Favorite Railroad Decade

[ValorStorm]

The 50s had the best of everything. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, my mom had ME in the 50s!

[ValorStorm]

The 50s had the best of everything. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, my mom had ME in the 50s!

[Anonymous]

I would have to vote for the 1910's. Naturally, since I'm 41, I don't remember this era, but I always liked this it. I studied silent film in college, and many of the films in this era used trains as a backdrop. The small locomotives, the wooden passenger equipment, and the many different kinds of rolling stock make the whole era facinating. It is also the golden age of branchline railroading, with most small towns having at least one fully functioning station.

Also, no competition from trucks!!!

[Anonymous]

I would have to vote for the 1910's. Naturally, since I'm 41, I don't remember this era, but I always liked this it. I studied silent film in college, and many of the films in this era used trains as a backdrop. The small locomotives, the wooden passenger equipment, and the many different kinds of rolling stock make the whole era facinating. It is also the golden age of branchline railroading, with most small towns having at least one fully functioning station.

Also, no competition from trucks!!!

[Anonymous]

I have always maintain that the current system of measuring 20th Century history by decades if not quite accurate. I think a more proper was would be to describe the genre of a decade in a stagared form...

Since 1961 is more like 1959 than 1968, I submit that we should look at the common precetion of a decade as...(the American Prespective as my upbrinning...non-Americans please adjust this according to your preceptions)

1915-1925- WWI and post war era
1925-1929-Roarin' 20's
1929-1940- Depression Era
1939-1946- WWII
1946-1955- Post War 40s
1955-1965- the Ideal 50s
1965-1975- The Radical 60s
1975-1985- The Disco 70s
1985-1995- The Yuppy 80s
1995-Present- The 90s

According to this scale, my favorite would be the WWII/ Post War 40s era!

[Anonymous]

I have always maintain that the current system of measuring 20th Century history by decades if not quite accurate. I think a more proper was would be to describe the genre of a decade in a stagared form...

Since 1961 is more like 1959 than 1968, I submit that we should look at the common precetion of a decade as...(the American Prespective as my upbrinning...non-Americans please adjust this according to your preceptions)

1915-1925- WWI and post war era
1925-1929-Roarin' 20's
1929-1940- Depression Era
1939-1946- WWII
1946-1955- Post War 40s
1955-1965- the Ideal 50s
1965-1975- The Radical 60s
1975-1985- The Disco 70s
1985-1995- The Yuppy 80s
1995-Present- The 90s

According to this scale, my favorite would be the WWII/ Post War 40s era!

[CFournier]

I like the 50's and early 60's for the last steam, last tramways, last trolleybuses, last beatnicks!
Chris

[CFournier]

I like the 50's and early 60's for the last steam, last tramways, last trolleybuses, last beatnicks!
Chris

[BraddS]

Definitely early 50s to early 60s, the world I was born into...

[BraddS]

Definitely early 50s to early 60s, the world I was born into...

[Anonymous]

Welcome to all the newcomers to the forums. [:)]

Many thanks for stopping by and taking the poll. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Welcome to all the newcomers to the forums. [:)]

Many thanks for stopping by and taking the poll. [:D]

[Anonymous]

I chose the 1970's ,as these were the years, when you had alot of railroads and the variety of locomotives was exuberant (fascinating).[:D][8D]

[Anonymous]

I chose the 1970's ,as these were the years, when you had alot of railroads and the variety of locomotives was exuberant (fascinating).[:D][8D]

[passengerfan]

The late 1940's to 1960's Their was still steam early diesels and ny the late 1960's second generation diesels. All of the lightweight streamlined cars had been purchased by the railroads. People stiil cared about passenger trains.

[passengerfan]

The late 1940's to 1960's Their was still steam early diesels and ny the late 1960's second generation diesels. All of the lightweight streamlined cars had been purchased by the railroads. People stiil cared about passenger trains.

[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

[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

[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]

[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

[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

[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.

[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]

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.)