"Cornelius Vanderbilt was involved in the New York Central Station."—E. Benjamin Andrews 1895

Cornelius Vanderbilt

"Cornelius Vanderbilt was involved in the New York Central Station."—E. Benjamin Andrews 1895

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…

The American Elevated Railroad System diagram.

American Elevated Railroad System

The American Elevated Railroad System diagram.

The Romanoff railway system, a single rail type.

Romanoff System

The Romanoff railway system, a single rail type.

A suspension railway, Barmen, Germany.

Suspension Railway

A suspension railway, Barmen, Germany.

"View from Peekskill Landing. This view is from Peekskill landing, looking up the river. On the left is the Dunderberg, or Thunder Mountain, over which the troops marched to Forts Clinton and Montgomery. The dark spot on the brink of the river, upon the extreme left, shows the place of the coffer-dam made by the deluded seekers after Captain Kidd's treasure. At the water's edge, on the right, is seen the grading of the Hudson River railroad, in course of construction when the sketch was made. The dark mountain on the right is Anthony's Nose. Intermediately, and projecting far into the river, is a high, sandy bluff, on which stood Fort Independence. Further on is Beveridge's Island; and in the extreme distance, behind the flag-staff, is seen Bear Mountain. Between the point of Fort Independence and the rock cutting of the railroad is the mouth of Peek's Kill, or Peek's Creek."—Lossing, 1851

Peekskill Landing

"View from Peekskill Landing. This view is from Peekskill landing, looking up the river. On the left…

"View of the town of Strasburg, valley of the Shenandoah, occupied by the Federal forces under General Banks, March 25th, 1862.  Towns which had hitherto remained buried in obscurity and pleasant foilage were suddenly converted into places of national importance. Strasburg, through whose rural streets the resounding tramp of two hostile armies had passed, was a post village of Shenandoah County, Va., on the north fork of Shenandoah River and on the Manassas Gap Railroad, eighteen miles southwest of Winchester. It had three churches and a population of about eight hundred persons. It was occupied by General Banks's division of the Federal army immediately after the battle of Winchester." —Leslie, 1896

Strasburg Lookout

"View of the town of Strasburg, valley of the Shenandoah, occupied by the Federal forces under General…

"View of the town of Strasburg, valley of the Shenandoah, occupied by the Federal forces under General Banks, March 25th, 1862.  Towns which had hitherto remained buried in obscurity and pleasant foilage were suddenly converted into places of national importance. Strasburg, through whose rural streets the resounding tramp of two hostile armies had passed, was a post village of Shenandoah County, Va., on the north fork of Shenandoah River and on the Manassas Gap Railroad, eighteen miles southwest of Winchester. It had three churches and a population of about eight hundred persons. It was occupied by General Banks's division of the Federal army immediately after the battle of Winchester." —Leslie, 1896

Bridge at Strasburg

"View of the town of Strasburg, valley of the Shenandoah, occupied by the Federal forces under General…

"Man walking dogs in the 'Grand Skedaddle' of the inhabitants from Charleston, S. C., when threatened by an attack from the Federal troops. When General Brannan made his daring and successful dash upon the railroad between Pocotaligo and Coosawhatchie the terror both in Savannah and Charleston was very great. Despite the fact that General Beauregard with thirty thousand troops was stationed midway between the cities a restless desire for flight took possession of thousands, and for three days the roads to the interior were crowded with as miscellaneous a group as that which marched into Noah's ark. Lieutenant Kirby, of the Forty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, being then a prisoner, had an excellent opportunity of sketching this motley stream of humanity. But our sketch renders all further description unnecessary."— Frank Leslie, 1896

Man Walking Dogs

"Man walking dogs in the 'Grand Skedaddle' of the inhabitants from Charleston, S. C., when threatened…

