Railroads formed a backbone of industrial prosperity for New York State in the Nineteenth Century. Gradually eclipsing the Erie Canal as the preferred mode of transporting people and materials, rail lines traced the development of the Empire State as it exists today. The Railroad Photograph Collection, recently uploaded by the Central New York Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, serves as this month’s New York Heritage featured collection from the CLRC region. The collection offers a wealth of images of railroad infrastructure throughout the state and beyond, highlighting the locomotives and rolling stock, as well as the communities they traversed and the people who rode the lines. As railroads have consolidated, shut down, or shifted focus, the images in this collection serve as a monument to an era of progress and connectedness.
For the full list of featured collections and updates from throughout New York Heritage, view the September Newsletter.