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- Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car "Fair Lane," 1921 - By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it <em>Fair Lane</em>. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- June 23, 1921
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car "Fair Lane," 1921
By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it Fair Lane. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using Fair Lane before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- Torch Lake Steam Locomotive Pulling Passenger Cars in Greenfield Village, August 1972 - The Henry Ford's Weiser Railroad opened to the public in 1972. Its two-mile route took riders on a scenic loop around Greenfield Village. Authentic steam locomotives, maintained and operated by museum staff, pulled the open passenger cars. More than a simple excursion, the railroad's intermediate stations made it a practical transportation link around the village.
- August 24, 1972
- Collections - Artifact
Torch Lake Steam Locomotive Pulling Passenger Cars in Greenfield Village, August 1972
The Henry Ford's Weiser Railroad opened to the public in 1972. Its two-mile route took riders on a scenic loop around Greenfield Village. Authentic steam locomotives, maintained and operated by museum staff, pulled the open passenger cars. More than a simple excursion, the railroad's intermediate stations made it a practical transportation link around the village.
- "Allegheny," "DeWitt Clinton," and "Sam Hill" Locomotives alongside New York Central Diesel Aerotrain, circa 1956 - Three historic locomotives from The Henry Ford -- the <em>DeWitt Clinton</em> (replica of the 1831 original), <em>Sam Hill</em> (1858) and Allegheny (1941) -- pose alongside the Aerotrain in 1956. Railroads hoped that the streamlined Aerotrain, designed by General Motors, might lure travelers back onto trains. But its lightweight coaches gave a rough ride and Aerotrain failed to catch on with passengers.
- circa 1956
- Collections - Artifact
"Allegheny," "DeWitt Clinton," and "Sam Hill" Locomotives alongside New York Central Diesel Aerotrain, circa 1956
Three historic locomotives from The Henry Ford -- the DeWitt Clinton (replica of the 1831 original), Sam Hill (1858) and Allegheny (1941) -- pose alongside the Aerotrain in 1956. Railroads hoped that the streamlined Aerotrain, designed by General Motors, might lure travelers back onto trains. But its lightweight coaches gave a rough ride and Aerotrain failed to catch on with passengers.
- American Locomotive Company Steam Locomotive, 1902 - The American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York, built this locomotive in 1902. It is a 4-4-2 Atlantic type, with four leading wheels, four driving wheels, and two trailing wheels. The Atlantic was designed to pull light wooden passenger cars at high speeds. This locomotive operated on the Michigan Central Railroad's Detroit-Chicago line until heavier steel cars made it obsolete.
- 1902
- Collections - Artifact
American Locomotive Company Steam Locomotive, 1902
The American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York, built this locomotive in 1902. It is a 4-4-2 Atlantic type, with four leading wheels, four driving wheels, and two trailing wheels. The Atlantic was designed to pull light wooden passenger cars at high speeds. This locomotive operated on the Michigan Central Railroad's Detroit-Chicago line until heavier steel cars made it obsolete.
- Davenport Saddle Tank Switching Locomotive, 0-4-0 ST, 1922 - This locomotive was built for industrial switching service. Its gauge -- the width between its wheels -- is just two feet rather than the standard four feet, eight and one-half inches. Instead of using a conventional separate tender, the locomotive carried water in a tank set atop its boiler and coal in a bin on the left side of its cab.
- January 13, 1922
- Collections - Artifact
Davenport Saddle Tank Switching Locomotive, 0-4-0 ST, 1922
This locomotive was built for industrial switching service. Its gauge -- the width between its wheels -- is just two feet rather than the standard four feet, eight and one-half inches. Instead of using a conventional separate tender, the locomotive carried water in a tank set atop its boiler and coal in a bin on the left side of its cab.
- Torch Lake Locomotive at its 100th Anniversary Celebration in Greenfield Village, October 1973 - Built by Mason Machine Works in 1873, the steam locomotive <em>Torch Lake</em> was used in copper mining operations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula until 1933. The Henry Ford acquired the locomotive in 1969. After its arrival here, the engine was returned to operating condition and put into service on the Greenfield Village railroad. In 1973, staff decorated the locomotive to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
- October 18, 1973
- Collections - Artifact
Torch Lake Locomotive at its 100th Anniversary Celebration in Greenfield Village, October 1973
Built by Mason Machine Works in 1873, the steam locomotive Torch Lake was used in copper mining operations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula until 1933. The Henry Ford acquired the locomotive in 1969. After its arrival here, the engine was returned to operating condition and put into service on the Greenfield Village railroad. In 1973, staff decorated the locomotive to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
- "Portsmouth and Roanoke Rail-Road," circa 1850 - The Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad was founded in 1833 to connect settlements along the Roanoke River in North Carolina with the Atlantic Ocean at Portsmouth, Virginia. Many other early American railroads were founded for a similar purpose: to connect interior areas with a regional seaport.
- circa 1850
- Collections - Artifact
"Portsmouth and Roanoke Rail-Road," circa 1850
The Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad was founded in 1833 to connect settlements along the Roanoke River in North Carolina with the Atlantic Ocean at Portsmouth, Virginia. Many other early American railroads were founded for a similar purpose: to connect interior areas with a regional seaport.
- "Warrington" (England), circa 1850 - In contrast to the slapdash construction found on many 19th-century American railroads, British lines were built to very high standards. Double track was common, grades and curves were kept as gentle as possible, and durable stone viaducts were built in preference to wooden bridges. This illustration shows a train crossing the River Mersey at Warrington, England.
- circa 1850
- Collections - Artifact
"Warrington" (England), circa 1850
In contrast to the slapdash construction found on many 19th-century American railroads, British lines were built to very high standards. Double track was common, grades and curves were kept as gentle as possible, and durable stone viaducts were built in preference to wooden bridges. This illustration shows a train crossing the River Mersey at Warrington, England.
- Broadside Promoting the Building of a Railroad through Interior New York State, 1835 - This broadside urged the New York Central Railroad to build a railroad across the interior of New York State. This circular was printed with the names of 39 prominent citizens from Franklin County on October 12, 1835.
- October 12, 1835
- Collections - Artifact
Broadside Promoting the Building of a Railroad through Interior New York State, 1835
This broadside urged the New York Central Railroad to build a railroad across the interior of New York State. This circular was printed with the names of 39 prominent citizens from Franklin County on October 12, 1835.
- Detroit & Mackinac Railway Caboose, circa 1912 - The caboose was the conductor's office, the crew's quarters, and -- from the elevated cupola -- a place to spot problems on the train. By the 1980s, the caboose was made obsolete by new technologies and smaller crews. This car served on Michigan's Detroit & Mackinac Railway, which operated a 200-mile route between Bay City and Cheboygan along the Lake Huron shoreline.
- circa 1912
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit & Mackinac Railway Caboose, circa 1912
The caboose was the conductor's office, the crew's quarters, and -- from the elevated cupola -- a place to spot problems on the train. By the 1980s, the caboose was made obsolete by new technologies and smaller crews. This car served on Michigan's Detroit & Mackinac Railway, which operated a 200-mile route between Bay City and Cheboygan along the Lake Huron shoreline.