More Trains of the 1940s

For so many Americans, the 1940s was a decade of emotional highs and lows, prosperity and privation, sacrifice and self- indulgence. A long, deep economic depression was only sluggishly lifting when Pearl Harbor thrust manufacturing into overdrive. Sixteen million men and women entered the armed

forces during World War II — and more than 400,000 never returned to their families. After V-J Day, as the nation reveled in its victory, Americans embraced the good life of shiny new automobiles, full supermarket shelves, and suburban living.

For the railroads, it was no less dynamic a time. The rising tide of diesel locomotives and streamlined passenger trains was largely stilled by the exigencies of war. The conflict thrust unimaginable traffic, both freight and passenger, on the railroads, pushing employees and equipment to the limit. Hoping to retain at least some of the ridership gained during the war, and needing to replace worn-out rolling stock anyway, the carriers invested heavily in new passenger trains. The march toward dieselization resumed with a vengeance, as more and more roads concluded that the future held no place for steam, and some dropped their fires altogether.

These and other trends made the 1940s a decade like no other for the rail- roads, and they made our 2014 special edition Trains of the 1940s a big success. So deep is the well of compelling stories from that time that we’ve returned to the subject with this, our second compilation of Trains magazine articles from and about the 1940s.

We hope you enjoy More Trains of the 1940s!