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 21, 2023
Penn Central Diesel Roster: All-Time
The Penn Central diesel roster was an eclectic collection of models from all of the major builders. Learn more about these units here.
Sep 21, 2023
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway
The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern was the largest terminal carrier to serve Chicago, connecting with all major railroads. Today, its part of Canadian National.
Sep 21, 2023
Baker Valve Gear (Steam Locomotive)
The Baker valve gear, invented by engineer George H. Baker in 1909, is a type of steam engine valve gear. It was developed as an alternative to the Walschaerts valve gear.
Sep 21, 2023
Steam Locomotives (USA): Invention, History, Types
The classic iron horse, steam locomotives are legendary machines that still hold awe over the general public today.
Continue reading "Steam Locomotives (USA): Invention, History, Types"
Sep 21, 2023
EMD "GP30" Locomotives
The GP30 began EMD's second-generation era featuring an upgraded prime mover and other components with a standard cab.
Sep 21, 2023
Walshaerts Valve Gear: Design, History, Dimensions
The Walshaerts valve gear is a mechanism invented in the 19th century by Belgian locomotive engineer, Egide Walschaerts. This apparatus is widely used in steam locomotive designs.
Continue reading "Walshaerts Valve Gear: Design, History, Dimensions"
Sep 20, 2023
Wabash Railroad: Map, Rosters, History, Logo
The Wabash was a Midwestern institution that had its own song and connected Buffalo, Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City.
Continue reading "Wabash Railroad: Map, Rosters, History, Logo"
Sep 20, 2023
2-10-4 "Texas" Locomotives
A late design,the powerful 2-10-4 Texas first saw use on the Texas & Pacific in 1925. Several roads used the 2-10-4 in freight service until the 1950's.
Sep 20, 2023
4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Locomotives
The 4-6-0 was an incredibly popular steam locomotive that first saw service in the 1840s. Thousands were built and saw use on numerous railroads.
Sep 20, 2023
4-8-4 "Northern" Locomotives: Top Speed, Horsepower, Photos
The 4-8-4, most often referred to as a "Northern," was a steam locomotive developed by the Northern Pacific.
Continue reading "4-8-4 "Northern" Locomotives: Top Speed, Horsepower, Photos"
Sep 20, 2023
4-8-0 Locomotives: Inventor, Images, History
The 4-8-0 Twelve Wheeler, also known as a Mastodon was an interesting design that saw use on several lines. Today, one is operational at the Strasburg Railroad.
Continue reading "4-8-0 Locomotives: Inventor, Images, History"
Sep 20, 2023
2-8-4 "Berkshire" Locomotives: History, Photos, Background
The 2-8-4 is often regarded as the Berkshire type due to its first test runs carried out in the Berkshire Mountains in the 1920s on the Boston & Albany.
Continue reading "2-8-4 "Berkshire" Locomotives: History, Photos, Background"
Sep 20, 2023
2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives
The 2-6-2 Prairie type was a steam locomotive designed by the Burlington railroad and first used in 1900.
Sep 20, 2023
2-8-0 "Consolidation" Locomotives
The 2-8-0 was a highly successful steam design first developed just after the Civil War. As technologies improved the 2-8-0 became larger and more powerful.
Sep 20, 2023
Baltimore & Ohio 2-8-0 Locomotives: Specs, Photos, Roster
Baltimore & Ohio's Class E 2-8-0's were a prolific fleet of locomotives on the railroad used in about every type of service imaginable. A few survived until the late 1950s
Continue reading "Baltimore & Ohio 2-8-0 Locomotives: Specs, Photos, Roster"
Sep 20, 2023
2-8-2 "Mikado" Steam Locomotives
The 2-8-2 Mikado was a steam locomotive design developed in 1883 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Japanese Railway, hence its name.
Sep 20, 2023
4-4-0 "American" Locomotives
Learn about the history of the 4-4-0 American type and how it could be found in use all across the country.