"The 'Grand Skedaddle' of the inhabitants from Charleston, S. C., when threatened by an attack from the Federal troops. When General Brannan made his daring and successful dash upon the railroad between Pocotaligo and Coosawhatchie the terror both in Savannah and Charleston was very great. Despite the fact that General Beauregard with thirty thousand troops was stationed midway between the cities a restless desire for flight took possession of thousands, and for three days the roads to the interior were crowded with as miscellaneous a group as that which marched into Noah's ark. Lieutenant Kirby, of the Forty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, being then a prisoner, had an excellent opportunity of sketching this motley stream of humanity. But our sketch renders all further description unnecessary."— Frank Leslie, 1896

Grand Skedaddle - Families with Luggage

"The 'Grand Skedaddle' of the inhabitants from Charleston, S. C., when threatened by an attack from…

"The 'Grand Skedaddle' of the inhabitants from Charleston, S. C., when threatened by an attack from the Federal troops. When General Brannan made his daring and successful dash upon the railroad between Pocotaligo and Coosawhatchie the terror both in Savannah and Charleston was very great. Despite the fact that General Beauregard with thirty thousand troops was stationed midway between the cities a restless desire for flight took possession of thousands, and for three days the roads to the interior were crowded with as miscellaneous a group as that which marched into Noah's ark. Lieutenant Kirby, of the Forty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, being then a prisoner, had an excellent opportunity of sketching this motley stream of humanity. But our sketch renders all further description unnecessary."— Frank Leslie, 1896

Grand Skedaddle - Detail of Wagons

"The 'Grand Skedaddle' of the inhabitants from Charleston, S. C., when threatened by an attack from…

"The 'Grand Skedaddle' of the inhabitants from Charleston, S. C., when threatened by an attack from the Federal troops. When General Brannan made his daring and successful dash upon the railroad between Pocotaligo and Coosawhatchie the terror both in Savannah and Charleston was very great. Despite the fact that General Beauregard with thirty thousand troops was stationed midway between the cities a restless desire for flight took possession of thousands, and for three days the roads to the interior were crowded with as miscellaneous a group as that which marched into Noah's ark. Lieutenant Kirby, of the Forty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, being then a prisoner, had an excellent opportunity of sketching this motley stream of humanity. But our sketch renders all further description unnecessary."— Frank Leslie, 1896

Grand Skedaddle - Horse-drawn Carriage

"The 'Grand Skedaddle' of the inhabitants from Charleston, S. C., when threatened by an attack from…

"Jefferson City, capital of Missouri. The arrival of General Fremont's division, September 26th, 1861. Our sketch of Jefferson City was taken from the southern side of Missouri, and shows the Capitol in bold relief. The railroad runs along the side of the river to Tipton and Sedalia, at both of which places General Fremont established camps and concentrated a large force preparatory to crossing the Osage in pursuit of General Sterling Price." —Leslie, 1896

Jefferson City Railroad Depot

"Jefferson City, capital of Missouri. The arrival of General Fremont's division, September 26th, 1861.…

"Jefferson City, capital of Missouri. The arrival of General Fremont's division, September 26th, 1861. Our sketch of Jefferson City was taken from the southern side of Missouri, and shows the Capitol in bold relief. The railroad runs along the side of the river to Tipton and Sedalia, at both of which places General Fremont established camps and concentrated a large force preparatory to crossing the Osage in pursuit of General Sterling Price." —Leslie, 1896

Jefferson City Capitol Building

"Jefferson City, capital of Missouri. The arrival of General Fremont's division, September 26th, 1861.…

"View of Grafton, West Virginia, occupied by the Federal Troops, under the command of General McClellan, in 1861. This beautiful little town is situated on the banks of the Monongahela, and is the junction of the Norhwestern Virginia Railroad. It is ninety-six miles below Wheeling, one hundred and ninety from Pittsburg, and two hundred and seventy-nine miles from Baltimore. Its principal hotel was the Grafton House, owned by the railroad company, and conducted on very liberal principles. The town was occupied by the Federal troops in 1861, and was a position of considerable importance. The beauty of its situation can be readily seen from our sketch. It is one hundred and ninety-eight miles from Harper's Ferry, and two hundred and one from Cumberland." —Leslie, 1896

