Favorite Railroad Decade

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone..... First post on this board. For the record I'm 40

I had to throw my vote into the 1970s bucket.... The town I grew up in (Fairbury NE) had UP main line crossing the Rock Island mainline to Denver... My brother and I spent hours upon hours haunting the railroad yard and talking to crews on UP that were waiting for a RI to clear the crossing. While there was no steam like in the earlier days, these were the days of seeing GP9s and GE Uboats as well as a ton of other locos... Catching a glimpse of an occasional DD40X that would make it down the Marysville Sub, was big excitement for the rest of the day. The GE 5000s that were not a real success for the UP were also seen. It was the ending days of the little power and the early days of large diesel power. I suppose I'm also a bit sentimental because those were some of the best days of my life....

[Anonymous]

1990's rule!!!!!

[Anonymous]

1990's rule!!!!!

[markn]

I would like to have seen the railroads at their peak-or as I perceive it-late 40's -50's--huge steam engines/diesels coming on/still some trolleys and interurbans..pre interstates/widespread jet airline service--the railroads were still the best game in town

[markn]

I would like to have seen the railroads at their peak-or as I perceive it-late 40's -50's--huge steam engines/diesels coming on/still some trolleys and interurbans..pre interstates/widespread jet airline service--the railroads were still the best game in town

[Anonymous]

I take the 1950's

[Anonymous]

I take the 1950's

[Anonymous]

If not for WWII, the Forties; so I'll have to say the Fifties. The balance of luxury vs. ubiquity made for more "classic" and comfortable trains than in the overburdened WWII era or the dump-the-service Sixties. My father could regale me with tales of enjoying the "Kings Dinner" on the City of New Orleans in the mid-fifties. Was there ever a train more comfortable than "The Canadian," whose cars debuted in 1954 and 1955 and some of which are still in use? And who could forget the Swan Song of the 20th-Century Limited in Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" (1959)?

[Anonymous]

If not for WWII, the Forties; so I'll have to say the Fifties. The balance of luxury vs. ubiquity made for more "classic" and comfortable trains than in the overburdened WWII era or the dump-the-service Sixties. My father could regale me with tales of enjoying the "Kings Dinner" on the City of New Orleans in the mid-fifties. Was there ever a train more comfortable than "The Canadian," whose cars debuted in 1954 and 1955 and some of which are still in use? And who could forget the Swan Song of the 20th-Century Limited in Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" (1959)?

[TrainFreak409]

I voted for the 1950's. The majority of turbines were built during this decade. But, if we could go back in time, I would go back to about 1935, so I could see every turbine, from the 1938 UP Steamotive to the 1961 BIG BAD #80 coal turbine. Turbines are awesome!

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[TrainFreak409]

I voted for the 1950's. The majority of turbines were built during this decade. But, if we could go back in time, I would go back to about 1935, so I could see every turbine, from the 1938 UP Steamotive to the 1961 BIG BAD #80 coal turbine. Turbines are awesome!

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tmcc man

I chose the 40s because the steam engines were still un service, and ssome of my favorite diesels were coming out

(my favorites are all ALCo)

Now THERE is a man who knows good locos when he sees one. [;)] [:)] [:D]

Meet me at the MR coffee shop, I'll buy. [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tmcc man

I chose the 40s because the steam engines were still un service, and ssome of my favorite diesels were coming out

(my favorites are all ALCo)

Now THERE is a man who knows good locos when he sees one. [;)] [:)] [:D]

Meet me at the MR coffee shop, I'll buy. [:)]

[tmcc man]

I chose the 40s because the steam engines were still un service, and ssome of my favorite diesels were coming out (my favorites are all ALCo)

[tmcc man]

I chose the 40s because the steam engines were still un service, and ssome of my favorite diesels were coming out (my favorites are all ALCo)

[AltonFan]

It might be useful to remember that most of the major railroads in the US ceased operating steam between 1953 and 1957. Only a very few large railroads were still occasionally operating steam after 1957, and only two - IIRC, Norfolk & Western and Grand Trunk Western - continued to operate steam after 1960.

[AltonFan]

It might be useful to remember that most of the major railroads in the US ceased operating steam between 1953 and 1957. Only a very few large railroads were still occasionally operating steam after 1957, and only two - IIRC, Norfolk & Western and Grand Trunk Western - continued to operate steam after 1960.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by earlydiesels




This was an age where smaller Class 1s operated, like the Rock Island, Katy, and my personal favorite, the Frisco.

Frisco huh, Me too. [:D] [:D] [:D]

Email me, let's talk. (You can instant message me also.)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by earlydiesels




This was an age where smaller Class 1s operated, like the Rock Island, Katy, and my personal favorite, the Frisco.

Frisco huh, Me too. [:D] [:D] [:D]

Email me, let's talk. (You can instant message me also.)

[Anonymous]

The '50's. I was a kid and my elementary school was next to the B&O's tracks. It was a transistion time, new diesels mixed with steamloco's. It was very distracting to hear the whiste of a passing train and see the smoke and steam through the window of your class room. We had to cross the tracks (Four of em!) everyday. (This was the B&O Ohio Division to Chillicothe)There was a crossing guard who stood in the roadway with his RR stop sign as the trains rolled by. He (Herman) "lived" in a concrete octagonal house, with a coal stove for heat, and would invite us kids in to talk about the trains.
It was a wonderful time to be a kid!

