Friday’s from the historical archive: 1800’s photos from “The Road of the Century”

Emily — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:35:23 +0000

If any of my readers are insomniacs, I highly recommend the book called “The Road of the Century: The Story of the New York Central.” I noticed that one of the libraries in the state owned it, and so I requested my local library to acquire it for me. The copy of the book looks remarkably ancient, though it was only published in 1947. Old enough, I suppose. Upon checking the book out, the librarian said to me, “So… You must like railroads?” I wonder if she were to work at a supermarket, and a customer was to purchase toilet paper, would she ask, “So… You must like toilet paper?” or “So… You must enjoy going to the bathroom?” …Sorry, I went off on a little tangent there. Back to the book, this dreadful, awful book. I don’t think I’ve ever held in my hand a more boring book… hence my comment about insomniacs. Get a copy, it will put you right to sleep. The New York Central has quite a rich history, but no one could have told it in a more dry fashion. In my mind I hear Ben Stein reciting the words in complete monotone…

So why exactly would I bore my readers with stories of a horrible book? Because it had one redeeming quality. Pictures. Wow, don’t I feel like a child, saying the only good part of a book was the pictures. But the pictures, they were good, and I figured I’d share with you all. Let’s “read” this book, together. And when I say read, I mean look at the pictures, and ignore all the snooze-inducing text.

Apparently the book was a donation to the library from the New York Central itself

1864, Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana conductors (or perhaps Abraham Lincoln impersonators).

1877, Train with snow plow during a snow storm.

1896, First advertisement of Red Cap service.

The Vanderbilts: Cornelius, William Henry, William Kissam, and Cornelius II. William Henry wins bonus points for having the most spectacular facial hair in the family.

1855, Niagara Suspension Bridge.

1860’s, Illustration of a sleeping car

1865, President Lincoln’s funeral train.

1866, First bridge across the Hudson at Albany.

1870, A New York & Harlem snow plow.

1870’s, From a dining car menu.

1870’s, Park Avenue, with the railroad running underneath.

1875, Railroad bridge over the Harlem River.

1876, The locomotive Columbia, lost in the Ashtabula Disaster.

1889, Freight train in a flood.

Michigan Central train passes by Niagara Falls.

Empire State Express Number 999.

Train crossing the main street in Syracuse.

Freight train on Eleventh Avenue in New York, preceded by a red-flagged herald on horseback.

1913, West Columbus during the flood of 1913.

…and that just about wraps up our read of “The Road of the Century” … or at least the graphically condensed version. If you ask me, that picture of the conductors made everything worth it.

michigan central – I Ride The Harlem Line

Friday’s from the historical archive: 1800’s photos from “The Road of the Century”