Grafton Occupied by Federal Troops

"View of Grafton, West Virginia, occupied by the Federal Troops, under the command of General McClellan,…

"View of Grafton, West Virginia, occupied by the Federal Troops, under the command of General McClellan, in 1861. This beautiful little town is situated on the banks of the Monongahela, and is the junction of the Norhwestern Virginia Railroad. It is ninety-six miles below Wheeling, one hundred and ninety from Pittsburg, and two hundred and seventy-nine miles from Baltimore. Its principal hotel was the Grafton House, owned by the railroad company, and conducted on very liberal principles. The town was occupied by the Federal troops in 1861, and was a position of considerable importance. The beauty of its situation can be readily seen from our sketch. It is one hundred and ninety-eight miles from Harper's Ferry, and two hundred and one from Cumberland." —Leslie, 1896

Railroad at Grafton

"View of Grafton, West Virginia, occupied by the Federal Troops, under the command of General McClellan,…

"View of Grafton, West Virginia, occupied by the Federal Troops, under the command of General McClellan, in 1861. This beautiful little town is situated on the banks of the Monongahela, and is the junction of the Norhwestern Virginia Railroad. It is ninety-six miles below Wheeling, one hundred and ninety from Pittsburg, and two hundred and seventy-nine miles from Baltimore. Its principal hotel was the Grafton House, owned by the railroad company, and conducted on very liberal principles. The town was occupied by the Federal troops in 1861, and was a position of considerable importance. The beauty of its situation can be readily seen from our sketch. It is one hundred and ninety-eight miles from Harper's Ferry, and two hundred and one from Cumberland." —Leslie, 1896

Federal Troops at Grafton, West Virginia

"View of Grafton, West Virginia, occupied by the Federal Troops, under the command of General McClellan,…

"Village of Clarksburg, Western Virginia, headquarters of General Rosecrans. Clarksburg, a post village, capital of Harrison County, is situated on the west fork of the Monongahela River, at the mouth of Elk Creek, about two hundred and twenty miles northwest of Richmond. It is built on a high tableland environed by hills. It had in 1861 several churches, academies, two printing offices and many fine stores. Stove coal abounded in its vicinity. The Northwestern Railroad, a branch of the Baltimore and Ohio, passed through it. It has about two thousand inhabitants. For a short time Clarksburg was the headquarters of General Rosecrans. The situation was briefly this: The Cheat Mountain Gaps, the key to the whole country, were held by a strong force, a portion of General Reynolds's brigade, the remainder of which was stationed at Bevery, Huttonsville, and in that vicinity. Other portions of General Rosecrans's command were scattered over almost the whole northwestern part of Virginia, guarding the railroad lines from Wheeling and Parkersburg down to Grafton, and then eastward through the Cheat River country, Oakland, Altamont, and almost to Cumberland, occupying the Kanawha Valley by General Cox's brigade, and holding towns like Weston, Buckhannon, Summerville, Philippi and Bealington." —Leslie, 1896

Village of Clarksburg

"Village of Clarksburg, Western Virginia, headquarters of General Rosecrans. Clarksburg, a post village,…

"Village of Clarksburg, Western Virginia, headquarters of General Rosecrans. Clarksburg, a post village, capital of Harrison County, is situated on the west fork of the Monongahela River, at the mouth of Elk Creek, about two hundred and twenty miles northwest of Richmond. It is built on a high tableland environed by hills. It had in 1861 several churches, academies, two printing offices and many fine stores. Stove coal abounded in its vicinity. The Northwestern Railroad, a branch of the Baltimore and Ohio, passed through it. It has about two thousand inhabitants. For a short time Clarksburg was the headquarters of General Rosecrans. The situation was briefly this: The Cheat Mountain Gaps, the key to the whole country, were held by a strong force, a portion of General Reynolds's brigade, the remainder of which was stationed at Bevery, Huttonsville, and in that vicinity. Other portions of General Rosecrans's command were scattered over almost the whole northwestern part of Virginia, guarding the railroad lines from Wheeling and Parkersburg down to Grafton, and then eastward through the Cheat River country, Oakland, Altamont, and almost to Cumberland, occupying the Kanawha Valley by General Cox's brigade, and holding towns like Weston, Buckhannon, Summerville, Philippi and Bealington." —Leslie, 1896