[Anonymous]

The '50's. I was a kid and my elementary school was next to the B&O's tracks. It was a transistion time, new diesels mixed with steamloco's. It was very distracting to hear the whiste of a passing train and see the smoke and steam through the window of your class room. We had to cross the tracks (Four of em!) everyday. (This was the B&O Ohio Division to Chillicothe)There was a crossing guard who stood in the roadway with his RR stop sign as the trains rolled by. He (Herman) "lived" in a concrete octagonal house, with a coal stove for heat, and would invite us kids in to talk about the trains.
It was a wonderful time to be a kid!

[Anonymous]

I have to vote for the 1970s. This was still the era of almost full crews, cabooses. and if you knew where to look, you could catch vistages from an earlier era. Like towers, hooping up orders, first generation diesels in original paint, and friendly railroaders. This was an age where smaller Class 1s operated, like the Rock Island, Katy, and my personal favorite, the Frisco. Railroad preservation was still in its infancy in most corners of this country and folks were starting to realize that artifacts from the "golden age of railroading" needed to be saved and some of today's guiding forces in this area were getting started.
Probably the most popular diesel ever built, the SD40-2, was created and Alco products were still around. Cab units still hauled passengers and long distance passenger trains still looked good. Amtrak provided some entertainment trackside and the American Freedom Train traveled the country showing important pieces of our past to all, and introduced whole generations of railfans to steam locomotion.
What more could you ask for in a decade? For the record, I was born in 1962.

[Anonymous]

I have to vote for the 1970s. This was still the era of almost full crews, cabooses. and if you knew where to look, you could catch vistages from an earlier era. Like towers, hooping up orders, first generation diesels in original paint, and friendly railroaders. This was an age where smaller Class 1s operated, like the Rock Island, Katy, and my personal favorite, the Frisco. Railroad preservation was still in its infancy in most corners of this country and folks were starting to realize that artifacts from the "golden age of railroading" needed to be saved and some of today's guiding forces in this area were getting started.
Probably the most popular diesel ever built, the SD40-2, was created and Alco products were still around. Cab units still hauled passengers and long distance passenger trains still looked good. Amtrak provided some entertainment trackside and the American Freedom Train traveled the country showing important pieces of our past to all, and introduced whole generations of railfans to steam locomotion.
What more could you ask for in a decade? For the record, I was born in 1962.

[JPowell]

Wow! This poll has been going on since 2003 and I finally decided to give my vote! I took 1980's as that's when I can remember the most going w/ my grandparents to the 'hump' located at the now CSX Intermodal Yard in DeWitt NY, and watching ConRail blue move the freight cars.
JP

[JPowell]

Wow! This poll has been going on since 2003 and I finally decided to give my vote! I took 1980's as that's when I can remember the most going w/ my grandparents to the 'hump' located at the now CSX Intermodal Yard in DeWitt NY, and watching ConRail blue move the freight cars.
JP

[trolleyboy]

I picked the 1940's though I'd extend that through to the mid fifties.(BTW I;m not a baby boomer I'm in my 30's) Since I'm a trolley fan the 40's to 50's were the last stand for the city street railway systems and the interurbans.Lots of customers as no one had the cash of the material for cars and gas. Also you have steam at it's tecnical high point a nd some early deiesls starting to show their worth. Rob

[trolleyboy]

I picked the 1940's though I'd extend that through to the mid fifties.(BTW I;m not a baby boomer I'm in my 30's) Since I'm a trolley fan the 40's to 50's were the last stand for the city street railway systems and the interurbans.Lots of customers as no one had the cash of the material for cars and gas. Also you have steam at it's tecnical high point a nd some early deiesls starting to show their worth. Rob

[siberianmo]

I'm not a baby boomer - class of 1938 - but my vote is for the '50's. That's when I first really began to appreciate the railroads - especially passenger trains. Rode 'em in the 1940's - even crossed the country from LA to NYC via Chicago in 1947/48 ... But the trains of the '50's really stand out in my mind. Those Pennsy GG1's - the Alco's - I can "see them" now - Grand Central & Pennsylvania Station in NYC were great places to see the trains ........

The birth of Rock 'n Roll (from Rhythm & Blues) and teenage rebellion - yeah -the '50's are it for me!

See ya![tup]

[siberianmo]

I'm not a baby boomer - class of 1938 - but my vote is for the '50's. That's when I first really began to appreciate the railroads - especially passenger trains. Rode 'em in the 1940's - even crossed the country from LA to NYC via Chicago in 1947/48 ... But the trains of the '50's really stand out in my mind. Those Pennsy GG1's - the Alco's - I can "see them" now - Grand Central & Pennsylvania Station in NYC were great places to see the trains ........

The birth of Rock 'n Roll (from Rhythm & Blues) and teenage rebellion - yeah -the '50's are it for me!

See ya![tup]

[superwarp1]

Mid to late 20's on the NYC and B&A sub. First Hudsons, and Berkshires hit the rails running during this time.

Gary