Favorite Railroad Decade

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling
We can moun the past, or enjoy the awesome railroading we have today!

Ummm, this is the Classic Trains form. We won't know which trains of today will be classics until tomorrow.

My answer to the poll is that this is a learning experience. If I could go back to observe and understand how it was. More than a lesson on trains but life in America in general. I don't need to see the 1970's, 80's, or 90's. I've seen them all in person. For the 40's, 50's, and definitely 60's there seem to be enough photos and information that I can get a pretty good idea of what it was like. I therefore vote for 1920's. I want to view America before the truck, automobile, and airlines took over. Totally different than today. The classic steam locos rule the rails making smaller but more frequent trains. Freight stations in every tiny town. Automation has not come into play so there are still flag men at crossings, manual semaphores at stations, manned switch towers, etc. Lots of trains and people (employees and passengers).

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling
We can moun the past, or enjoy the awesome railroading we have today!

Ummm, this is the Classic Trains form. We won't know which trains of today will be classics until tomorrow.

My answer to the poll is that this is a learning experience. If I could go back to observe and understand how it was. More than a lesson on trains but life in America in general. I don't need to see the 1970's, 80's, or 90's. I've seen them all in person. For the 40's, 50's, and definitely 60's there seem to be enough photos and information that I can get a pretty good idea of what it was like. I therefore vote for 1920's. I want to view America before the truck, automobile, and airlines took over. Totally different than today. The classic steam locos rule the rails making smaller but more frequent trains. Freight stations in every tiny town. Automation has not come into play so there are still flag men at crossings, manual semaphores at stations, manned switch towers, etc. Lots of trains and people (employees and passengers).

[PBenham]

The 50's, more specifically,1950-55[;)]

[PBenham]

The 50's, more specifically,1950-55[;)]

[jlampke]

"Ummm, this is the Classic Trains form. We won't know which trains of today
will be classics until tomorrow."

VERY well put!!! I thought of a lot of responses, but none as kind as yours.

When I look at pictures of steam trains pulling away from a station during the 30's & 40's, I also admire the cars of the time that happened to be parked nearby when the picture was taken. The people in the picture servicing the engine: How was life for them? It would seem that it had to have been simpler. From what I read, I am inclined to think they were proud of their country, more conservative in their values and optimistic about the future. The country sure has changed.... and I'm not sure it's for the better. Yes, I do sometimes mouRn the past.

Interesting to note that, while it does seem like a lot of people have an interest in and talk about life (and railroading) in the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's (or earlier) there doesn't seem to be an overwhelming movement to celebrate the 60's. An older friend of mine attributes the social problems and general decline in America today to the liberal movements: "Do your own thing" attitude, of the 60's.

Getting back to the topic: I'll take the period from the end of the war to the end of steam as my favorite.

[jlampke]

"Ummm, this is the Classic Trains form. We won't know which trains of today
will be classics until tomorrow."

VERY well put!!! I thought of a lot of responses, but none as kind as yours.

When I look at pictures of steam trains pulling away from a station during the 30's & 40's, I also admire the cars of the time that happened to be parked nearby when the picture was taken. The people in the picture servicing the engine: How was life for them? It would seem that it had to have been simpler. From what I read, I am inclined to think they were proud of their country, more conservative in their values and optimistic about the future. The country sure has changed.... and I'm not sure it's for the better. Yes, I do sometimes mouRn the past.

Interesting to note that, while it does seem like a lot of people have an interest in and talk about life (and railroading) in the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's (or earlier) there doesn't seem to be an overwhelming movement to celebrate the 60's. An older friend of mine attributes the social problems and general decline in America today to the liberal movements: "Do your own thing" attitude, of the 60's.

Getting back to the topic: I'll take the period from the end of the war to the end of steam as my favorite.

[Anonymous]

I choose the 1940's because there is the biggest steam ever, a sampling of diesels, and PRR's coolest electrics (GG1's, P5's). There is also the war time traffic levels that that railroads have never seen.