Village of Clarksburg

"Village of Clarksburg, Western Virginia, headquarters of General Rosecrans. Clarksburg, a post village,…

"Valley of the Chickahominy, looking southeast from the vicinity of Mechanicsville, the scene of the battles between the Federal forces commanded by General McClellan and the Confederate armies led by Generals Lee, Jackson, Magruder and Longstreet. About two o'clock in the afternoon, June 26th, 1862, the Confederates were seen advancing in large force across the Chickahominy, near the railroad, close the Mechanicsville, where General McCall's division was encamped. Placing their batteries in the rear of the Federals, the Confederates commenced a steady fire. The Federal batteries replied, and very soon the roar of the artillery was deafening. For three hours the fight raged with great fierceness, the enemy attempting a flank movement, which was defeated. Toward six o'clock in the evening General Morell's division arrived on the ground, and marched straight on the enemy, in spite of the shower of shot and shell rained upon them." — Frank Leslie, 1896

Valley of Chickahominy

"Valley of the Chickahominy, looking southeast from the vicinity of Mechanicsville, the scene of the…

"Valley of the Chickahominy, looking southeast from the vicinity of Mechanicsville, the scene of the battles between the Federal forces commanded by General McClellan and the Confederate armies led by Generals Lee, Jackson, Magruder and Longstreet. About two o'clock in the afternoon, June 26th, 1862, the Confederates were seen advancing in large force across the Chickahominy, near the railroad, close the Mechanicsville, where General McCall's division was encamped. Placing their batteries in the rear of the Federals, the Confederates commenced a steady fire. The Federal batteries replied, and very soon the roar of the artillery was deafening. For three hours the fight raged with great fierceness, the enemy attempting a flank movement, which was defeated. Toward six o'clock in the evening General Morell's division arrived on the ground, and marched straight on the enemy, in spite of the shower of shot and shell rained upon them." — Frank Leslie, 1896

Valley of Chickahominy

"Valley of the Chickahominy, looking southeast from the vicinity of Mechanicsville, the scene of the…

"Valley of the Chickahominy, looking southeast from the vicinity of Mechanicsville, the scene of the battles between the Federal forces commanded by General McClellan and the Confederate armies led by Generals Lee, Jackson, Magruder and Longstreet. About two o'clock in the afternoon, June 26th, 1862, the Confederates were seen advancing in large force across the Chickahominy, near the railroad, close the Mechanicsville, where General McCall's division was encamped. Placing their batteries in the rear of the Federals, the Confederates commenced a steady fire. The Federal batteries replied, and very soon the roar of the artillery was deafening. For three hours the fight raged with great fierceness, the enemy attempting a flank movement, which was defeated. Toward six o'clock in the evening General Morell's division arrived on the ground, and marched straight on the enemy, in spite of the shower of shot and shell rained upon them." — Frank Leslie, 1896

Valley of Chickahominy

"Valley of the Chickahominy, looking southeast from the vicinity of Mechanicsville, the scene of the…

