Pennsylvania is a leader in tourist railroads because it was a leader in railroads.

When Pennsylvania's first railroad opened in 1827, few people could have predicted the railroad industry becoming the 19th century’s BIGGEST business. Very few industries affected the growth of America as much as the development of the ability to transport goods and people by rail.

The mighty Pennsylvania Railroad rose to become one

of America's largest companies.  At it's height the Pennsylvania

Railroad was the largest in the world; operating 7,000 locomotives

and 250,000 cars. Pennsylvania was the home to many railroad firsts.

 

                                                            The construction of a railroad by the C&O (Chesapeake & Ohio

Railroad) through the rugged terrain of West Virginia in the

mid 1800's proved to be a difficult task. The construction of the many fills, cuts and tunnels the route required was done by men using picks and shovels supplemented by mules and wagons.

 

On January 29, 1873, following 4 years of work the crew

working eastward met with their counterparts that had been

building westward at a point east of Fayette station on the

north side of the Gorge. The railroad was finally finished.

During the early years the C&O had constant problems with

rockslides blocking it's tracks. Despite the difficulties completion

of the line had allowed the development of the coal industry.

Coal became the commodity of greatest importance to the C&O.

 

  In Maryland during the 19th century, Cumberland emerged as one of the east coast's major transportation gateways. No less than three major transportation routes began or ended in Cumberland - America's first highway, the National Road; one of America's most profitable railroads, The Baltimore & Ohio; and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Cumberland prospered by helping channel the raw materials, products and people flowing between the East coast and the new states forming West of the Appalachian Mountains.

 

 

 

Today there are many tourists trains excursions and museums in these states. The following pages show some of the trains I have rode.

CLICK HERE                                        CLICK HERE                                               CLICK HERE

TO SEE                                                        TO SEE                                                        To See     

Pa Trains                                                   WV TRAINS                                                MD Trains