Henry Ford Museum Railroads Exhibit - History of Trains (2024)

Artifact

Steam locomotive

Date Made

1941

Summary

The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway's massive Allegheny, introduced in 1941, represents the peak of steam railroad technology. Among the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built, it weighed 1.2 million pounds with its tender and could generate 7,500 horsepower. Just 11 years later, C&O began pulling these giants from service. Diesel-electric locomotives proved more flexible and less expensive.

Creators

Lima Locomotive Works, Incorporated

Place of Creation

United States, Ohio, Lima

Keywords

United States, Allegheny Mountains

United States, Kentucky

United States, Virginia

United States, West Virginia

Locomotives

Steam locomotives

Railroad trains

Coal

Ore industry

Railroads (Infrastructure)

Allegheny (Steam locomotive)

Object ID

56.50.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Trains

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Artifact

Refrigerator car

Date Made

March 1924

Summary

Modern refrigerated rail cars have mechanical cooling units, but well into the 20th century, ice cooled refrigerator cars like this one. Since 45-55 pounds of ice melted each hour, icing stations had to be located at regular intervals along the route, and adherence to strict schedules was necessary to prevent spoilage. The ability to ship meats and produce in refrigerator cars, far from their points of origin, greatly expanded both farmers' markets, and consumers' food choices.

Creators

Fruit Growers Express Company

Place of Creation

United States, Virginia, Alexandria

Keywords

Refrigerator cars

Railroad cars

Refrigerated transport

Freight and freightage

Farm produce

Delivery of goods

Fruit Growers Express Company

Object ID

87.207.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Trains

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Artifact

Passenger car (Railroad car)

Date Made

1925-1928

Summary

This coach replicates a typical passenger car used on American railroads circa 1860. Its varnished interior surfaces resisted dirt and stains, while its mohair-covered seats stood up to heavy use. Opening windows offered ventilation in summer, and a woodstove provided heat in winter. Other amenities included a drinking water dispenser and a small restroom.

Creators

Ford Motor Company

Place of Creation

United States, Michigan, Dearborn

Keywords

Passenger cars (Railroad cars)

Replicas

Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Company

Object ID

25.80.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Trains

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Artifact

Railroad snowplow

Date Made

September 1923

Summary

This plow was one of 36 built by Canadian Pacific Railway's Angus Shops in Montreal between 1920 and 1929. It is a 20-ton, wedge-type plow made for use on a single track. Built without a self-contained power source, the snowplow was pushed by one or two locomotives. Although they are seldom seen in action, snowplows are necessary to keep trains moving in harsh winter weather.

Creators

Place of Creation

Canada, Quebec, Montreal

Keywords

Canada

United States, New England

Railroad snowplows

Snowplows

Railroad trains

Railroads (Infrastructure)

Snow removal

Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Object ID

91.400.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of CP Rail.

On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Trains

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Artifact

Steam locomotive

Date Made

1858

Summary

This 1858 Rogers steam locomotive is typical of those used in the United States in the second half of the 19th century. Its flexible wheel arrangement, high power output, and light weight were well suited to the tight curves, steep grades, and hastily constructed track that characterized American railroads. This locomotive struck an agreeable balance between practicality, safety, and economy.

Creators

Rogers Locomotive Works

Place of Creation

United States, New Jersey, Paterson

Keywords

United States, Florida

United States, Georgia, Satilla river

United States, Michigan

Steam locomotives

Railroad trains

United States presidents

Railroads (Infrastructure)

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Henry Ford (Organization). Greenfield Village

Savannah, Albany, and Gulf Rail Road Company

Savannah, Florida and Western Railway Company

Light's Golden Jubilee (1929)

Object ID

28.680.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Trains

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Artifact

Diesel-electric locomotive

Date Made

1926

Summary

This is one of the earliest diesel-electric locomotives used on American railroads. Diesel-electrics offered many advantages over steam locomotives. They required less maintenance, were more fuel-efficient, and could be operated by smaller crews. This locomotive's body houses an Ingersoll-Rand diesel engine that drives a General Electric generator, which in turn powers electric motors on the axles.

Creators

American Locomotive Company

General Electric Company

Ingersoll-Rand Company

Place of Creation

United States, New Jersey, Phillipsburg

Keywords

United States, New Jersey, Phillipsburg

Diesel-electric locomotives

Locomotives

Railroad trains

Railroads (Infrastructure)

Diesel

Electricity

Object ID

70.96.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ingersoll-Rand Company.

On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Trains

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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