The Rail Transportation ClipArt gallery offers 205 images of railroad transportation, showing full illustrations of trains and rail cars, as well as parts of trains and related images

All illustrations in the ClipArt ETC collection are line drawings. If you are looking for color photographs of rail transportation, please visit the ClipPix ETC website.

A,trolley is a rail borne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a conventional train, designed for the transport of passengers within, close to, or between villages, towns and/or cities, on tracks running primarily on streets. Certain types of cable car are also known as trams.

Trolley Wheel

A,trolley is a rail borne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a conventional train, designed…

"Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 1830."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

Baltimore & Ohio RR

"Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 1830."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

"View at Beverly Dock. This view is taken from the Hudson River rail-road, looking north. The dock, covered with cord wood, is seen near the point on the left. It is at the termination of a marsh, near the point of a bold, rocky promontory, through which is a deep rock cutting for the road. The distant hills on the extreme left are on the west side of the Hudson; and through the gorge formed for the road may be seen the military edifices of West Point."—Lossing, 1851

Beverly Dock

"View at Beverly Dock. This view is taken from the Hudson River rail-road, looking north. The dock,…

An image of a protected bond. The curved bond is protected by the terminals, the railway proper of the trolley.The bond is designed to withstand tension created by contact with the trolley.

Rail Bond

An image of a protected bond. The curved bond is protected by the terminals, the railway proper of the…

A motor-driven booster made by the General Electric Company. A booster is a motor generator (MG) set that regulates voltage in DC circuits. M is the shunt-wound motor, B is the series booster, and S is a shunt across the field of a booster. t is a switch

Motor-Driven Booster

A motor-driven booster made by the General Electric Company. A booster is a motor generator (MG) set…

"Boston and Worcester Railroad, 1835."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

Boston & Worcester

"Boston and Worcester Railroad, 1835."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

The box on a train which contains the bearings for the spindle of an axle, or joural of an axle.

Axle Box

The box on a train which contains the bearings for the spindle of an axle, or joural of an axle.

The box on a train which contains the bearings for the spindle of an axle, or joural of an axle.

Axle Box

The box on a train which contains the bearings for the spindle of an axle, or joural of an axle.

A Westinghouse fuse box used to power a trolley car.

Fuse Box

A Westinghouse fuse box used to power a trolley car.

A conveyance braking system actuated by compressed air. Modern trains rely upon a fail-safe air brake system

Air Brake

A conveyance braking system actuated by compressed air. Modern trains rely upon a fail-safe air brake…

The general arrangement of a Westinghouse electric brake commonly used in trolleys at the turn of the century. (a) and (a') are the track shoes, (b) and (b') are the brake shoes, (c) is the magnetizing coil that receives current from motors running temporarily as generators, (d) and (d') are springs that the brakes are suspended from, and (e), (k), (h), and (f) are levers that assist with the movement of the brake system.

Electric Brake

The general arrangement of a Westinghouse electric brake commonly used in trolleys at the turn of the…

Emergency brake is the generic term for the maximum available braking force that a train crew can apply. Different countries use different systems, but usually the emergency brake applies considerably more braking force than the standard full service brake.

Emergency Rail Brake

Emergency brake is the generic term for the maximum available braking force that a train crew can apply.…

A circuit breaker like the ones found on a railway switchboard. Circuit breakers are used to switch the circuit of in a magnetic field on and off. The main current enters through rear post A; B is the heavy tripping coil that of wire that the main current passes through, thus operating the breaker; C contact block; the main current passes from C to D, which is a copper bridge; E is a heavy block where the current goes through after D. To set the breaker, the handle L is pulled. This causes a reaction that stops the flow of the electrical current through the system.

Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker like the ones found on a railway switchboard. Circuit breakers are used to switch…

Image of a Westinghouse circuit breaker. Around the time of the publication of the book (1901), large numbers were in use and gave very good service. a and b are the main contacts. c is the crosspiece that a and b are connected to. The current flows from a to c to b, which trips the coil d and exits out l. m is an auxiliary carbon contact, n is a carbon wiper, and w is an adjustable weight attached to the armature.

Circuit Breaker

Image of a Westinghouse circuit breaker. Around the time of the publication of the book (1901), large…

A typical circuit breaker that would have been used during the turn of the century. This image is an example of one that powered a trolley

Circuit Breaker

A typical circuit breaker that would have been used during the turn of the century. This image is an…

An illustration of a locomotive broiler.

Locomotive Broiler

An illustration of a locomotive broiler.

A wooden bucket that is used to test for field connections in a railway.

Wooden Bucket

A wooden bucket that is used to test for field connections in a railway.

A carriage for running on the rails of a railway.

Car

A carriage for running on the rails of a railway.

This coupling mechanism is used for connecting rolling stocks in a train. The design of the coupler is standard, it is more convenient to have all rolling stocks coupled together.

Mechanism Connecting Rolling Car Coupler

This coupling mechanism is used for connecting rolling stocks in a train. The design of the coupler…

A diagram of a rail car unloader and storage plant.

