sales, just eclipsing 100 units.
Continue reading "GE "U28B" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster"
Sep 12, 2021
Reading Railroad: Map, Pronunciation, Logo, Roster, Photos
The Reading Railroad known in later years by its slogan, "Bee Line Service," is historically remembered as a successful anthracite coal hauler.
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Sep 10, 2021
GE "U28C" and "U28CG" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Roster
The U28C succeeded the U25C in 1965. Just a few railroads tried the model with most more interested in EMD and four-axle designs at the time.
Continue reading "GE "U28C" and "U28CG" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Roster"
Sep 10, 2021
Jersey Central Railroad: Map, Schedule, Photos & Blue Comet
The Central Railroad of New Jersey was a classic fallen flag that served its home state and eastern Pennsylvania.
Continue reading "Jersey Central Railroad: Map, Schedule, Photos & Blue Comet"
Sep 09, 2021
GE "U25B" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster
The U25B burst on the scene in 1959, taking both Alco and EMD by surprise. It saw decent sales numbers and helped put Alco out of business by 1969.
Continue reading "GE "U25B" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster"
Sep 09, 2021
GE "U25C" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster
The U25C was the six-axle version of the popular U25B. Cataloged some five years later it saw few sales.
Continue reading "GE "U25C" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster"
Sep 09, 2021
Central Vermont Railway: Map, Logo, Timetable, Roster
The Central Vermont Railway was a small through main route that connected Cantic, Quebec and New London, Connecticut.
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Sep 08, 2021
Bangor & Aroostook Railroad: Map, History, Photos, Roster
The Bangor & Aroostook served its home state of Maine. Chartered in 1891 it fell into bankruptcy in 2003. Today, remnants of the system are still operated.
Continue reading "Bangor & Aroostook Railroad: Map, History, Photos, Roster"
Sep 07, 2021
Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway: Map, Locomotives, Photos
The Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway connected Connellsville and Pittsburgh Junction, Ohio. It operated as part of the Alphabet Route.
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Sep 06, 2021
Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad: Map, Locomotives, Roster
The Lehigh & Hudson River is remembered as an anthracite coal hauler. In later years it became a successful bridge route.
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Sep 05, 2021
Rock Island Railroad: Map, Pictures, Logo, History, Timetables
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific was a fabled Midwestern granger that struggled after the 1960's. A botched merger and strike led to its liquidation in 1980.
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Sep 03, 2021
Chicago & North Western Railroad: Map, Logo, Photos, Roster
The Chicago & North Western Railway was a famous Midwestern granger that reached as far west as Lander, Wyoming. In 1995 it was purchased by Union Pacific.
Continue reading "Chicago & North Western Railroad: Map, Logo, Photos, Roster"
Sep 03, 2021
Penn Central Railroad: Map, Logo, Bankruptcy, Photos
The Penn Central Transportation Company was a railroad created through the mergers of the NYC, PRR, and New Haven. It failed almost immediately.
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Sep 02, 2021
Norfolk & Western Railway: Map, History, Logo, Locomotives
The Norfolk & Western was a highly profitable eastern coal-hauler that connected Norfolk with Cincinnati. It disappeared into Norfolk Southern in 1982.
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Sep 01, 2021
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway: Map, History, Roster, Timetables
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a famous southern line that operated from Norfolk to Chicago and through much of Michigan.
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Aug 31, 2021
Western Maryland Railway: Map, History, Roster, Logo
The Western Maryland honored its slogan well as the Fast Freight Line. It connected Baltimore with Connellsville and Elkins.
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Aug 30, 2021
GE "U18B" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster
The U18B was a late model U-boat released by GE, intended for specialized light duty service.
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Aug 29, 2021
Colorado & Southern Railway: Locomotive Roster, Map, Logo
The Colorado & Southern operated across the southwest from Colorado to Texas. It became part of the Burlington but retained its name through the 1980s.
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SteamLocomotive.com
Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource in the study of steam locomotives.
The amount of information found there is quite staggering; historical backgrounds of wheel arrangements, types used by virtually every railroad, preserved and operational examples, and even those used in other countries (North America and beyond).
It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. It is a must visit!
Researching Rights-Of-Way
A popular pastime for many is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way.
Today, there are tens of thousands of miles scattered throughout the country. Many were pulled up in the 1970's and 1980's although others were removed long before that.
If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Historical Topographic Map Explorer.
It is an excellent resource with thousands of historic maps on file throughout the country. Just type in a town or city and click on the timeline of maps at the bottom of the page!