Railroad Passenger Trains

(Old black and white film of a steam train engine moving along the train tracks past several one-story buildings.)

[Abby Brown] For a long time, railroad companies were required to offer passenger transport in addition to freight transport. For a hundred years, people enjoyed riding the rails all over the United States.

(A train moves along the tracks beside a four lane, interstate highway.)

As cars and airplanes gained popularity, railroads were left depleted of passengers. Despite this, railroad companies were still required by law to offer passenger service. In 1970, all of that changed when the Rail Passenger Act of 1970 removed that requirement and created a dedicated train passenger company called Amtrak. Amtrak still operates today, and many people enjoy riding the rails all over the United States for long trips, or even short trips from city to city. Here at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, we can take a look at what train passengers might have experienced before the Railroad Passenger Act of 1970.

(A Union Pacific railroad sign in the shape of a shield that reads "Union Pacific Railroad Welcomes Passenger Business.”)

[Patricia LaBounty, Union Pacific Railroad Museum] In the 1930s, Union Pacific developed a special service during the Great Depression that was more affordable, and it even came with a registered nurse. This registered nurse would help young mothers with children or older people that might have had a medical complication on board the train. And as you can see behind me, it was a lot more comfortable than plane travel.

(Patricia is a light-skinned woman with shoulder length light brown hair. She is wearing square-frame glasses. Behind Patricia is a replica of the inside of a train car from the 1930s. The walls are painted a light yellow with two large windows on the left and right sides. Four gray, cushioned seats form rows separated by an aisle with two seats on each side. Above the windows and seats is a metal rack with a suitcase on it. In front of the seats are two mannequins. A man is dressed in a long, dark suit, with a white shirt and dark tie. He is wearing a dark cap with a stiff crown, flat circular top and a short visor. A woman is dressed in a blue-gray suit jacket with a white shirt and yellow tie. Her matching hat is close-fitting and round with a narrow brim that is upturned.)

One of the best things about train travel is that you can get up and walk around between car to car. The car behind me is a lounge car. This is where people come to have a drink, chat with friends, write letters, play games, or look out at the scenery outside the big windows.

(A mannequin stands behind a waist high bar with a white countertop. He is wearing a white, long sleeved button down, collared shirt under a white, vest with the Union Pacific shield logo on the left pocket and holding a drinking glass. To the man’s right is a set of classes in different sizes lined up. To the man’s left are two glasses with colorful stir sticks and a white napkin.)

(A photo of two women sitting at a small table with their drinks.)

One of the best cars you could visit on your journey by train was the dining car. So this is where you would come in, you would be seated just like a restaurant and be served food. You can see beside me that wasn't just plastic plates and plastic silverware that you were given. It was real china and real silver. And kids even got their own menus.

What you might be surprised to find as you were walking from the lounge car to the dining car, are some really famous people because Hollywood chose to travel by train almost to the exclusion of anything else.

(A black and white photograph of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin boarding a train.)

(An Amtrak passenger train moves through green farm land.)

(Abby is standing in front of a yellow and red exhibit. The large print on the exhibit reads "A National and Global System." "Get to Know Union Pacific. . . "A Progressive and People-Focused Railroad".)

[Abby] Today, passengers ride the Amtrak on the Transcontinental railroad. But here in Iowa, there are still lots of freight trains. Take a look out your window when you're driving around Iowa, you're probably going to see one.

Funding for FIND Iowa has been provided by The Coons Foundation, Pella and the Gilchrist Foundation.