Photo Line
Welcome to Trains & Railroads of the Past’s Photo Line, a monthly gallery of creative railroad photography! Photo Line welcomes your submissions. We’re looking for a themed topic with six to ten unique images. Each photo should be no smaller than 14 inches (or 1024 pixels) across at 72 dpi (no verticals, please). Brief caption information must accompany each photo. Please send your inquiries to the Webmaster for consideration.
May 16, 2024
Horseshoe Curve to Gallitzin
A photo gallery of heavy mountain railroading on the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line around Horseshoe Curve.
December 11, 2023
Diesel Deliveries
There is something special about the delivery of brand new motive power to a railroad. Enjoy this gallery of classic diesel deliveries!
April 3, 2020
A Busy Morning in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia, located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., was the north end of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad. Photographer Edward W. Horm lived in the Alexandria area before moving to Pittsburgh. These pictures highlight some of his photographic talents, including one memorable trip to Alexandria in 1973.
April 12, 2019
Going to Grandma’s in Cincinnati
My first real exposure to live freight trains happened in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I would visit my grandparents often. It became obvious to me that Cincinnati was a huge hub for railroads with Chessie System, Norfolk & Western, Southern, Conrail, and Louisville & Nashville.
January 17, 2019
Freight Car Frenzy
Trains & Railroads of the Past Magazine is THE place to go to see vintage rolling stock. In every issue we present a variety of freight cars that is sure to bring back great trackside memories. Here are a few examples from past issues…
January 31, 2018
50th Anniversary of Penn Central
For all of Penn Central’s woes, it still was a very interesting railroad to photograph and experience. You had a good chance of catching interesting motive power and the many of the signals, towers and other goodies from the golden era of railroading.
December 5, 2017
The Great Northern by Richard Yaremko
Financier James J. Hill became known as the “Empire Builder” for expanding the Great Northern into a transcontinental mainline connecting the Great Lakes with Seattle and British Columbia. With the arrival of the diesel era, the Great Northern owned and experimented with locomotives from nearly every builder, right up to the Burlington Northern merger in 1970.
July 13, 2017
Nickel Plate Diesels
Prior to its 1964 merger with Norfolk & Western, the Nickel Plate Road had an unusual roster of diesels including EMD, Alco, and Fairbanks-Morse. Despite their “basic black” carbodies, NKP operated a rather interesting diesel fleet with lots of character.
February 1, 2017
Railroad Pit Stops
Spanning a 40-year period from 1948 to 1984, legendary photographer Robert P. Olmsted visited engine terminals and roundhouses from Ohio to Nebraska, including brief visits to Canada and Mexico.
January 17, 2017
Narrow Gauge Fantrips of the 1960s
In an era when railfans donned suit and tie to chase trains, carried their trusty Brownie and Speed Graphic cameras, and counted their exposures more carefully than their lunch money, a young Stan Rhine ponied up 20 bucks and joined the fun with the Rocky Mountain Club.