"Bellaire, O.- Steamboats conveying troops and munitions of war for the Federal forces on the Great Kanawha. Bellaire is a town situated on the Ohio River, three miles below Wheeling, Va. It is the eastern terminus of the Central Ohio Railroad, and the point for crossing the river connecting the Baltimore and Ohio with the above-named railroad. The place contained a population of fifteen hundred or two thousand inhabitants in 1861. Its importance was owing to its eligible position for the rapid concentration of troops. The sketch represents a fleet of boats lying in the river awaiting the quoata of troops and munitions for the prosecution of the war on the Great Kanawha. At this date, 1896, two weekly newspapers are published here. It has two banks, two churches, also manufactures of window-glass and flintware, nails, pig iron, galvanized ware and agricultural machines. The city is lighted with gas, and has waterworks and a street railway. Coal, limestone and fire-clay abound here. Population, about ten thousand." —Leslie, 1896

Bellaire

"Bellaire, O.- Steamboats conveying troops and munitions of war for the Federal forces on the Great…

"Bellaire, O.- Steamboats conveying troops and munitions of war for the Federal forces on the Great Kanawha. Bellaire is a town situated on the Ohio River, three miles below Wheeling, Va. It is the eastern terminus of the Central Ohio Railroad, and the point for crossing the river connecting the Baltimore and Ohio with the above-named railroad. The place contained a population of fifteen hundred or two thousand inhabitants in 1861. Its importance was owing to its eligible position for the rapid concentration of troops. The sketch represents a fleet of boats lying in the river awaiting the quoata of troops and munitions for the prosecution of the war on the Great Kanawha. At this date, 1896, two weekly newspapers are published here. It has two banks, two churches, also manufactures of window-glass and flintware, nails, pig iron, galvanized ware and agricultural machines. The city is lighted with gas, and has waterworks and a street railway. Coal, limestone and fire-clay abound here. Population, about ten thousand." —Leslie, 1896

Bellaire

"Bellaire, O.- Steamboats conveying troops and munitions of war for the Federal forces on the Great…

"Bellaire, O.- Steamboats conveying troops and munitions of war for the Federal forces on the Great Kanawha. Bellaire is a town situated on the Ohio River, three miles below Wheeling, Va. It is the eastern terminus of the Central Ohio Railroad, and the point for crossing the river connecting the Baltimore and Ohio with the above-named railroad. The place contained a population of fifteen hundred or two thousand inhabitants in 1861. Its importance was owing to its eligible position for the rapid concentration of troops. The sketch represents a fleet of boats lying in the river awaiting the quoata of troops and munitions for the prosecution of the war on the Great Kanawha. At this date, 1896, two weekly newspapers are published here. It has two banks, two churches, also manufactures of window-glass and flintware, nails, pig iron, galvanized ware and agricultural machines. The city is lighted with gas, and has waterworks and a street railway. Coal, limestone and fire-clay abound here. Population, about ten thousand." —Leslie, 1896

Bellaire

"Bellaire, O.- Steamboats conveying troops and munitions of war for the Federal forces on the Great…

"Scene on the James River, at Richmond. This view is from a long shaded island extending up the river from Mayo's Bridge, one of the three structures which span the stream at Richmond. Down the river from our point of view is seen Mayo's Bridge, and, in the extreme distance, the lower portion of Richmond, upon Richmond or Church Hill. Several fish-traps are seen among the rapids in the river. On the left are observed two or three smaller islands. Since the boave sketch was made, a bridge, for the accommodation of the Danville rail-way, has been constructed from the Richmond end of Mayo's Bridge, diagonally, to the southern end of the Petersburgh rail-way bridge, crossing very nearly our point of view. Not content with thus marring the beauty of one of the finest series of islands and cascades in the country, the company have covered the bridge, so as to shut out from the eyes of passengers the surrounding attractions."—Lossing, 1851

James River

"Scene on the James River, at Richmond. This view is from a long shaded island extending up the river…

"Chatterton's Hill, from the rail-way station. This is a view of the southeastern side of Chatterton's Hill, from the rail-way station. They crossed the Bronx at a point seen on the extreme right. On the top of the hill, in the edge of the woods on the left, Hamilton's cannons were placed."—Lossing, 1851

Chatterton's Hill

"Chatterton's Hill, from the rail-way station. This is a view of the southeastern side of Chatterton's…

