1940 Mileage

Just out of curiousity, I'm trying to understand the pecking order - in other words, size of income and/or track miles - of the largest railroads around 1940. I can't find much on the net so far, so if anybody has an idea or knows of a good site with these figures I'd appreciate the help.

I'm trying to do essentially the same thing, but have picked 1950 as base year. There isn't a lot on the Net that can be found. Anyway, I have 1966 data for mileage, engines and passenger cars. Trying to recast the mileage back to 1950.

Take a look at what I've got so far:
http://www.rosshorwood.com/RailSiteLink ... e1950.html

...Ken

kinlock, what a great site. Thanks.

I think the only good way you are going to make any headway with this question is with an Official Railroad Guide. That was a huge book which listed all the railroads in the country.It might have been monthly, it was at least quarterly.

It is probably still published, perhaps even with Amtrak info. I do know it did that at least the first few years of Amtrak. But I know you are thinking about a period long before that.

You can perhaps find them at railroad shows, perhaps on e-bay. But these are the magic words: Offical Railway Guide. Be alert to that, try to find a good price for one (I am sure they will be expensive) and that should help immensely.

You will find, even with all that info in front of you, that the question you are asking will not be easy. In fact you will probably get so involved in the details of each railroad and train you will forget the original question!!

Moody's, the bond rating agency, published large books each year with incredible detail about each railroads operations. I have the 1940 book and it is over 2000 pages hardbound with data, maps, history of each company and its securities.

they need to update that site, they seem to think that CONRAIL still exists...

We realize that Conrail does not exist.

We have started a separate site to try and not "muddy the waters" of "Since 1950" with went on with Conrail:

http://www.rosshorwood.com/RailSiteLink ... nrail.html

We are going to add to it, but suggestions are welcome.