ClipArt ETC

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 relatively small rheostat (resistance box) that is attached to switchboard S and is operated with wheel W. This particular model was used by General Electric Company and are generally attached to the back of the switchboard.

Field Rheostat

A relatively small rheostat (resistance box) that is attached to switchboard S and is operated with…

A rail ridgeway accross Mount Washington.

Ridgeway

A rail ridgeway accross Mount Washington.

Truck riggings for a double truck that holds a single trolley car. A truck is the mechanism that consists of the trolley wheels and motors. This type of rigging was used in the early twentieth century. This mechanism allows the trolley to pull an extraordinary amount of weight: between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds. (P) is a lever that is secured to the car body by fulcrum (f) which is stationary. (C, C) are two pieces of metal bent to suit the movements of the trolley car.

Truck Riggings

Truck riggings for a double truck that holds a single trolley car. A truck is the mechanism that consists…

George Stephenson's locomotive, 'the rocket' was a great innovation towards the development of railroad engines.

The Rocket

George Stephenson's locomotive, 'the rocket' was a great innovation towards the development of railroad…

"Built by Stephenson to compete in a trial of locomotive engines for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The greatest speed it attained in the trial was 29 miles an hour, but some years later it ran at the rate of 53 miles an hour. The total weight of the engine and tender was only about 7 1/2 tons."

The Rocket

"Built by Stephenson to compete in a trial of locomotive engines for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.…

The Rocket, the first railway locomotive.

The Rocket

The Rocket, the first railway locomotive.

"Railway Semaphore. a, lever, which operates both b, blade, and c, lantern." -Whitney, 1911

Railroad Semaphore

"Railway Semaphore. a, lever, which operates both b, blade, and c, lantern." -Whitney, 1911

A shunt is an electrical component used to allow electric current to flow from one point to the circuit. Railway generators are usually provided with shunts. The shunt provided in the picture is made of German silver, which has a high resistance that remains through varying temperatures

Series-Field Shunt

A shunt is an electrical component used to allow electric current to flow from one point to the circuit.…

A common railway signal.

Train Signal

A common railway signal.

A common railway signal.

Train Signal

A common railway signal.

A common railway signal.

Train Signal

A common railway signal.

A common railway signal.

Train Signal

A common railway signal.

Thousands of patriotic citizens filled every available space in the big railroad station in Jersey City when the Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts entered, on its way to defend the Capital, Washington, April 18th. 1861, after marching through the streets of New York. The regiment was composed of eight hundred men. This was the regiment which, upon arrival in Baltimore, was stoned and shot at by a mob of Southern men who attempted to stop its progress to Washington.

The Sixth regiment

Thousands of patriotic citizens filled every available space in the big railroad station in Jersey City…

"An implement for clearing away snow from roads, railways, etc. a, caboose; b, cab; c, tender; d, show, plate, or scraper which cuts horizontally at a level with the tops of the rails; e, auger which cuts in to the snow-drift, and assists by its screw-like action to propel the machine (its centrifugal action projects the snow upward through the chute f, and laterally to a distance of 60 feet)." —Whitney, 1889

Centrifugal Snow Plow

"An implement for clearing away snow from roads, railways, etc. a, caboose; b, cab; c, tender; d, show,…

"An implement for clearing away snow from roads, railways, etc. a, body of plow; b, caboose for implements and workmen; c, movable wings for widening the cuttings; c1, doors which give access to leading truck for oiling, etc.; d, cupola; e, headlight; f, iron plates, scrapers, or shoes which remove snow from the outer margins of the track; f, adjustable aprons which clean out the snow from between the tracks flush with the wheel flanges; g, intermediate apron; h, draw-bar for hauling the plow when not in use; i, adjustable scraper for removing hard-packed snow or ice from the inner side of the rails." —Whitney, 1889

Wing Snow Plow

"An implement for clearing away snow from roads, railways, etc. a, body of plow; b, caboose for implements…