"The first passenger locomotive built in the United States. A year after the Enterprise sailed for India, the first railroad in the United States was opened in Massachusetts, from the Quincy quarries to tide water. It was only two miles long, and was used for hauling granite; the cars were drawn by horses. It was the first use of rails in America. In 1830 the first passenger railway in America was opened. It extended westward from Baltimore about fifteen miles, and now forms a part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The cars were at first drawn by horses, but a locomotive was used the next year. Its first locomotive was built by Peter Cooper, who made later the generous and useful gift of the Cooper Union to the city of New York. Now began the construction of railroads in various directions; in the next twenty years nearly ten thousand miles of road were built. This mileage has constantly been increased, until in 1895 there were in operation in the United States nearly one hundred and eighty thousand miles of railway."—Scudder, 1897

Passenger Train

"The first passenger locomotive built in the United States. A year after the Enterprise sailed for India,…

"George Brinton McClellan was born at Philadelphia, December 3, 1826. He was for two years a student in the University of Virginia, but in 1842 he became a cadet at West Point, where he was the youngest in his class. He made his mark, however, for, on graduating in 1846, he stood second in general rank, and first in engineering. He engaged in the Mexican War, and took part in the siege of Vera Cruz, along with Lee and Beauregard. He was brevetted captain, and after the war he was employed by the government in surveys beyond the Mississippi. When the Crimean War occurred, Captain McClellan was one of a commission sent by the United States government to examine the military systems of Europe, and to report on the better organization of the American army. He made an important report, on his return, and then retired from the service, and became president of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. He was living in Cincinnati when the war broke out, and the governor of Ohio at once commissioned him major general of the Ohio militia. He had most winning qualities and an unblemished character, so that he attached every one who came in contact with him. Near the close of the war, he became the Democratic candidate for the Presidency. He was elected governor of New Jersey in 1877, and died at Orange, in that State, October 29, 1885."—Scudder, 1897

George B. McClellan

"George Brinton McClellan was born at Philadelphia, December 3, 1826. He was for two years a student…

"Thomas Alva Edison was born at Milan, Ohio, February 11, 1847, but the family soon after moved to Port Huron, Michigan. He had to earn his living from early boyhood, and was a train boy on a railroad. A station master, whose child's life Edison had saved, taught the boy telegraphy, and in this art Edison quickly became an expert. In 1868 he chanced to be in New York when the indicator of a gold and stock company was broken, and he not only repaired it, but in doing so struck out a new invention, the printing telegraph. He sold his invention in 1876 and established himself at Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he built workshops for carrying out experiments in the application of electricity. It would take a very long paragraph even to name the devices and inventions which have followed, the most far-reaching being, perhaps, his system of electric lighting, his microphone, and the phonograph."—Scudder, 1897

Thomas Alva Edison

"Thomas Alva Edison was born at Milan, Ohio, February 11, 1847, but the family soon after moved to Port…

"Three locomotives were imported from England in 1829, and the first trial in America took place Aug. 8, 1829, at Honesdale, Pa. The first railway constructed to be worked by locomotives was the South Carolina railroad (1826–1830), though trials of an experimental locomotive had been made before on the Baltimaore and Ohio railroad, which continued to be worked by horsepower till 1832. "—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

American Locomotive

"Three locomotives were imported from England in 1829, and the first trial in America took place Aug.…

"Three locomotives were imported from England in 1829, and the first trial in America took place Aug. 8, 1829, at Honesdale, Pa. The first railway constructed to be worked by locomotives was the South Carolina railroad (1826–1830), though trials of an experimental locomotive had been made before on the Baltimaore and Ohio railroad, which continued to be worked by horsepower till 1832. "—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Early Locomotive

"Three locomotives were imported from England in 1829, and the first trial in America took place Aug.…

The first train of cars.

Cars

The first train of cars.

Telegraph and Railroad

Railroad

Telegraph and Railroad

Early railroad train.

Train

Early railroad train.

