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You get to know how a steam loco works, how steam technology grew, evolved, battled with diesel and electrics, and eventually (almost) died out. You also learn more about the great train photographer Mr. O. Winston Link.

Relive the history of one of America's most famous railroads - the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe - from the late 1860s until the mid-1990s.

Various means of locomotion, including animal inventions that helped steam trains run faster famous fast steam trains streamlining turned to to bring back passengers during the Depression. High speed electric trains. MagLev trains AMTRAK high speed trains for (what was then considered to be) the future.

The history of the Steam Locomotives.

The country's railroad industry also developed northwards, with the creation of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

It is one of the most famous names in railroading, but the story of the Wabash line is much more than the tale of one fast train. The Wabash was built and broken by John Jay Gould, one of the most notorious Wall Street traders of the 19th century. Gould dreamed of creating a transcontinental rail empire, but poor decisions and bad luck denied him his vision. THE WABASH CANNONBALL tells the complete tale behind one of the most storied and famous railroads in America. Discover how, when the depression of 1884 forced Gould to put the Wabash into receivership, he actually convinced the government to give it back to him! See extensive footage from the glory days of steam, when the Wabash's habit of running their luxurious passenger trains and fast freights at breakneck speeds led to the "Cannonball" nickname. But it would be decades before the Wabash officially adopted the moniker, and by then, the seeds of its demise had already been sown.

The hobby of model railroading has a history as rich and colorful as its real-life counterparts. Discover the story behind such famous toy train makers as Ives Toy Company, Germany's Märklin, and the Lionel Corporation and the products that made them famous.

The episode covered, stone arch bridges, some are still in service and outlasted iron bridges. The one arch Carrolton Viaduct (1829) is the oldest in the U.S., and the 8 arch Thomas Viaduct (1835) just west of Baltimore is the next oldest. The Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna 1902 replaced earlier wooden (1849) and iron (1879) bridges. Tunkhannock Viaduct/Nicholson Bridge 2,300 feet length, 240 feet above the community of Nicholson, PA., built in 1915 was given as the ultimate example.

In the 1920s, locomotives using diesel engines replaced steam as the primary power source on the railroads, and the decoration of the engines became more elaborate.

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Early causes of train accidents. Accidents covered: Andover, MA., Jan. 6, 1853, Boston and Maine, broke a wheel. Franklin Pierce in route to inauguration reported as one of three fatalities. It was his 12 year old son. The Pennsylvania immigrant train Norwalk, CT. N.Y.N.H. & H. went through open drawbridge. Oliver Wendell Holmes erroneously reported dead, but 30 other doctors from an A.M.A. convention in N.Y.C. were among the 43 who perished. 1857 Camp Hill, Pa. church children on way to picnic, rear ended by another train.

Rails as an alternative to sea or overland travel Early locomotives lead in to the 4-4-0 "American" type locomotive Land grants for railroad building started with the Illinois Central. Transcontinental railroad builders passed each other by 100 miles. Congress forced them to meet. Saftey inventions Diesel-electric locomotives Advanced and super steam locomotives Streamlining Advertising, inc. the C. & O. Chessie the Kitten The Diesel Revolution The photographic work of O. Winston Link

Discover the history of streamlined passenger trains as they wowed the American public from the 1930s to the 1960s.

The urban railroad systems came to respond to the needs of rapidly growing cities at the dawn of the 20th century, using different technological options: New York City, the subway; San Francisco, cable cars. The future points to light-rail technology.

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A caboose followed at the end of every freight train, and its design was improved to ensure better conditions, visibility and security for the conductor and brakeman. Their bright colors (red, yellow...) helped them to stay on the memory of the kids that saw them pass, or eventually stop for the conductor to perform some community service when he received a radio message for help.

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Circus spectacles were very popular, and had to move from town to town during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, involving heavy logistics of people, animals, and equipment. Specialized circus trains fulfilled that particular need, as seen during a day in the life of a traveling show.

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Go inside the cab to learn what it takes to be a "captain of the rails" in this revealing look at the life of engineers.

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The Pinkerton detectives protected trains from robbers, and strong men were also hired by the railroads to evict penniless people from taking the train without a ticket. From those early times, security on board of trains got more sophisticated until the end of the 20th century.

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