Shining Rails: Railroadin' Electrically - 1950

From the GE Film Catalog: "A story of the backbone of America's transportation system - the railroad - this film traces the evolution of locomotive power from steam through electric and diesel-electric to the latest super-powered gas-turbine electric. Emphasis is given to the ways in which these developments have kept pace with the ever-growing demands of a nation that today virtually "lives out of box cars." The picture also offers a glimpse of the operational mechanics of the country's complex railway net¬works-accenting the many applications of electricity. The striking color and the non-technical, human-interest approach combine to give this picture high general-audience appeal."
Topics include: Dynamic braking. Electrical signaling. Electricity for cargo handling. Centralized traffic control. Electric snow melters for switches. Passenger train lighting and galley electrical equipment.

[@AlanHause]

Thanks for this. I remember watching it when I was a kid. My Dad was an electrical engineer working for GE by the way!

[@1978garfield]

Lots of shots of beautiful Alco diesels.
Shame the PAs didn't run as good as they looked.

[@MrSvenovitch]

Humankind is insane, but it's winding down soon. Stop feeding the machine.