Santa Fe's oldest name train - the California Limited stand in the Los Angeles California depot. This de Luxe passenger train headed by a beautiful ten wheeler, type 4-6-0 engine No. 53, with a consist of six superb passenger cars, all handcrafted wood - having open platforms and under body truss rods - has consummated its long journey - approximately 2,267 miles - requiring about 68 hours - from Chicago.

St. Louis and San Francisco Railway's oldest name train "The Meteor" operating between Chicago, St. Louis, Springfield, Sapulpa, Denison, Sherman, Fort Worth and Dallas - a rail distance of 976 miles. This famous train made its first run on March 17, 1902. Even in this early era "The Meteor" was one of the nation's de Lux long-distance passenger trains. Its dining car service was comparable to that on the Santa Fe, being under the supervision of Fred Harvey.

One of Illinois Central Railroad's early suburban trains - headed by Engine No. 1050 - a Pacific type 4-6-2 locomotive with a consist of five handcrafted wooden cars, having open platforms and under-body truss rods - leaving Central Station in Chicago. At the turn of the century the Illinois Central Railroad was providing commuter service.

One of the Illinois Central's de luxe passenger trains; the "Daylight Special" train No. 19 southbound, stands in the Central Station in Chicago - as passengers entrain - prior to the departure hour : 10:02 AM. This train (and its companion, No. 20 northbound) operated between Chicago, Springfield, and St. Louis. The rail distance was 294.17 miles; and the schedule was 7 hours and 44 minutes: equivalent to a running time of about 40 miles per hour. This photograph was taken in the summer of 1911. This was a modern train in that era - cited in the Official Guide of the Railways (June 1916) as: All steel and electric-lighted. The consist included: chair cars and coaches, cafe-club car and Observation Parlor car.

In an era of long ago New York Central's "The Twentieth Century Limited" headed by Engine No. 604, a Pacific type 4-6-2 locomotive, rolls over the route between New York and Chicago around 1911. Here the abbreviation "L.S. & M.S." (Lake Shore & Michigan Southern) appears below the cab's window instead of on the tender. Both practices were prototypical early in the twentieth century. This all pullman train went into service on June 15, 1902.

This photograph depicts one of the most eventful days in the history of Fort Collins, Colorado. The date is July 15, 1911 and the time is 7:20 am as the Union Pacific's first passenger train departs from the city. Observe the beautiful old-time steam locomotive, an American, type 4-4-0 locomotive, heading a consist of handcrafted wooden cars, having underbody truss rods and open platforms.

The Florida East coast Railway takes to the water with its Key West extension. No. 85 southbound, "The Havana Special" goes out to sea about four years after the right of way's completion in 1912. To the right of the viaduct is the Atlantic, while the Gulf of Mexico is to the left. This railroad, badly wrecked by a hurricane in 1936, was abandoned and a motor road was laid over it.

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's open-top observation car attached to the "Scenic Limited" train No. 5, westbound, at the Hanging Bridge in the Royal Gorge, Colorado around 1912.

A proud name in Great Northern Railway passenger train service and history is the "Oriental Limited" a de luxe train seen here crossing the historic Stone Arch Bridge over the Mississippi River linking St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1912. This double-tracked bridge, which has 23 arches in its 1200-foot span, is the only structure upon which James J. Jill, the Empire Builder, permitted his name to be inscribed.

This photograph portrays an unusual rail consist: Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad's Engine No. 202, a 2-6-2 type heading the "pay-car" in Chicago. In this era the railroad's tracks were being elevated throughout the metropolitan area.

One Southern Belle - Louisville and Nashville Railroad's "New Orleans Limited" train No.1, southbound, rolls through southern Alabama enroute to New Orleans from Montgomery in the spring of 1915. This de luxe steam powered train with a consist of ten cars of standard heavyweight equipment is headed by Engine No. 197, a K-3 class Pacific, type 4-6-2 locomotive. This engine was built in the year 1912 at the Louisville and Nashville's South Louisville Shops.

In the days when Steam was King, Southern Pacific's "Sunset Limited" train No. 2 eastbound, headed by Engine No. 2286 - a Pacific type 4-6-2- locomotive - with a consist of nine standard heavyweight cars - awaits the conductor's "B-o-a-rd!" at the depot in Santa Barbara.

Santa Fe Railway's train No. 6 "The Ranger" northbound, departing from the Ardmore, Oklahoma depot. The city of Ardmore is in the background.

Houston and Texas Central (Southern Pacific) Railroad's East Dallas Depot, which was located on the southeast corner of Pacific Avenue and the railroad's right of way (now North Central Expressway), as it appeared in September 1916.

This train of yesteryear, Missouri Pacific Railroad's "Sunshine Special" train No. 2, northbound, headed by Engine No. 6423, a Pacific type 4-6-2 locomotive, with a consist of seven cars, rolls through Missouri countryside enroute from Texas to St. Louis.