[Anonymous]

I choose the 1940's because there is the biggest steam ever, a sampling of diesels, and PRR's coolest electrics (GG1's, P5's). There is also the war time traffic levels that that railroads have never seen.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jlampke



When I look at pictures of steam trains pulling away from a station during the 30's & 40's, I also admire the cars of the time that happened to be parked nearby when the picture was taken. The people in the picture servicing the engine: How was life for them? It would seem that it had to have been simpler. From what I read, I am inclined to think they were proud of their country, more conservative in their values and optimistic about the future. The country sure has changed.... and I'm not sure it's for the better. Yes, I do sometimes mouRn the past.

Interesting to note that, while it does seem like a lot of people have an interest in and talk about life (and railroading) in the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's (or earlier) there doesn't seem to be an overwhelming movement to celebrate the 60's. An older friend of mine attributes the social problems and general decline in America today to the liberal movements: "Do your own thing" attitude, of the 60's.

Getting back to the topic: I'll take the period from the end of the war to the end of steam as my favorite.

Some good comments here and in the last few posts also.

As far as photos are concerned, I also like to notice the surroundings. I love old photos of people, places and things. A lot of people do not like to look at old photos, but I do. I like to learn from them about history and such.

I agree, the country has changed. I, for one, do not believe it is for the better. Yes, I do believe the change started in the 60s. The " I " or shall we shall "ME" movement has done much to hurt this country. Now we have elected officials who did everything possible to avoid the war in V, and they both were still elected. Yes, the country has lost much of its pride that was part of the American way of life until the 60s.

Many of the teens do not understand the loss of the fallen flags. [:(] [V] The railroads they see now were what they had as children so they do not notice the change or mourn the loss. And now George is doing everything possible to trash Amtrak. It is depressing to think that one man can screw up the rail passenger service so much.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jlampke



When I look at pictures of steam trains pulling away from a station during the 30's & 40's, I also admire the cars of the time that happened to be parked nearby when the picture was taken. The people in the picture servicing the engine: How was life for them? It would seem that it had to have been simpler. From what I read, I am inclined to think they were proud of their country, more conservative in their values and optimistic about the future. The country sure has changed.... and I'm not sure it's for the better. Yes, I do sometimes mouRn the past.

Interesting to note that, while it does seem like a lot of people have an interest in and talk about life (and railroading) in the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's (or earlier) there doesn't seem to be an overwhelming movement to celebrate the 60's. An older friend of mine attributes the social problems and general decline in America today to the liberal movements: "Do your own thing" attitude, of the 60's.

Getting back to the topic: I'll take the period from the end of the war to the end of steam as my favorite.

Some good comments here and in the last few posts also.

As far as photos are concerned, I also like to notice the surroundings. I love old photos of people, places and things. A lot of people do not like to look at old photos, but I do. I like to learn from them about history and such.

I agree, the country has changed. I, for one, do not believe it is for the better. Yes, I do believe the change started in the 60s. The " I " or shall we shall "ME" movement has done much to hurt this country. Now we have elected officials who did everything possible to avoid the war in V, and they both were still elected. Yes, the country has lost much of its pride that was part of the American way of life until the 60s.

Many of the teens do not understand the loss of the fallen flags. [:(] [V] The railroads they see now were what they had as children so they do not notice the change or mourn the loss. And now George is doing everything possible to trash Amtrak. It is depressing to think that one man can screw up the rail passenger service so much.

[mersenne6]

1850-1860 The period saw the railroad change from a novelty to a serious enterprise. There were huge strides in locomotive technology and there were more gauges than you could count. The period saw the change from running only during the day to night running - the development of train movement control by telegraph, the first big experiments in reefer traffic, and, of course, spectacular ornamentation on the engines - scroll work, gold leaf, and exotic paint schemes.

[mersenne6]

1850-1860 The period saw the railroad change from a novelty to a serious enterprise. There were huge strides in locomotive technology and there were more gauges than you could count. The period saw the change from running only during the day to night running - the development of train movement control by telegraph, the first big experiments in reefer traffic, and, of course, spectacular ornamentation on the engines - scroll work, gold leaf, and exotic paint schemes.

[red p]

I like the 1970s;
It was actually 1974 when I discovered trains (when I was in the 4th. grade), although I model 1973.
even though it was a bad time for the railroads it was a very interesting period in railroad history.

[red p]

I like the 1970s;
It was actually 1974 when I discovered trains (when I was in the 4th. grade), although I model 1973.
even though it was a bad time for the railroads it was a very interesting period in railroad history.

[Anonymous]

transition era!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

transition era!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!