Through the magic of vintage film, now digitized, we can see the way things used to be! Where in New England would you look to find an interurban trolley line that interchanged with a major steam railroad, crossed a state line on a toll bridge, hauled freight behind steeplecab freight motors and served several large industries in a small city?

Fantastic color images from 8mm film taken in the Appalachians on the last holdouts of steam railroading!

In the early 1980’s, an ailing New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad was acquired by the growing Delaware Otsego Corporation. New management and a new contract meant new traffic – like stack trains!

Coal was discovered on Cape Breton, in Nova Scotia, in the 1800s. To haul their product, the coal companies constructed a rail line to the Port of Sydney.

Shenandoah Junction, in the panhandle of West Virginia, is a great train watching spot with Norfolk Southern, CSX, Amtrak and MARC trains.

Famed in song and legend, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe is a great railroad. Although now merged with the Burlington Northern to from the giant BNSF railroad, this DVD brings back the Santa Fe during the steam-diesel transition era in Cajon Pass and Sullivan’s Curve.

Sit back and watch vintage railroad action on the famous “Joint Line”! The Denver and Rio Grande Western and Santa Fe each had single track mainlines between Denver and Pueblo.

The RF&P was chartered in 1834. It was to run between the Civil War capitals of the South and the North. The railroad evolved into a bridge line, connecting the major lines of the south, such as the ACL, SAL and C&O, with the major carriers in the north, such as the Pennsy and the B&O.

The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was referred to as the “Burlington Route” – or, to fans, as the “Q”. This program covers the CB&Q and other lines with which it had a relationship – hence the title “Q” Connections.

This is rare color film from the 1950s that includes some rare steam: See big Santa Fe 2-10-4 on lease at that time to the Pennsy! You’ll also see B&O, NKP and NYC steam.

The Norfolk and Western Railway had faith in the steam locomotive. And why shouldn’t they! They designed and built the most modern and efficient steam power right in their own Roanoke shops!

This video is a steam powered tour of the Northeast United States. Represented are some of the most memorable railroads in the region during the first half of the 20th Century.

Rare film footage of the railroads of New England. Shot by Eugene Livernois beginning in the 1930s!

Visit the former Atlantic Coast Line route from Petersburg to Fayetteville.