100 Years of Railroad Development

This film, released by Eastman Kodak Co. in the summer of 1927, is part of a series of educational short films. This one entitled "One Hundred Years of Railroad Development", shows scenes from “The Fair of the Iron Horse.” This was a centenary exhibition and pageant of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, held September 24-October 8, 1927 in Halethorpe (Baltimore Co., Md.). The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began operation in 1827, and would soon transport passengers from Mt. Clare, Mt. Royal and Camden Stations in Baltimore to destinations in New York, Washington, Cumberland, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, and points in between.
The history of railroading was on exhibit as the B & O painstakingly rebuilt and restored many successes and failures of early railcar design. This rare vintage film captures all of the grandeur and pageantry of this unique history lesson with fifteen examples of the evolution of the locomotive. Unusual concepts such as the Sail Car and marvels of the rails like the massive 45-ton 1876 J.C. Davis and the 1926 Mallet are all on track in this unique silent film short.
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