"The <em>South Carolina</em>, 1831, and plan of its running gear."&mdash;E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

South Carolina

"The South Carolina, 1831, and plan of its running gear."—E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895

"An apparatus for extracting spikes, as from a rail. a, rail; b, spike to be extracted; c, fulcrum-piece hooked over the rail and supported on the sleeper d; e, claw-lever, with a heel shown in dotted outline, which is passed through a slot in the fulcrum-piece." —Whitney, 1889

Spike Extractor

"An apparatus for extracting spikes, as from a rail. a, rail; b, spike to be extracted; c, fulcrum-piece…

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>Illustration of cut spike, also called a large cut nail.

Cut Spike

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>Illustration of a dock spike, used in building docks and piers.

Dock Spike

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>Illustration of two railway spikes, used to fasten the rails to sleepers.

Railway Spikes

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…

A diagram of the inner workings of a trolly station. This diagram shows how trollies used to start when they were first being used. A pulley system is used that powers up a power box that starts the trolly.

Trolly Station

A diagram of the inner workings of a trolly station. This diagram shows how trollies used to start when…

Street car or trolley on city street.

Street car

Street car or trolley on city street.

An illustration of a street car.

Street Car

An illustration of a street car.

This sugar cane car transport is the conveyance of sugar can by means of wheeled vehicles running on steel rails. Tracks consist of steel rails running on sleepers and ballast. Sometimes there is also a signaling system.

Sugar Cane Car

This sugar cane car transport is the conveyance of sugar can by means of wheeled vehicles running on…

This image is of a strain insulator and turnbuckle which is used for trolley wire. A strain insulator is able to withstand the tension of the wire. This device helps support the trolley wire. A turnbuckle adjusts the tension accordingly. A turnbuckle is often used for corners of a wresting arena.

Trolley Support

This image is of a strain insulator and turnbuckle which is used for trolley wire. A strain insulator…

A double-curve suspension. This type of suspension is used for trolleys on hilly or uneven roads that cause the trolley to sway. The suspension eases the tension of the trolley wire and makes the trolley a smoother ride.

Double-Curve Suspension

A double-curve suspension. This type of suspension is used for trolleys on hilly or uneven roads that…

A single-curve suspension. This type of suspension is generally used for trolleys that are on a street with many curves. The suspension helps to lessen the tension of the trolley wire.

Single-Curve Suspension

A single-curve suspension. This type of suspension is generally used for trolleys that are on a street…

A common type of suspension used for trolley wire. A is the main casting, B is a metal cap that covers A, C is a bolt that is fixed into the insulation material, and D is grooved extensions of A.

Trolley Suspension

A common type of suspension used for trolley wire. A is the main casting, B is a metal cap that covers…

An example of what trolley wire looked like and how it moved.

Trolley wire Suspension

An example of what trolley wire looked like and how it moved.

A Westinghouse canopy switch. This switch is used in powering trolleys. They are used to break circuits from 200 to 300 amperes.

Canopy Switch

A Westinghouse canopy switch. This switch is used in powering trolleys. They are used to break circuits…

A single-pole lamp switch commonly used in the early twentieth century. It could control a single circuit or any number of circuits within its capabilities. When the knob (h) is turned to the right, and the connected spring (p) is wound as far as possible, the blade (k) is loosened from the contact tips (s) and thus breaks the circuit.

Lamp Switch

A single-pole lamp switch commonly used in the early twentieth century. It could control a single circuit…

A typical lamp switch used in the twentieth century, with a cover. These lamp switches were widely used for general purposes, but were used especially often in conjunction with trolley cars.

Lamp Switch

A typical lamp switch used in the twentieth century, with a cover. These lamp switches were widely used…

A three-way switch that was used to cut the headlights of a trolley and subsequently turn on the taillights. K is the switch blade, and L is a spring contact clip, three of which are raised on 'posts' (L1 is not raised).