A Whig politician and director of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Russell Sage

A Whig politician and director of the Union Pacific Railroad.

He developed the Pullman sleeper, a railroad sleeping car.

George M. Pullman

He developed the Pullman sleeper, a railroad sleeping car.

Fairchild was Attorney General of New York and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Fairchild also was president of Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railroad and director of the Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad.

Charles Stebbins Fairchild

Fairchild was Attorney General of New York and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Fairchild also was president…

President or manager of several railroad companies.

James W. Hyatt

President or manager of several railroad companies.

Known as the Commodore Vanderbilt and director of the Long Island Rail Road.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Known as the Commodore Vanderbilt and director of the Long Island Rail Road.

"A formidable obstacle against cavalry consists of railroad ties planted at intervals of 10 feet with tops four and a half feet above the ground, and connected by a line of rails spiked securely to each." — Moss, 1914

Cavalry obstacle

"A formidable obstacle against cavalry consists of railroad ties planted at intervals of 10 feet with…

President of the New York Central railroad.

Chauncey M. Depew

President of the New York Central railroad.

Superintendent of the New Jersey Southern railroad and New York and Long Branch railroad.

Rufus Blodgett

Superintendent of the New Jersey Southern railroad and New York and Long Branch railroad.

A carriage for running on the rails of a railway.

Car

A carriage for running on the rails of a railway.

A railroad train in New York State, 1831.

Railroad Train

A railroad train in New York State, 1831.

Making up rafts on the Susquehanna River. A scene on the line of the Erie Railroad.

Susquehanna River

Making up rafts on the Susquehanna River. A scene on the line of the Erie Railroad.

Grand Central Depot showing elevated railroad in New York.

Grand Central Station

Grand Central Depot showing elevated railroad in New York.

Passenger Depot of the Chicago and North-Western Railroad, corner of Wells and Kinzie streets.

Passenger Depot

Passenger Depot of the Chicago and North-Western Railroad, corner of Wells and Kinzie streets.

An open railroad car having no enclosings.

Platform Car

An open railroad car having no enclosings.

"The following description of a section of Lord Rosse's telescope, though not so perfect as could be desired, is the best we could obtain. it exhibits a view of the inside of the eastern wall, with the tube, and machinery by which it is moved. A is the mason-work on the ground; B the universal joint, which allows the tube to turn in all directions; C the speculum in the tube; E the eye-piece through which the observer looks; F a pulley by which the tube is moved; H a chain attached to the pulley, and to the side of the tube; I, a chain running to K, the counterpoise; L, a lever connecting the chain M with the tube; Z another chain which passes from the upper part of the tube over a pulley at W, (not seen) and crosses to the opposite wall; X a railroad on which the speculum is drawn either to or from the tube. The dotted line H, shows the course of the weight R, as the tube rises or falls. The tube is moved from wall to wall by a ratchet wheel at R, which is turned by the lever O, on the circle N, the ends of which are fixed in the two walls." —Comstock, 1850

Telescope

"The following description of a section of Lord Rosse's telescope, though not so perfect as could be…

Leaves - simple; alternate; edge coarsely and evenly wavy-toothed. Outline - reverse egg-shape or sometimes oval. Apex - blunt-pointed. Base - rounded or slightly pointed, and often somewhat unequal. Leaf - four to seven inches long, two to four inches wide; smooth above, paler and downy beneath. Teeth - twelve to twenty-six, decreasing evenly and uniformly to the apex. Bark - of trunk, gray; furrowed up and down with continuous and often very deep furrows, with sharp ridges between. Acorns - usually in pairs on a stem about one half of an inch long, or often shorter. Cup - rounded or somewhat top-shaped, with minute scales, or warty. Nut - usually long egg-shape or long oval; one to one and one fourth inches long; brown; about one third covered by the cup; sweet. September, October. Found - from Eastern Massachusetts to New York, southward to Delaware, along the Alleghany Mountains to Alabama and westward to Central Kentucky and Tennessee. General Information - A tree forth to seventy feet in height, with strong, hard wood, largely used in fencing, or railroad ties, etc.; of less value than that of the White Oak. Its bark is very rich in tannin. Quercus, possible from a Celtic word meaning to inquire, because it was among the oaks that the Druids oftenest practised their rites.

