American-rails.com Website Review

This website's purpose is take you, the casual visitor, on a journey back in time to experience what our great nation's railroads once were, where they operated, the high quality pas*enger trains they once possessed, and the clas*ic equipment they utilized.  The American railroads were once the crown jewel of the world with pas*enger trains capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph via four-track main lines, terminating at fabulous stations while long, heavy freights moved everything from merchandise to coal in powering the country's mighty industrial complex.  There were many reasons for the industry's decline but it largely all began with the pas*age of several Congressional acts at the turn of the 20th century.  These new pieces of legislation (specifically the Elkins Act of 1903, Hepburn Act of 1906, and Mann-Elkins Act of 1910) brought increased regulation and significantly expanded the Interstate Commerce Commission's (ICC) power.  This regulatory body lasted for over a century and its new role placed a considerable burden on railroads.  However, the industry, itself, could be partially blamed for the stricter government oversight due to its longstanding careless and arrogant The ICC carried the final say in rate increases (or decreases) and potential abandonments.  Essentially, the free market no longer held true for railroads, everything was controlled and monitored through the agency.  Uncle Sam's draconian measures slowly took their toll until many systems were on the brink of collapse by the 1970's.  That decade was dark era as several either failed, were liquidated, or Corporation, or Conrail, to fix the freight mess in the Northeast (brought about through Penn Central's collapse in 1970).  In addition, legislation was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter through the Staggers Act of 1980 which greatly deregulated the industry.  The pas*age of this bill proved the turning point as railroads have since made a strong comeback.  They are now able to