Info requested on east coast and Midwest train routes during the early Fifties

[Randall1]

Hey all,

 

I am writing currently one year into writing a novel and I would really appreciate some direction on where I could get some information concerning the everyday life of a fireman on east coast and Midwest train routes during the early Fifties. I am looking for the names of classic east coast and Midwest routes as well.

 

Any input would be helpful.

 

Thanks and have a good day.

 

Randall

[wjstix]

There was a book published about 20-25 years ago called "The Railroaders" that was all interviews with retired railroad engineers, firemen, porters etc. That might have some info for you.

As far as "routes", are you talking about information regarding specific railroads, or about routes between particular cities (i.e., New York to Chicago) or ??

[Randall1]

Thanx stix,

I’ll try and find that. As far as the routes are concerned I'm looking  for Railroad companies and the routes that they might have used in the late 40'S early 50's. Indiana, olio, Illinois , Ky, Tn and some east coast states as well. I want to include the names of small towns as well as the large cities that those routes might have gone through. Mountain ranges would be really neat too. I not asking for specific info, just sources I can research like that book you mentioned.

Thanks again.

 

[daveklepper]

Your very best bet is to find a library that has Official Guides (to the railroads of North America) which will give you far more information than you can use!

[Randall1]

Thank you dave, I'll check it out.

Randall

[K4sPRR]

Some of those Official Railway Guides are available on line.  Yahoo or Google it, various years will pop up. 

[scwylder]

 

the Official Guide of the Railways is the way to go. You might check out some railway museums, as they often have resources that aren't on the Web. In the early 1950s, most railroads wre changing from steam to diesel, so the job of a fireman could be drastically different from one day to the next.

[Randall1]

Thanks again!!!

[Randall1]

Looks like the offical guide of the railways really is the way ta go!!!

Thanks to everyone and I'll post the rail road part of the novel for you folks ta check out!!

[Utley26]

Pennsylvania Railroad will be the most prominent for the era and territories you mentioned.  It served New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis, Washington D.C., and points in between.  It's mainline was New York to Chicago and St. Louis, via Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The New York Central is also a major player for the east, with a mainline to Chicago. 

For the midwest, look at Union Pacific and Santa Fe as the heavyweights.   

[daveklepper]

Hey hey hey, the UP was not a big Midwestern playerf, since most its trains had to use the C&NW to reach Chicago and the Wabash to reach St. Louis.     I'd rather say the big midwestern players at the time were the CB&Q, C&NW, and the CMStP&P  ----  plus defintiely the IC for north-south traffic.