Guide to the Edwin Shearin Railroad Memorabilia Collection, 1931-1981

Collection Number MC 374

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Collection Information
Abstract:


Amassed through a life of collecting, the Edwin Shearin Railroad Memorabilia Collection covers 50 years of railroading in America. With the help of friends and family, Edwin Shearin compilied the various pieces of railroad memorabilia held within this collection.

Contact Information:
Special Collections Research Center
NCSU Libraries
Campus Box 7111
Raleigh, North Carolina
27695-7111 USA
Phone: (919) 515-2273
Fax: (919) 513-1787
URL: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcollections/
Web Contact Form
Processed by
Jason Smith, May, 2005
Encoded by
Jason Smith, May, 2005

Descriptive Summary

Repository

North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center

Creator

Edwin Shearin

Title

Edwin Shearin Railroad Memorabilia Collection, 1931-1981

Call Number

MC 374

Extent

2.0 linear feet, 3 boxes

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.

Language of Material

English

Information for Users

Restrictions to Access

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
Acquisitions Information

Gift of Edwin Shearin, March 17, 2005
Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Edwin Shearin Railroad Collection, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Copyright Notice

The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Proccessing Information

Jason Smith, May, 2005

Historical Note


Amassed through a life of collecting, the Edwin Shearin Railroad Memorabilia Collection covers 50 years of railroading in America. With the help of friends and family, Edwin Shearin compilied the various pieces of railroad memorabilia held within this collection.

The latter half of the twentieth century was a turbulent time for much of the United States railroads. With an increase in automobile and airplane traffic, America's railroad industry saw a marked decrease in rail traffic. Icons of the era like the California Zephyr and Twentieth Century Limited would complete their final runs. This era of railroading was captured in the song "City of New Orleans," penned by Steve Goodman and made famous by folk singer Arlo Guthrie in 1972. Rail traffic, which was at its height during the Second World War, declined sharply over the next 40 years. In 1959, the Interstate Commerce Commission approved the merger of Virginian Railway and Norfolk & Western. This merger ushered in the modern railroad mergers and consolidations. In 1968, the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with New York Central to create Penn Central, which would declare for Chapter 7 bankruptcy two years later on June 21, 1970. This era was punctuated in 1971, when President Richard Nixon along with Congress created Amtrak, via the Rail Passenger Service Act.

Scope and Content Note


This collection is divided into four series. The first series contains publicity pamphlets distributed by various railroad companies marketing their freight and passenger train lines. The second series contains small time tables given to passengers from various railroad companies for their passenger trains. The third series contains miscellaneous information about the United States' railroad industry, and the fourth series contains two volumes of national timetables for all train travel in the United States and Canada.

Organization of the Collection


This collection is divided into 4 series:

MC 374 Series 1. Passenger and Freight Train Pamphlets
MC 374 Series 2. Small Timetables
MC 374 Series 3. United States Railroad Industry Information
MC 374 Series 4. Large Timetables

Online Catalog Terms

  • Railroad
  • California Zephyr (Express train)
  • Broadway Limited (Express train)
  • Amtrak
  • Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
  • Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Company
  • Boston and Maine Railroad
  • Burlington Route
  • Canadian Pacific Railway Company
  • Central of Georgia Railway
  • Central Vermont Railway Co
  • Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company
  • Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Company
  • Erie Railroad Company
  • Florida East Coast Railway Company
  • St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company
  • Georgia Railroad
  • Great Northern Railway Company
  • Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company
  • Illinois Central Rail Road Company
  • Illinois Terminal Railroad Company
  • Jersey Central Railroad
  • Kansas City Southern Railway
  • Leigh Valley Railroad Company
  • Long Island Railroad Company
  • Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company
  • Maine Central Railroad Company
  • Milwaukee Road (Railroad)
  • Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Company
  • Missouri Pacific Railroad Company
  • Monon (Railroad)
  • Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway
  • New Haven Railroad Company
  • New York Central Railroad Company
  • Nickel Plate (Railroad)
  • Norfolk and Western Railway Company
  • Northern Pacific Railroad Company
  • Northwestern Railroad Company
  • Pennsylvania Railroad Company
  • Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines
  • Piedmont and Northern Railway Company
  • Reading Railroad
  • Rio Grande Railroad Company
  • Rock Island Railroad Company
  • Rutland Railway Corporation
  • Santa Fe Railroad
  • Seaboard Railway Company
  • Soo Line Corporation
  • Southern Pacific Railroad Company
  • Southern Railway System
  • Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway
  • Texas and Pacific Railway Company
  • Union Pacific Railroad Company
  • Virginian Railway
  • Wabash Railroad Company
  • Western Maryland Railroad Company

Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Passenger Train Pamphlets


    0.25 linear feet, 28 folders

    Containing pamphlets for passenger and freight trains, this series covers named trains throughout the United States. Included in this series is information on the Broadway Limited, California Zephyr, and a pamphlet distributed by General Motors for its diesel freight line. This series also includes information about Santa Fe's Chiefs and Super Chiefs.

    • Alton Route, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 1]
    • Broadway Limited, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 2]
    • California Zephyr, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 3]
    • The Century, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 4]
    • The Challengers, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 5]
    • Cincinnati Limited, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 6]
    • City of Los Angeles, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 7]
    • City of Portland, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 8]
    • City of San Francisco, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 9]
    • The Crescent, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 10]
    • Denver Zephyr, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 11]
    • El Capitan, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 12]
    • Empire Builder, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 13]
    • GM Diesel Freight Power, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 14]
    • Liberty Limited, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 15]
    • Milwaukee Roads Super Dome Cars, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 16]
    • North Coast Limited, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 17]
    • Olympian Hiawatha, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 18]
    • The Pittsburgher, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 19]
    • Powhatan Arrow, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 20]
    • Powhatan Arrow and Pocahontas, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 21]
    • Rio Grande Main Line, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 22]
    • Rocky Mountain Rocket, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 23]
    • Santa Fe Super Chief and Chief, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 24]
    • Southern Belle, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 25]
    • Spirit of St. Louis, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 26]
    • Twin Zephyrs, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 27]
    • Wabash Blue Bird, undated [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 28]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]

  • Small Timetables 1948 July 11 - 1981 Jan. 31


    0.50 linear feet, 63 folders

    This series contains small timetables for the various railroad companies. These passenger timetables provide information concerning the many stops on a rail line. This series contains information from Amtrak, Union Pacific, Rock Island and many smaller rail companies.