Sep 20, 2023
Railroad Tycoons In America (1800s)
Railroad tycoons, moguls, and barons were titans of 19th and early 20th century American commerce who laid the foundation of the modern industry we know today.
Sep 20, 2023
Jay Gould (Railroads)
Jay Gould became one of the most powerful and ruthless tycoons owning numerous lines throughout the United States
Sep 20, 2023
EMD "GP35" Locomotives
The GP35 followed the GP30 in 1963. Another second-generation model that sported a new prime mover and other components it sold incredibly well.
Sep 20, 2023
EMD "GP20" Locomotives
The GP20 ushered in the second-generation of diesel locomotives. It was first released in 1959 although sales were poor.
Sep 19, 2023
"Lark" (Train): Consist, Schedule, Route
The SP's Lark was its overnight streamlined, all-Pullman train running between Los Angeles and Oakland. It was discontinued in April, 1968.
Sep 19, 2023
SP's "Starlight" (Train): Consist, Schedule, Timetable
The Starlight was a brief all-streamlined Southern Pacific train serving Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Renamed from an earlier train it was an early victim of cutbacks.
Continue reading "SP's "Starlight" (Train): Consist, Schedule, Timetable"
Sep 19, 2023
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O)
The Baltimore & Ohio, our nation's first common-carrier was one of the three major eastern trunk lines but also the weakest.
Sep 18, 2023
"California Zephyr" (Train): Route Map, Schedule, Timetable
The California Zephyr was a legendary streamliner that debuted in 1949, a joint effort of the Western Pacific, Burlington, and Rio Grande.
Continue reading ""California Zephyr" (Train): Route Map, Schedule, Timetable"
Sep 15, 2023
Rio Grande Zephyr (Train): Timetable, Consist, History
Presented here is a brief history of the "Rio Grande Zephyr," the Rio Grande's tri-weekly train between Denver and Salt Lake City, operated from 1971-1983.
Continue reading "Rio Grande Zephyr (Train): Timetable, Consist, History"
Sep 15, 2023
M-10000 Streamliner (Union Pacific)
The M-10000 was officially the first streamliner ever when it was introduced in February, 1934 developed by Pullman and powered by the Winton Engine Company.
Sep 14, 2023
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL)
The Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines was owned by the PRR and Reading railroads and served primarily as a commuter line for southern New Jersey, a role it still serves today.
Continue reading "Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL)"
Sep 14, 2023
"Mainstreeter" (Train): Schedule, Consist, Timetable
The NP's Mainstreeter was its secondary train connecting Chicago and Seattle. Originally known as the Alaskan it was streamlined in 1946 and remained in service until April 30, 1971.
Continue reading ""Mainstreeter" (Train): Schedule, Consist, Timetable"
Sep 13, 2023
Alco "RS3" Locomotives
The RS3 proved to be the builder's bestselling road-switcher by far with some still in service today.
Sep 12, 2023
Penn Central Railroad: Map, History, Logo, Photos, Roster
The Penn Central Transportation Company was a railroad created through the mergers of the NYC, PRR, and New Haven. It failed almost immediately.
Continue reading "Penn Central Railroad: Map, History, Logo, Photos, Roster"
Sep 12, 2023
New York Central (NYC) Diesel Roster: All-Time
This page provides a complete, all-time diesel roster of the New York Central including original numbers, renumberings, and NYC classes.
Continue reading "New York Central (NYC) Diesel Roster: All-Time"
Sep 12, 2023
EMD "SW1500" Locomotives
The SW1500 was a second generation diesel switcher that employed EMD's new model 645 prime mover. The design was very successful.
Sep 11, 2023
New York Central Railroad: Rosters, Map, History
The New York Central, known as the "Water Level Route," was pieced together by Cornelius Vanderbilt and battled rival Pennsylvania for generations.
Continue reading "New York Central Railroad: Rosters, Map, History"
Sep 11, 2023
FM "C-Liner" Locomotives (Consolidated Line)
C-Liners, formally known as the Consolidated Line, were cab models meant to compete, albeit unsuccessfully, against EMD's popular designs.
