What are these... bridges? [more inside]
posted by monospace on Dec 17, 2009 - 6 answers

My son asked me what he should wear to his next interview with a company with which he really wants to work. [more inside]
posted by maggieb on Nov 2, 2009 - 25 answers

Why don't we have a great railroad system in this country? [more inside]
posted by birdwatcher on Oct 8, 2009 - 40 answers

What are the non-obvious drawbacks of buying a house near railroad tracks? [more inside]
posted by howrobotsaremade on Sep 7, 2009 - 45 answers

I have this old train lantern - not in very good condition - but I'm curious about it. The only printing I see is on the button you push to open the lantern and it says "Handlan St.Louis." I've found out a little bit about the Handlan company but I'm looking for more. Can someone more knowledgeable than I tell me about this lantern or direct me to some resources where I might find an image of a fully intact lantern of this kind?
posted by notcomputersavvy06 on May 19, 2009 - 3 answers

I found this thing buried in the yard, while gardening. It looks like some sort of tool. What is it? Picture One, Two, Three.
posted by Pants! on Apr 9, 2009 - 28 answers

What is it like working on the railroad in the new millenium? [more inside]
posted by doomtop on Sep 11, 2008 - 12 answers

What kind of stores (local--where I can buy in-person tomorrow) would carry a woven cadet cap? [more inside]
posted by rocket_johnny on Dec 21, 2007 - 1 answer

My grandfather remembers his mother making a type of bread called railroad bread from the 1930s or 1940s. Every major holiday we hear about this type of bread and now how he can not find a recipe anywhere. If anybody has a recipe or remembers this elusive bread any information on it would be use full. Thanks in advance.
posted by lilkeith07 on Nov 22, 2007 - 7 answers

I have come into a large collection of N-Scale trains, rolling stock and track and would like some pointers to good websites for small layout practices etc. moen-sigh. [more inside]
posted by lampshade on Aug 18, 2007 - 9 answers

Which sites can't we miss on a road trip from Toronto to Portland (ME) via Orbisonia (PA)? [more inside]
posted by Lionel d'Lion on Apr 9, 2007 - 18 answers

So, when traveling on PATH toward Newark tonight, I noticed that some of the tracks were on fire. [more inside]
posted by oaf on Mar 18, 2007 - 8 answers

All we need now to win 5 million dollars is Short Line Railroad. [more inside]
posted by tdreyer1 on Oct 23, 2006 - 24 answers

Does anyone know a source for this story? I once heard about a railroad crossing that had quite a few fatal accidents, because drivers would routinely duck under the barrier gates as they closed instead of waiting several minutes for interminable freight trains to pass. But there's a twist ... [more inside]
posted by Quietgal on May 19, 2006 - 8 answers

how would I find out who owns these tracks, and if they are still in use? [more inside]
posted by Izzmeister on Apr 9, 2006 - 12 answers

In this famous railroad picture, why does the leftmost locomotive have a funnel shaped stack and the right side one have a straight pipe? [more inside]
posted by kuujjuarapik on Mar 17, 2006 - 10 answers

Calling all railroad geeks! Does anyone know where I can buy a print/poster of this Southern Pacific artwork? I've fallen in love with it for numerous reasons that none of you care about. [more inside]
posted by keswick on Dec 19, 2005 - 10 answers

Take a look at this picture. What are the extra rails for? [more inside]
posted by greatgefilte on Mar 16, 2005 - 14 answers