    • Amtrak, 1971 July 12 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 29]
    • Amtrak, 1976 June 15 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 30]
    • Amtrak, 1980 Oct. 26 - 1981 Jan. 31 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 31]
    • Atlantic Coast Railroad, 1949 Dec. 16 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 32]
    • Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 1954 Jan. 10 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 33]
    • Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, 1953 Apr. 27 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 34]
    • Boston and Maine Railroad, 1956 July 8 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 35]
    • Burlington Route, 1952 May - 1952 Sept. [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 36]
    • California Zephyr, 1962 June 1 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 37]
    • Canadian Pacific, 1949 Oct. 30 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 38]
    • Central of Georgia, 1953 Apr. 26 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 39]
    • Central Vermont Railway, 1955 Apr. 24 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 40]
    • Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, 1954 Sept. 26 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 41]
    • Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, 1951 Aug. 26 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 42]
    • The Clinchfield Route, 1951 Mar. 4 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 43]
    • Cotton Belt Route, 1951 Feb. 1 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 44]
    • Erie Railroad, 1953 June 14 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 45]
    • Florida Coast Railway, 1952 Sept. 28 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 46]
    • Frisco, 1953 Dec. [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 47]
    • Georgia Railroad, 1952 May 15 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 48]
    • Grand Trunk Railway System, 1952 Nov. 30 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 49]
    • Great Northern Railway, 1966 Oct. 29 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 50]
    • Gulf Mobile & Ohio, 1950 - 1951 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 51]
    • Illinois Central, 1966 Apr. 24 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 52]
    • Illinois Terminal Railroad Company, 1950 Sept. 24 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 53]
    • Jersey Central Lines, 1951 Apr. 29 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 54]
    • Kansas City Southern Lines, 1951 July 1 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 55]
    • Lackawanna Railroad, 1960 July 5 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 56]
    • Leigh Valley Railroad, 1951 Sept. 30 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 57]
    • Long Island Railroad, 1951 Sept. 9 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 58]
    • Louisville and Nashville Railroad, 1951 Sept. 30 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 59]
    • Maine Central Railroad, 1954 Oct. 31 [MC 374 Box 1, Folder 60]
    • The Milwaukee Road, 1954 Jan. 24 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 1]
    • Missouri-Kansas-Texas Katy Railroad, 1950 Oct. 1 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 2]
    • Missouri Pacific Lines, 1950 May 21 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 3]
    • Monon, 1951 Apr. 29 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 4]
    • Nashville Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway, 1951 July 1 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 5]
    • New Haven Railroad, 1955 Apr. 24 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 6]
    • New York Central, 1956 July 15 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 7]
    • Nickel Plate Railroad, 1951 July 8 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 8]
    • Norfolk and Western Railway, 1948 July 11 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 9]
    • Northern Pacific, 1953 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 10]
    • Northwestern, 1952 Jan. 15 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 11]
    • Pennsylvania Railroad, 1956 Dec. 14 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 12]
    • Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, 1953 June 28 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 13]
    • Piedmont and Northern Railway Company, 1949 Oct. 16 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 14]
    • Reading Railroad, 1953 Apr. 26 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 15]
    • Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad, 1955 Dec. 15 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 16]
    • Rio Grande, 1955 Apr. 24 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 17]
    • Rock Island, 1952 Oct. [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 18]
    • Rutland Railway, 1953 Apr. 26 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 19]
    • Santa Fe, 1954 Apr. 25 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 20]
    • Santa Fe, 1966 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 21]
    • Seaboard Railroad, 1956 Apr. 29 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 22]
    • Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, 1970 Dec. 11 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 23]
    • Soo Line, 1962 June 29 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 24]
    • Southern Pacific, 1951 July 8 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 25]
    • Southern Railway System, 1956 Aug. 10 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 26]
    • Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway, 1950 Sept. 17 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 27]
    • Texas and Pacific Railway, 1951 Apr. 29 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 28]
    • Union Pacific, 1966 Apr. 24 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 29]
    • Virginian Railway, 1949 Aug. 14 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 30]
    • Wabash, 1951 Apr. 29 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 31]
    • Western Maryland, 1951 Jan. 8 [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 32]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]

  • United States Railroad Industry Information


    0.25 linear feet, 6 folders

    This series contains periodicals about America's rail industry. It covers information about the history of the rail industry and named passenger cars. This series also contains two quizzes concerning America's Railroads.

    • American Railroads: Their Growth and Development, undated [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 33]
    • Named Passenger Cars, undated [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 34]
    • Quiz on Railroads and Railroading [1 of 2], undated [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 35]
    • Quiz on Railroads and Railroading [2 of 2], undated [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 36]
    • The Railroad Story, undated [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 37]
    • Railroads at Work, undated [MC 374 Box 2, Folder 38]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]

  • Large Timetables 1931 Aug. - 1950 Oct.


    1.0 linear feet, 2 volumes

    This series contains two volumes that are timetables for rail travel throughout the United States and Canada. These volumes provide all the information from the smaller timetables, but from the many rail companies. Only covering one month each, these large timetables serve as the official standards for rail travel.

    • The Official Guide Standard Time of the Railways, 1931 Aug. [MC 374 Box 3, Volume 1]
    • The Official Guide Standard Time of the Railways, 1950 Oct. [MC 374 Box 3, Volume 2]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]