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American railroad station plans

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-3747
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The collection contains over 140 original plans, most in ink on waxed architect's paper, variously sized (ranging from approximately 18" x 21" to approximately 31" x 42", mostly tending towards the larger sizes), for railroad stations and their associated buildings in a wide variety of cities and towns in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and a few in Illinois and Indiana. The plans are mostly stylistically consistent measured drawings, drafted in the prevailing conventions of the day, and show facades of stations, interior details, waiting rooms, privies, crossing signs, telegraph offices, train sheds, decorative plaster work, etc. Many of the plans are annotated, some are dated, and many originate from the home office in Louisville. ~~ from dealer's catalog

Dates

  • Creation: 1881-1942

Biographical / Historical

A train station is a railway facility where trains regularly stop to load or unload passengers and/or freight. It generally consists of a platform next to the track and a station building (depot) providing related services such as ticket sales and waiting rooms. If a station is on a single track main line, it often has a passing loop to facilitate the traffic. The smallest stations are most often referred to as 'stops.'

Extent

10 Linear Feet (over 140 original plans, mostly in ink on waxed architect's paper, variously sized)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Over 140 original plans of train stations from the late nineteen and early twentieth centuries, primarily on the Louisville and Nashville railroad. Most are in ink on waxed architect's paper and are variously sized.

Arrangement

Plans are rolled together by state and city/station if there are multiple plans for the city/station. Single plans for city/station are rolled together by state.

Provenance

purchased from F. A. Bernett Books, 2013

Physical Description

Condition is generally quite good, though some of the plans have frayed edges, some soiling, and very minor smudging; it appears that they were most likely stored untouched for many decades.

Processed by

Martha Bace, 2013

Source

Subject

Title
Guide to the American railroad station plans
Status
Completed
Date
November 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0266
205.348.0513