Train & Station Facts

By the time we reach the driving age, most people are knowledgeable about road safety laws. All drivers need to be — understanding which actions are safe and which are illegal not only protects you as a driver, but it helps protect any other drivers and passengers on the road.  What many of us don’t…

Between 1860 and 1900, the rate of railroad construction was increasing faster than ever. But what led to the rapid development of our railways?  That answer depends on who you ask. Certainly, innovation was a driving factor, but looking back, many would argue that the driving force for railroad tycoons was money and power.  While…

Since the beginning of America’s railroading history, railroad workers have always played an essential role in maintaining the safety of the train and its passengers. From operating the locomotive to surveying the land where the tracks were laid, each person’s role was unique. Explore the types of railroad workers that were most popular in the…

When passenger trains came into popular use, train car dining didn’t exist. It wasn’t until later, after the Civil War, that dining became a regular feature of train transit. As dining cars and the food they served continued to improve, train car dining started to rival some of the best five-star restaurants across the country….

Photo courtesy of Christopher R. Pollock. Whether you’re a railfan or not, you can’t deny the profound history that steam locomotives played in American history. At one point in time, steam was the “it” method of transportation. Strasburg Rail Road’s equipment roster is full of historic steam engines and unique motive power that you can…

Railroad signals play a crucial role in the safety of train transit. Just like normal highway traffic lights, railroad signals direct the engineman on how to proceed. But these signals are much more complex than normal traffic lights. This guide breaks down US Railroad signals into three sections: category, type, and how to read. We’ve…

It’s hard to imagine a life where cars and planes didn’t exist. These are simple luxuries that most people take advantage of every day. But there was a time when these methods of transport fell short and steam railways reigned supreme.  As train ridership started to dwindle in the early-to-mid 50s, railfans pushed for railroad…

Since their inception in the early 1800s, passenger train cars have undergone countless modifications. What started as small, unsteady, wooden carriages have fostered into massive, high-speed, aluminum cars that can transport more passengers over further distances.    Learn how different types of passenger train cars have evolved over the years into the familiar cabs we know…

In the “Golden Age” of railroads, passenger trains were the safest and fastest mode of transportation. Near and far, they carried people to and from work, across state lines, and even across the country. They weren’t always the preferred method of travel, however. As we look into their history, we’ll examine how the passenger train…

If you google Strasburg, Pennsylvania, it’s impossible not to find a mention of its railroad. Since the borough’s founding in 1816, Strasburg has earned its nickname of “train town,” so clearly its railroad plays an important role in the history of Strasburg, PA. Though it’s in its 190th year of service, Strasburg Rail Road’s survival…