Why Railroads are Still Important Today Part 1: Passenger Trains

Category: Season 11

James Bennet, Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

Jim Bennett is a lifelong rail fan and comes from a railroad background. Both his grandfathers worked on the Pennsylvania and Western Maryland Railroads. Jim has served as a member of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Visitors Services Department for many years. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

In an era of planes and automobiles, perhaps we take railroads for granted. Railroads have long played a significant role in the history of our country. For the past 194 years, the growth of our nation can be attributed, in large part, to the hundreds of railroads that crisscross the United States. Railroads provided economic opportunities, opened the West, developed towns and communities, and were the primary mover of goods and passengers across the country until the era of the interstate highway system and jet transportation. Following the decline of railroads in the 1950s through the 1970s, railroads have since experienced a resurgence in their importance for both passenger and commercial (freight) service. This resurgence continues today. In this presentation, we will explore the history and future of railroads and their importance in 21st-century America.