Before such things as highways and air travel, railroads served as the true lifelines of industry, expansion, and fulfilling adventure. From the larger-than-life locomotives that’d haul freight across seemingly endless landscapes to the sleek passenger trains that’d transport eager travelers in style, trains, and railroads truly shaped history in numerous ways that we still feel to this day.
We’ll take a look at some of the most stunning vintage railroad and train photos that we could find that capture the spirit of the rails.
1. An electric train on the Transandine Railway between Argentina and Chile.
Everyone make way, coming through.
2. An armored train in Irkutsk, Yenisei Region, Siberia, 1919.
Tough place to get abandoned.
3. Austro-Hungarian armoured train in Zboriv, Ukraine.
Now that’s a heavy duty train.
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4. Electric train in the Netherlands, the Amsterdam train station, 1939.
The guy standing there looks so inviting. Seems like no one is in a rush.
5. Railroad Engineers near Allentown 1947.
Someone forgot to tell the guy to smile.
6. Chicago North Line rail accident between Harrison Street and Wabash Avenue on May 24, 1953.
Now that’s a particularly terrible day on the job.
7. Workers at the Reykjavik harbor railway.
You just know it was freezing when this photo was taken.
8. Women railroad workers at Long Island, New York, September 1942.
They look absolutely thrilled.
9. Railroad car inspector on the job in Altoona, Pennsylvania, 1940.
Buddy didn’t think anyone would manage to catch a photo of him on the job, and he was sorely mistaken.
10. The Railroad on 11th Avenue, in New York City in the early 1900s.
Now, that’s a back-in-the-day railroad photo right there.
11. The NY Central Streamliner in downtown Syracuse, NY, in 1936.
Times have certainly changed in New York.
12. Traffic backs up for the final time in 1931 in Dayton, Ohio.
Traffic jams have certainly taken on a different form nowadays.
13. London North Eastern Railway hard at work.
That train looks especially ready to cruise.
14. The Virginia Carolina Railroad
Don’t wait up on us, guys.
15. It’s time for a quick pit stop.
You’ve got to wonder what they were talking about before the photo was taken.
16. Look at that little guy.
Honestly, a pretty stunning little train, at that.
17. A Metropolitan Railway electric train at Ickenham station, 1905.
Something about the wooden walkways gives off a strong feeling of instability. Not a huge fan.
18. NYC S-motor, circa 1900-1907.
The New York Central Lines have certainly evolved over the years.
19. The New York Central switches cars on the St. Clair Subdivision.
The kids seem to be enjoying a day at the railroad tracks.
20. Camelback inspection locomotive of Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad, circa 1900.
The lad on the front is sporting a particularly impressive beard.