Car Unloading & Storage Plant

A diagram of a rail car unloader and storage plant.

This is a car which is used in the transport of logs from one construction site to another.

Log Carrying Car

This is a car which is used in the transport of logs from one construction site to another.

An armoured train is a train protected with armour. Usually they are equipped with railroad cars armed with artillery and machine guns. They were mostly used during the late 19th and early 20th century, when they offered an innovative way to quickly move large amounts of firepower into position. Their use was discontinued because modern road vehicles became much more powerful and offered more flexibility, and because armoured trains were too vulnerable to track sabotage as well as attacks from the air.

Military Railroad Car

An armoured train is a train protected with armour. Usually they are equipped with railroad cars armed…

An open railroad car having no enclosings.

Platform Car

An open railroad car having no enclosings.

The all-steel postal car was first used by the Erie Railroad. The first of the type was built by the Standard Steel Car Company of Butler, Pa.

Railway Postal Car

The all-steel postal car was first used by the Erie Railroad. The first of the type was built by the…

This car features refrigeration and ventilation as the early use for automobile air conditioning. Air conditioning is the cooling and dehumidification of indoor cabin air for thermal comfort. In a broader sense, the term can refer to any form of cooling, heating, ventilation, or disinfection that modifies the condition of air.

Refrigerating and Ventilating Car

This car features refrigeration and ventilation as the early use for automobile air conditioning. Air…

The first train of cars.

Cars

The first train of cars.

"Transportation in a large city, showing elevated road, surface line, and subway." -Gordy, 1916

City Transportation

"Transportation in a large city, showing elevated road, surface line, and subway." -Gordy, 1916

Old fashioned railroad coach use for transporting few passangers.

Railway Coach

Old fashioned railroad coach use for transporting few passangers.

"Commissariat Depot of the United States Army of the Rappahannock at Manassas, Va. Our sketch shows the Federal Commissariat Depot at Manassas before the second battle of Bull Run, when Jackson by a forced march of sixty miles in thirty-five hours had at his mercy all of General Pope's most important supplies and munitions of war, and which Stuart, with a strong force of troops under Colonel Trimble, took possession of, or destroyed, on the night of August 26th, 1862. Manassas is situated on the Virginia Midland and Great Southern Railroad, thirty-three miles west southwest of Washington, and twenty-seven miles west of Alexandria. It is the junction and last terminus of the Manassas division of the same road."— Frank Leslie, 1896

Commissariat Depot

"Commissariat Depot of the United States Army of the Rappahannock at Manassas, Va. Our sketch shows…

An example of a support that holds the trolley wire and reduces the spark created from the passing wheel.

Side-Bracket Construction

An example of a support that holds the trolley wire and reduces the spark created from the passing wheel.

"Peter Cooper's locomotive, 1829."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

Cooper's Locomotive

"Peter Cooper's locomotive, 1829."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

Peter Cooper manufactured the first steam powered railroad locomotive made in America, which was called <em>Tom Thumb</em>.

Peter Cooper's Train

Peter Cooper manufactured the first steam powered railroad locomotive made in America, which was called…

Evacuation of Corinth, Mississippi- burning of stations, warehouses and supplies- entry of Federal Troops. Corinth was not demolished, but it was very much deteriorated- about as bad as the Corinth of old. In the town the scene was dismal indeed; nothing was occupied, all was vacant. In the fields north of the town, where the Confederate camps had been, there were the common evidences of their late presence, but nothing uncommon. Arms were picked up in all parts of the field, and a few hundred prisoners were taken.

Evacuation of Corinth

Evacuation of Corinth, Mississippi- burning of stations, warehouses and supplies- entry of Federal Troops.…

An automatic coupler.

Coupler

An automatic coupler.

A device for connecting railway cars or trucks together.

Rail Coupling

A device for connecting railway cars or trucks together.

A strong wooden or iron frame in front of a locomotive-engine for catching or throwing off obstructions on a railway, such as cows.

Cow-catcher

A strong wooden or iron frame in front of a locomotive-engine for catching or throwing off obstructions…

"Burning of the gunpowder Creek Railroad Bridge, on the Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroad, by the Maryland Secessionists." —Leslie, 1896

Creek Railroad Bridge

"Burning of the gunpowder Creek Railroad Bridge, on the Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroad, by the…

A cross-over where two different lines of trolley wire cross at right angles.

Cross-over

A cross-over where two different lines of trolley wire cross at right angles.

A cross-over where two different lines of trolley wire meet at acute angles.

Cross-over

A cross-over where two different lines of trolley wire meet at acute angles.

Two men testing for bad joints in the railway. One man holds metal poles a and b three feet apart. Wires are connected to the poles that lead to the box the other man is holding. There is a bell inside of the box which will not ring when a current is running through it. When the phone makes a noise, there is a bad joint present.

