2x1 - The American Streamliner

April 13, 1998

Discover the history of streamlined passenger trains as they wowed the American public from the 1930s to the 1960s.

2x2 - Urban Trains

April 20, 1998

The urban railroad systems came to respond to the needs of rapidly growing cities at the dawn of the 20th century, using different technological options: New York City, the subway; San Francisco, cable cars. The future points to light-rail technology.

2x3 - The Locomotive

April 27, 1998

2x4 - Pennsylvania Station: Manhattan Gateway

May 4, 1998

2x5 - The Caboose

May 11, 1998

A caboose followed at the end of every freight train, and its design was improved to ensure better conditions, visibility and security for the conductor and brakeman. Their bright colors (red, yellow...) helped them to stay on the memory of the kids that saw them pass, or eventually stop for the conductor to perform some community service when he received a radio message for help.

2x6 - The New York Central: The Water Level Route

May 18, 1998

2x7 - The Circus Train

June 1, 1998

Circus spectacles were very popular, and had to move from town to town during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, involving heavy logistics of people, animals, and equipment. Specialized circus trains fulfilled that particular need, as seen during a day in the life of a traveling show.

2x8 - Great Railroad Visionaries

June 8, 1998

2x9 - The Engineers

June 15, 1998

Go inside the cab to learn what it takes to be a "captain of the rails" in this revealing look at the life of engineers.

2x10 - Presidential Trains

June 22, 1998

2x11 - Railroad Police: From the Pinkertons to the Present

June 29, 1998

The Pinkerton detectives protected trains from robbers, and strong men were also hired by the railroads to evict penniless people from taking the train without a ticket. From those early times, security on board of trains got more sophisticated until the end of the 20th century.

2x12 - The Pullman Palace Cars

July 6, 1998

2x13 - Toy Trains

July 13, 1998

Model railroads from the earliest steam-powered 19th century to the mid-20th century electric trains were a fascination to kids always - but mainly an elaborate toy for hard-core adult fans, collectors and constructors.