Railroad Advertising
by Theresa Beck, Education Intern
Ah, the holidays. Eating delicious food and traveling all over to see your friends and family. Well, as long as the snow doesn’t stop you. This is a point that many railroads raised when advertising during the winter months. Advertising for railroads boomed during the height of the use of passenger trains, especially during the early to mid twentieth century. During different times of the year their advertisements would reflect the travel and spirit of the season.
In the winter, weather greatly influenced travel, and one bragging right of the railroads was that they were able to run, rain or shine, or snow and cold. Their advertisements reflected that, showcasing their passengers inside cozy, brightly light cars, while the snow blew outside a window. Or, perhaps, they showed images of engines pushing large rotary plows, much like the one on display right here in our museum.
In other cases, the railroads would bring the holiday spirit into their advertising. Some advertisements show Santa riding in a Super Dome car, or riding a train across the sky instead of a sleigh. These advertisements would celebrate the season while still focusing on how modern, interesting, or comfortable passenger trains were to ride. They were also fun and eye-catching, using their silliness to draw people in.
Sending warm wishes from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum this holiday season!
Image Credits: Photos scanned in from Rail Industry Advertising During the Great Era, Volumes 1& 2.