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- Letter from E.P. Goodrich to Ann Goodrich, 1851 - This 1851 letter describes a trip on the Michigan Central Railroad from Detroit to Chicago. Author E.P. Goodrich colorfully relates the trials of mid-19th-century rail travel. Equipment breakdowns, smoke, and cinders were common, and average speeds were low. Because the Michigan Central wasn't completed into Chicago until 1852, Goodrich finished his journey by steamboat from New Buffalo across Lake Michigan.
- June 26, 1851
- Collections - Artifact
Letter from E.P. Goodrich to Ann Goodrich, 1851
This 1851 letter describes a trip on the Michigan Central Railroad from Detroit to Chicago. Author E.P. Goodrich colorfully relates the trials of mid-19th-century rail travel. Equipment breakdowns, smoke, and cinders were common, and average speeds were low. Because the Michigan Central wasn't completed into Chicago until 1852, Goodrich finished his journey by steamboat from New Buffalo across Lake Michigan.
- Train Ready for Departure from Railroad Station, Los Angeles, California, circa 1896 - This photograph shows a passenger train leaving the La Grande Station about 1896. The station served as the main passenger terminal for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in Los Angeles, California, until the 1930s.
- circa 1896
- Collections - Artifact
Train Ready for Departure from Railroad Station, Los Angeles, California, circa 1896
This photograph shows a passenger train leaving the La Grande Station about 1896. The station served as the main passenger terminal for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in Los Angeles, California, until the 1930s.
- "Departure of the Legislative Excursion Train" from Albany, New York, 1853 - In 1853 ten distinct rail lines merged to form the New York Central Railroad. The unification produced a single railway spanning the Empire State from Albany to Buffalo, by way of Syracuse and Rochester. NYC grew into one of the Northeast's largest railroads, with later extensions to Chicago and St. Louis. The company merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1968.
- June 04, 1853
- Collections - Artifact
"Departure of the Legislative Excursion Train" from Albany, New York, 1853
In 1853 ten distinct rail lines merged to form the New York Central Railroad. The unification produced a single railway spanning the Empire State from Albany to Buffalo, by way of Syracuse and Rochester. NYC grew into one of the Northeast's largest railroads, with later extensions to Chicago and St. Louis. The company merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1968.
- Illinois Central Railroad Station in Chicago, Illinois, circa 1907 - Men and women rush up the stairs at the Illinois Central Railroad Station in Chicago, Illinois. This photograph was taken about 1896.
- circa 1907
- Collections - Artifact
Illinois Central Railroad Station in Chicago, Illinois, circa 1907
Men and women rush up the stairs at the Illinois Central Railroad Station in Chicago, Illinois. This photograph was taken about 1896.
- Locomotive and Passenger Cars, circa 1845 - Early American railroad passenger coaches rode on four wheels, but these cars were largely supplanted by eight-wheel models by 1840. The eight-wheel design, which placed the car body atop two sets of pivoting four-wheel trucks, made for a stable car that was longer but still able to negotiate sharp curves.
- circa 1845
- Collections - Artifact
Locomotive and Passenger Cars, circa 1845
Early American railroad passenger coaches rode on four wheels, but these cars were largely supplanted by eight-wheel models by 1840. The eight-wheel design, which placed the car body atop two sets of pivoting four-wheel trucks, made for a stable car that was longer but still able to negotiate sharp curves.
- Railway Station at Haines Corners, Catskill Mountains, New York, circa 1902 - In the late nineteenth century, railroads brought tourists escaping the bustle of New York City to popular destinations in the Catskill Mountains. This Detroit Publishing Company photograph shows a conductor, engineers, and waiting passengers at Haines Corners Station. Now named Haines Falls, the town was a busy junction conveniently positioned near lodging and several natural attractions.
- circa 1902
- Collections - Artifact
Railway Station at Haines Corners, Catskill Mountains, New York, circa 1902
In the late nineteenth century, railroads brought tourists escaping the bustle of New York City to popular destinations in the Catskill Mountains. This Detroit Publishing Company photograph shows a conductor, engineers, and waiting passengers at Haines Corners Station. Now named Haines Falls, the town was a busy junction conveniently positioned near lodging and several natural attractions.
- Broadside from the Theatre Royal of Newcastle, England, Announces the Running of Special Railway Trains for Patrons, 1850 -
- January 04, 1850
- Collections - Artifact
Broadside from the Theatre Royal of Newcastle, England, Announces the Running of Special Railway Trains for Patrons, 1850
- Railroad Passenger Train, circa 1840 - The American railroad passenger car evolved quickly. The four-wheel models of the early 1830s, based on horse-drawn stagecoaches, gave way to longer eight-wheel coaches by 1840. Unlike European cars, which were sectioned into small compartments, American coaches had an open layout that was less expensive to build and more in keeping with the country's democratic ideals.
- circa 1840
- Collections - Artifact
Railroad Passenger Train, circa 1840
The American railroad passenger car evolved quickly. The four-wheel models of the early 1830s, based on horse-drawn stagecoaches, gave way to longer eight-wheel coaches by 1840. Unlike European cars, which were sectioned into small compartments, American coaches had an open layout that was less expensive to build and more in keeping with the country's democratic ideals.
- Passenger Train at a Railroad Station, circa 1910 - For nearly thirty years, 1895 to 1924, the Detroit Publishing Company was one of the major image publishers in the world. The company had a wide-ranging stock of original photographs, including many scenes from across North America. Here, a steam locomotive sits at a station. Down the platform, two porters load passengers' luggage onto a wheeled baggage cart.
- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Passenger Train at a Railroad Station, circa 1910
For nearly thirty years, 1895 to 1924, the Detroit Publishing Company was one of the major image publishers in the world. The company had a wide-ranging stock of original photographs, including many scenes from across North America. Here, a steam locomotive sits at a station. Down the platform, two porters load passengers' luggage onto a wheeled baggage cart.
- Chicago & Northwestern Railway Viaduct over Des Moines River, Boone, Iowa, 1901 - A Chicago & North Western Railway passenger train crossed the new Kate Shelley High Bridge near Boone, Iowa, in 1901. The viaduct's name honored a heroic teenage girl. During an 1881 thunderstorm, an earlier bridge at the site was damaged by a flood. Kate Shelley walked more than two miles through the storm to warn an approaching passenger train of the danger.
- 1901
- Collections - Artifact
Chicago & Northwestern Railway Viaduct over Des Moines River, Boone, Iowa, 1901
A Chicago & North Western Railway passenger train crossed the new Kate Shelley High Bridge near Boone, Iowa, in 1901. The viaduct's name honored a heroic teenage girl. During an 1881 thunderstorm, an earlier bridge at the site was damaged by a flood. Kate Shelley walked more than two miles through the storm to warn an approaching passenger train of the danger.