Western History and Genealogy

Railroads in the West

The Western History and Genealogy Department's railroad, street railway and interurban materials include books, periodicals, photographs, maps, railroad passes, videotapes, construction reports, annual reports, timetables, railroad land grants, and manuscripts covering the full spectrum of the railroad industry and railroad activity in the 22 states west of the Mississippi. Railroad manuscripts hold an extensive compilation of plans for railcars, terminals, and rail lines; accident reports and detailed reports and correspondence that document the growth of the industry. Also in the collection are progress report surveys for some individual lines, official government surveys, promotional maps and brochures, maps showing railroad land grants and rights-of-way, and route guides for different railroads published by different commercial firms. More...

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Chicago Burlington & Quincy 4-6-2 No. 2966 heads an eastbound 15-car freight train near Hudson, Colorado [1937].