Railroad Curriculum

The curriculum was written by Rudolph Daniels graphics and design by Elin Whitney-Smith

The best overall resource is: Trains Across the Continent by Rudolph Daniels. Pupils can easily relate events from railroad history and various aspects of U.S. history, economics, geography, and sociology. This book is an excellent addition to the school library. It is available from Rudolph Daniels Publishing, 3422 Davis Ave., Sioux City, IA 51106. Phone (712) 276-3185. Purchase orders accepted. No credit cards. Cost: $35 plus $4 shipping and handling (in Iowa, add $2.45 tax).

PreK and K

Convenient Helpers: There are many inexpensive items available about trains for this age group. Children are attracted to videos, games and other items of the cartoon series "Thomas the Tank Engine" . (A tank engine is a steam locomotive without a tender. The coal is kept in a small area behind the engineer. It was used for very short distances or freight yard work.) The videos should be available locally and toy stores should carry the games. If not, they are made available inexpensively from: Smith-Thompson, P.O. Box 828, White River Junction, VT 05001, Phone 1-888-RR-Gifts or Web site http://www.rrgifts.com .

Grades 1-3

There are many inexpensive items available about the railroad for this age group. For first grade and special education groups, Thomas the Tank Engine videos may be appropriate. For most classes, the following videos are very good: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up: Railroaders!!! and Grandpa Worked on the Railroad and Big Trains, Little Trains Live Action Video!

For second and third grades, the game Express-the Railroad Card Game teaches railroad items and terms in a fun way. Children could be occupied for hours (adults, too).

These items are available at video and toy stores. If not in your area, you may order from Smith-Thompson, P.O. Box 828, White River Junction, VT, 05001. Phone 1-888-RRGifts or Web site www.rrgifts.com.

"Operation Lifesaver" has available the tape Sly Fox and Birdie . It is about railroad safety and is directed at the preschool and early grades.

Grades 4-7

More precocious or talented and gifted students could benefit from the game Empire Builder which teaches both history and geography. (The game can be purchased at a toy store or ordered from Schroder Enterprises, Inc., 230 South Abbe Road, Fairview, MI 48621-9774. Phone 1-800-842-4828.) There are two interesting movies on VHS available for this age group. The Great Locomotive Chase is an account of Union soldiers stealing a Confederate locomotive. (The soldiers received the first Congressional Medal of Honor.) Kansas Pacific shows the building of a railroad on the frontier and North-South tensions before the Civil War. Cecil B. DeMille's Union Pacific can also be useful. All three can be used to teach history and geography as well as creating an interest in the railroad.

Pupils would also enjoy learning about a nearby railroad through video. Various companies have such videos available. Their ordering information is available through their advertisements in popular railroad magazines: Railroad and Railfan , Trains and Vintage Rails . These are available at most newsstands.

Grades 8-12

There are numerous videos available from dealers who advertise in railroad magazines or the local video store. The following show trains in historical perspective which can broaden discussion to sociological and sometimes political issues. Without Reservations stars John Wayne and shows soldiers traveling right after World War II. Union Pacific tells the story-very entertaining-of the building of the transcontinental. Emperor of the North describes hobo life during the Great Depression of the 1930s. There are also VHS tapes on how to run a steam and a diesel locomotive.
Students would enjoy playing the Empire Builder game. It is a fun way to learn both history and geography. All Aboard! Railroad Trivia is a game that all can play to learn railroad items. More specifically for railroad operations is Express-the Railroad Card Game . The Empire Builder game is available in toy stores or from Schroder Enterprises, Inc., 230 South Abbe Road, Fairview, MI 48621. Phone 1-800-842-4828. All Aboard and Express are available from Smith-Thompson, P.O. Box 828, White River Junction, VT 05001. Phone 1-888-RRGifts or Web site www.rrgifts.com.

Another source is The Field Guide To Trains by Gerald Foster. The Field Guide is available from Smith-Thompson.

John Armstrong's The Railroad: What It Is, What It Does describes railroad operations. It is very technical and beyond high school-level readability. It may be useful for instructors or library for specific issues. It is available through Simmons-Boardman Books, Inc., Omaha, NE, Phone 1-800-228-9670.