Joint Detection

Two men testing for bad joints in the railway. One man holds metal poles a and b three feet apart. Wires…

In American practice all of the forces between the locomotive and cars are handled through the coupler and its associated draft gear, which allows some limited slack movement. Small dimples called "poling pockets" at the front and rear corners of the locomotive allowed cars to be pushed on an adjacent track using a pole braced between the locomotive and the cars.

Device for Controlling Draft in Locomotives

In American practice all of the forces between the locomotive and cars are handled through the coupler…

A traction engine is a self propelled steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. This is the steering device for a road locomotive. Traction engines were cumbersome and ill suited to crossing soft or heavy ground so their agricultural use was usually either in the belt, or in the pairs.

Traction Engine Steering Device

A traction engine is a self propelled steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground…

A wheel that communicates motion; the wheel of a locomotive, which, adhering to the track, communicates the power of the steam-engine to the vehicle.

Driving-wheel

A wheel that communicates motion; the wheel of a locomotive, which, adhering to the track, communicates…

Attachment of suspension. This particular model is used when trolley wire comes to end at a hanger. The ear has two purposes: holding the wire and splicing it. The ends of the trolley wire are passed through and bent back over the openings (h).

Splicing Ear

Attachment of suspension. This particular model is used when trolley wire comes to end at a hanger.…

Another form of an ear that is used for trolley wires. An ear is attached to a suspension by a screw. The suspension is attached to a wire for guidance. The trolley wire is attached to the ear with groove. The holes are used when other wires are needed for extra support.

Strain Ear

Another form of an ear that is used for trolley wires. An ear is attached to a suspension by a screw.…

A combination of a suspension and ear. The ear is made of two pieces hinged (e) together that hold the trolley wire in place. The ear is screwed in (b). This combination is commonly used where the location of the hangers need to change.

Suspension and Ear

A combination of a suspension and ear. The ear is made of two pieces hinged (e) together that hold the…

How electrolysis may occur in a trolley system. TT is the trolley wire, RR is the track. As shown by the arrows, the regular flow of the current should return to the rails. If there is a pipe LL that offers a steady current, it will cause the current to leave the rails (I), enter the pipe, and flow out (0). P is the powerhouse that powers the wire and trolley (C).

Electrolysis

How electrolysis may occur in a trolley system. TT is the trolley wire, RR is the track. As shown by…

Baldwin engine

Baldwin engine

Baldwin engine

The first electric railway built in Berlin in 1879. The line was 2 feet wide and 2,700 feet long.

Siemens and Halske's Electric Engine

The first electric railway built in Berlin in 1879. The line was 2 feet wide and 2,700 feet long.

A diagram showing how a trolley is powered. Two motors (m, m1) are held and geared to the axles (a, a1). The trolley's speed is controlled by the controllers (c) that are held on dash irons and operated with handles (n) and (n1). The trolley pole (p) is attached to trolley base (t). Hood switches (s) are mounted under the roof in case fuse boxes are used. The car is lit by lights (l) and heated by electric heaters (h) under the seats. The lightning arrester (LA) and the fuse box (F.B.) are attached to the underside of the trolley.

Trolley Equipment

A diagram showing how a trolley is powered. Two motors (m, m1) are held and geared to the axles (a,…

An illustration of a factory set near a river with a train track on a bridge.

Factory Near River & Train Tracks

An illustration of a factory set near a river with a train track on a bridge.

A fender louver on the rear wheel fender of a tractor to provide visual means of determining the condition of wheel rotation.

Automobile Fender

A fender louver on the rear wheel fender of a tractor to provide visual means of determining the condition…

Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well. Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, and liquids from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire. Fenders are typically rigid and can be damaged by contact with the road surface. Instead flexible mud flaps are used close to the ground where contact may be possible.

Car Fender

Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames…

In British English, the fender is called the wing. The equivalent component of a bicycle or motorcycle style of wing fitted to vintage cars which is not integral with the bodywork, is called a mudguard in Britain, as it guards other road users.

Car Fender

In British English, the fender is called the wing. The equivalent component of a bicycle or motorcycle…

Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well. Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire.

Car Fender

Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames…

This fender is made out of metal like fencing used to protect the rail cart from larger road debris.

Pick UP Car Fender

This fender is made out of metal like fencing used to protect the rail cart from larger road debris.

"A track-layers' bar having two parallel blunt arms at the end the space between which is designed to fit the web of the rail. It is used in lifting the end of a rail." -Whitney, 1911

Rail Fork

"A track-layers' bar having two parallel blunt arms at the end the space between which is designed to…

Two men transferring freight from an old truck at a train station.

Freight Unloading

Two men transferring freight from an old truck at a train station.

A left-hand frog, or overhead switch. Switches are used when trolley wires branch off with another wire, like at intersections.

Left-hand Frog

A left-hand frog, or overhead switch. Switches are used when trolley wires branch off with another wire,…

An image of a right-hand frog, or overhead switch. Switches are used when a wire needs to branch off and merge into another wire.

Right-hand Frog

An image of a right-hand frog, or overhead switch. Switches are used when a wire needs to branch off…