Three-way Switch

A three-way switch that was used to cut the headlights of a trolley and subsequently turn on the taillights.…

A picture of a railway switchboard that handles 500-volt direct currents. The switchboard consists of three generator panels (A), one total output panel (B), and five feeder panels (C).

Railway Switchboard

A picture of a railway switchboard that handles 500-volt direct currents. The switchboard consists of…

The American Elevated Railroad System diagram.

American Elevated Railroad System

The American Elevated Railroad System diagram.

The Cook System single rail type.

Cook System

The Cook System single rail type.

The Cook System single rail type.

Cook System

The Cook System single rail type.

An air-brake system that was in use in the early twentieth century on trolleys. This model was recommended by the Christensen Company, a popular manufacturing company of the time. The diameter of the brake pistons were 6 inches. A and B are brake levers; C, X, and Y are tension rods that lessen the strain on the brakes.

Lever System

An air-brake system that was in use in the early twentieth century on trolleys. This model was recommended…

The Romanoff railway system, a single rail type.

Romanoff System

The Romanoff railway system, a single rail type.

Plan at Street Level. Union Terminal, Washington, D.C.

Union Terminal

Plan at Street Level. Union Terminal, Washington, D.C.

Cross Section of umbrella train shed, showing clearance lines, Union Terminal, Washington, D.C.

Union Terminal

Cross Section of umbrella train shed, showing clearance lines, Union Terminal, Washington, D.C.

"Track-layers' tongs for lifting rails. They have short jaws designed to clasp the rail head and two long handles bent at a right angle." -Whitney, 1911

Rail Tongs

"Track-layers' tongs for lifting rails. They have short jaws designed to clasp the rail head and two…

A motor vehicle wheel track sanding device including a sand storage tank, a hoper mounted over a wheel of a motor vehicle, a pipe connecting the interior of the hopper to the storage chamber, an auger disposed within the pipe for transferring the sand from the storage tank to the hopper, and a motor for rotating auger.

Track Sanding Apparatus

A motor vehicle wheel track sanding device including a sand storage tank, a hoper mounted over a wheel…

A maximum traction double truck. This type of truck has four wheels, two large and two small. The larger wheels make up seventy percent of the weight of the truck. The motor is hung and geared to the larger wheels. Enough pressure is applied to the large wheels that the smaller wheels are able to stay on the track while going around curves.

Maximum Traction

A maximum traction double truck. This type of truck has four wheels, two large and two small. The larger…

Loading luggage onto the train.

Train

Loading luggage onto the train.

Steaming locomotive on the railroad.

Train

Steaming locomotive on the railroad.

A new style train traveling along electric rails.

Train

A new style train traveling along electric rails.

Early railroad train.

Train

Early railroad train.

An illustration of a train.

Train

An illustration of a train.

A train is a connected series of vehicles that move along a track (permanent way) to transport freight or passengers from one place to another. The track usually consists of two rails.

Train

A train is a connected series of vehicles that move along a track (permanent way) to transport freight…

An illustration of a train.

Train

An illustration of a train.

An illustration of a train accident.

Train Accident

An illustration of a train accident.

A man and a woman reading in a train compartment.

Train Compartment

A man and a woman reading in a train compartment.

Train station with passengers arriving.

Train station

Train station with passengers arriving.

This illustration shows a mother with her daughters at the train station.

Train Station

This illustration shows a mother with her daughters at the train station.

An illustration of a train station.

Train Station

An illustration of a train station.

This sign indicates that a train station is located nearby.

Train Station, Black and White

This sign indicates that a train station is located nearby.

This sign indicates that a train station is located nearby.

Train Station, Color

This sign indicates that a train station is located nearby.

An illustration of a man running towards a train station.

Man Running Towards Train Station

An illustration of a man running towards a train station.

This sign indicates that a train station is located nearby.

Train Station, Outline

This sign indicates that a train station is located nearby.