The emergence of railroads presented a problem for the developing economic profession. Railroads, by their very nature, often had a localized monopoly. The check that competition was expected to impose on firm behavior was singularly lacking. At the same time, railroads in the United States were national in scope and thus affected interstate commerce. The Interstate Commerce Act and the Commiss...

This paper examines the impact of railroads on American economic growth. Drawing on general equilibrium trade theory, changes in counties’ “market access” captures the aggregate impact of local changes in railroads. Using a new spatial network of freight transportation routes, we calculate county-to-county lowest transportation costs and counties’ implied market access. As railroads expanded fr...

This paper examines the historical impact of railroads on the American economy. Expansion of the railroad network and decreased trade costs may affect all counties directly or indirectly, an econometric challenge in many empirical settings. However, the total impact on each county can be summarized by changes in that county’s “market access,” a reduced-form expression derived from general equil...

This paper examines the historical impact of railroads on the American economy, with a focus on quantifying the aggregate impact in the agricultural sector in 1890. Expansion of the railroad network may have affected all counties directly or indirectly — an econometric challenge that arises in many empirical settings. However, the total impact on each county is captured by changes in that count...

Fuel spillage during locomotive refueling is expensive, as is maintaining spill collection and containment systems, and waste treatment costs. The Association of American Railroads has developed the first standard for a locomotive refueling system for North American railroads. The locomotive fueling interface standard is an open, non-proprietary standard designed to prevent fuel spillage. Proto...

This paper examines the historical impact of railroads on the American economy. Expansion of the railroad network may have affected all counties directly or indirectly – an econometric challenge that arises in many empirical settings. However, the total impact on each county is captured by changes in that county's “market access,” a reduced-form expression derived from general equilibrium trade...

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has recently completed development of the first industry standard for a reliable, spill-proof locomotive refueling system. The Locomotive Fueling Interface Standard (LFIS) is an open, non-proprietary standard that incorporates a combination of the latest, proven refueling equipment technologies adapted for use in the railroad environment. The LFIS was...