Continue reading "FM "C-Liner" Locomotives (Consolidated Line)"
Sep 11, 2023
Oregon Electric Railway: Map, Roster, History
The Oregon Electric Railway was one of the largest interurbans ever constructed stretching from Portland to Eugene. It dates to 1908 and much of it remains in use today.
Continue reading "Oregon Electric Railway: Map, Roster, History"
Sep 11, 2023
FM "H10-44" Locomotives
The H10-44 was FM's least powerful switcher although it did see nearly 200 sold during the mid-1940s.
Sep 10, 2023
EMD "DD35" and "DD35A" Locomotives
The DD35/A was an experimental diesel model based from the GP35, designed by Electro-Motive for Union Pacific in the 1960s. They remained in use until 1981.
Sep 09, 2023
EMD "RS1325" Locomotives
The rarest road-switchers EMD ever cataloged was the RS1325 of 1960. Only two were built and both wound up on the Chicago & Illinois Midland.
Sep 09, 2023
EMD "DDA40X" Locomotives
The DDA40X was a high-horsepower, experimental diesel locomotive built for Union Pacific.
Sep 07, 2023
"Rocky Mountain Rocket" (Train): Schedule, Route, History
The Rocky Mountain Rocket was one of the Rock Island's first such trains, hitting the rails in 1939 between Chicago and Denver.
Continue reading ""Rocky Mountain Rocket" (Train): Schedule, Route, History"
Sep 07, 2023
EMD "GP18" Locomotives
The GP18 was a first-generation road-switcher model which followed the GP7 and GP9.
Sep 07, 2023
"San Francisco Chief" (Train)
The San Francisco Chief was a late entrant to the Santa Fe's fleet of "Chiefs," launched during the mid-1950s between Chicago and its home city. The train survived until Amtrak.
Sep 06, 2023
"Green Diamond" (Streamliner)
The Green Diamond was an early streamliner often forgotten and resembled UP's M-10000. Also debuting in 1934 the Diamond trainset was sold by 1950.
Sep 05, 2023
EMD "E9" Locomotives
The E9 saw only marginal sales as rail travel was losing interest among the public. It was the final model in the series with several preserved today.
Sep 05, 2023
"Broadway Limited" (Train): Schedule, Route, Timetable
The Broadway Limited was the flagship passenger train of the Pennsy offering unparalelled services of any streamliner ever operated.
Continue reading ""Broadway Limited" (Train): Schedule, Route, Timetable"
Aug 30, 2023
"Royal Blue" (Train)
Baltimore & Ohio's Royal Blue was the railroad's elegant train which served New York and Washington, D.C. It was eventually canceled in 1958 due to stiff competition with the PRR.
Aug 30, 2023
EMC "E3" Locomotives
The E3 was an early passenger diesel and the first to use a GM-built prime mover.
Aug 28, 2023
E44 Locomotives (PRR): Data, History, Photos, Roster
The E44's were Pennsylvania's last new electric locomotives purchased for freight service during the 1950s. Today, one is preserved.
Continue reading "E44 Locomotives (PRR): Data, History, Photos, Roster"
Recent Articles
-
Penn Central Diesel Roster: All-Time
Sep 21, 23 08:31 PM
The Penn Central diesel roster was an eclectic collection of models from all of the major builders. Learn more about these units here. -
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway
Sep 21, 23 07:27 PM
The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern was the largest terminal carrier to serve Chicago, connecting with all major railroads. Today, its part of Canadian National. -
Baker Valve Gear (Steam Locomotive)
Sep 21, 23 06:41 PM
The Baker valve gear, invented by engineer George H. Baker in 1909, is a type of steam engine valve gear. It was developed as an alternative to the Walschaerts valve gear.
SteamLocomotive.com
Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource on the study of steam locomotives.
It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website.
It is quite staggering and a must visit!