This short film explains how fast freight trains operate in the United States and shows how railroad workers are essential to the train functioning properly and operating on schedule. This film is a RKO-Pathe, Inc. production. It was produced by Jay Bonafield and written and directed by Clement Stigdon. It was photographed by Harry W. Smith and narrated by Jim Boles. The film opens with freight trains running on train tracks (00:46). Man wearing a hat sits in a car (1:05). Three cars in a parking lot (1:12). Fast freight engineer walks up to the R.F. & P.R.R.Co. (The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad) train that passes by (1:34). Train conductor looks out of the caboose (1:41). Train caboose and watch tower (1:51). Fireman walks and chats with his fellow workers (1:54). Crew members talk to each other (2:07). Train pulls out while one of the rail workers watches it (2:14). Rail worker looks at a schedule (2:25). Rail worker writes on the schedule (2:34). Rail workers check train numbers and their clock (2:49). Rail workers inspect freight trains (3:00). Rail workers roll tires (3:16). Rail worker checks the journal boxes on the train (3:31). Rail worker in a tower sits in front of a control panel (3:53). Trains are switched on to the correct track (3:59). A hump yard, maze of train tracks and freight cars (4:10). Controller looks out from the tower and controls the control panel (4:12). Teletype switch list (4:15). Train cars are switched to their proper place in the hump yard (4:26). Large freight train with a rail worker walking next to it (4:53). Fruit Growers Express freight car (5:07). Armour freight car (5:10). Freight car with the words, “State of Maine” (5:23). Freight car with the words, “Wabash” (5:29). Rail worker connects two freight cars (5:47). Rail worker jumps on the train’s back ladder (5:52). National Car Co. freight car with the word, “Milk,” on it (5:59). Baltimore and Ohio freight car (6:08). Canadian Pacific Railway freight car (6:10). Freight car with the words, “CO Progress” (6:14). Northern Pacific freight car (6:15). Fruit Growers Express freight car (6:18). B&O shipping container riding on a stout (6:21). Tractor trailer truck (6:26). R.F. & P.R.R.Co. freight train (6:33). Train horn (6:43). Rail worker climbs down the controller car (6:46). Train engineer looks out the window (6:51). Conductor walks next to the train (6:55). Engineer checks the control panel (7:02). Engineer picks up the phone and clears the train with the conductor (7:09). Baltimore and Ohio freight trains pull out of the station (7:50). Train engineer in a train (9:14). Speed gauge on train (9:17). Rail workers on train (9:31). Country house (9:39). Train engineer on the phone with a rail worker (9:46). Train passing another train (9:58). Country pasture with grazing cows (10:22). Kids run to wave to the train as it goes by (10:27). Freight cars moving fast along the tracks (10:36). Wheels of the train (10:42). The assistant engineer switches places with the head engineer (10:46). Rail workers get off the tracks because of the incoming train and they look at the train as it passes by (11:32). The conductor looks out of the caboose (12:09). The flag worker checks the train as the tracks curve (12:19). Rail worker looks out the rear cab of the train (12:24). Freight car with the words, “Atlantic Collect Line” (13:31). Baltimore and Ohio freight train (13:39). Rail worker tests the temperature inside a cooled freight car by putting a thermometer next to bananas (13:54). Rail workers push ice packs into freight cars (13:56). Freight train moves quickly on the tracks (14:10). Freight delivered outside of a big city (14:24). Rail workers talk on the train (14:50).

The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad (reporting mark RFP) was a railroad connecting Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, D.C. The track is now the RF&P Subdivision of the CSX Transportation system; the original corporation is no longer a railroad company. The RF&P was a bridge line, with a slogan of “Linking North & South,” on a system that stretched about 113 miles.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com