Genus Quercus, L. (Oak)

Leaves - simple; alternate; edge coarsely and evenly wavy-toothed. Outline - reverse egg-shape or sometimes…

Leaves - simple; indeterminate in position because of their closeness; arranged along the branches in many-leaved bunches without sheaths. Leaf - thread-like, one to two inches long, withering and falling in the autumn. Bark - smooth. Cones - about one half inch long; broad egg-shaped; green or violet when young, becoming purple and brownish as they ripen. Scales - thin, nearly round, their edges entire. Found - from Pennsylvania, Northern Indiana, and Northern Illinois through the Northern States and far northward. It grows usually in low, swampy land, where it often thickly covers large areas. General Information - A tree fifty to one hundred feet high (not evergreen), with a straight trunk and slender, horizontal branches. The wood is durable, hard, and very strong, and is largely used in ship-building, for posts, railroad ties, etc. The Indians and Canadians were accustomed to use the fibres of the Larch roots for sewing their bark canoes; and for tightening the seams, the gum of the Balsam Fir. Give me of your roots, O Tamarak! Of your fibrous roots, O Larch-Tree! My canoe to bind together, So to bind the ends together, That the water may not enter, That the river ma not wet me! Give me of your balm, O Fir-Tree! Of your balsam and your resin, So to close the seams together That the water may not enter, That the river may not wet me! And the Fir-Tree tall and sombre, Sobbed through all its robes of darkness, Answered wailing, answered weeping. 'Take my balm, O Hiawatha!'"

Genus Larix, Tourn. (Larch)

Leaves - simple; indeterminate in position because of their closeness; arranged along the branches in…

"The capital of Bohemian, a prosperous well-built city near the centre of the kingdom, on both sides of the Moldau, here crossed by seven bridges; 153 miles northwest of Vienna and 75 miles southeast of Dresden, with both of which it is connected b railroad." -Marshall

View in Prague

"The capital of Bohemian, a prosperous well-built city near the centre of the kingdom, on both sides…

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…

"Largest locomotive ever built. Designed for the Virginian Railway by the Baldwin Locomotive Works." -Foster, 1921

Largest Locomotive

"Largest locomotive ever built. Designed for the Virginian Railway by the Baldwin Locomotive Works."…

"Deformation of shale by porphyry, Burlington Railroad, east of Whitetail Gulch." -Walcott, 1901

Shale Deformation

"Deformation of shale by porphyry, Burlington Railroad, east of Whitetail Gulch." -Walcott, 1901

An illustration of Atlanta, Georgia as depicted in 1874. Atlanta, GA is the capital and the most populous city in the state of Georgia. During the American Civil War, Atlanta served as an important railroad and military supply hub. In 1864, the city became the target of a major Union invasion. The area now covered by Atlanta was the scene of several battles. The rebuilding of the city was gradual. From 1867 until 1888, U.S. Army soldiers occupied McPherson Barracks in southwest Atlanta to ensure Reconstruction era reforms.

Atlanta, Georgia in 1874

An illustration of Atlanta, Georgia as depicted in 1874. Atlanta, GA is the capital and the most populous…

Ambrose Everett Burnside (May 23, 1824 – September 13, 1881) was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.

Ambrose Everett Burnside

Ambrose Everett Burnside (May 23, 1824 – September 13, 1881) was an American soldier, railroad executive,…

Jason "Jay" Gould (May 27, 1836 - December 2, 1892) was an American financier who became a leading American railroad developer and speculator.

Jason "Jay" Gould

Jason "Jay" Gould (May 27, 1836 - December 2, 1892) was an American financier who became a leading American…

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…