One of the fascinating things about rail history is how it was so much a part of the landscape back in the classic era. This is apparent in the links to preserved railroad public relations films below.

One of the outstanding and curious things about them is how something like a theme or "feel" of "America the Beautiful" seems to come through, despite horrible soundtracks, clunky narration, corny or just bad music, WW II, and even racial stereotypes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Eb5G7ePMNI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrCIbKyY ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM2VzVtEOWg

This one is a personal favorite; I especially like the line in which one of the narrators, playing a veteran N&W employee, comments that "Coal is the fuel we use--and like."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mXo_ya- ... re=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX5ydugX ... re=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPSg3xEO ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7-l0xuZ ... re=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcQ19n5k ... re=related

Some of these were even aimed at kids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKY9PnkV ... re=related

Can you picture kids travelling like that doday? Can you picture adults dressed like that for travel today?

Enjoy!

Actually, I do remember when even air travel was rather elegant not too long ago. I also remember when businesses had "dress codes" for employees that included instructions on how to dress when travelling on "company business," not just when meeting with customers/clients. The admonition was the employee was a "representative of the company" and the company wanted to present itself to the public in a certain manner. My, how times have changed! -- Ray