Blog

On a bitter December night in 1876, a passenger train approached the Ashtabula River in northeastern Ohio. Snow was falling heavily as the train began crossing an iron railroad bridge nearly 160 fe…

Long before flashing lights, crossing gates and paved highways, there was a problem wherever a road met a railroad. How do you get a wagon safely across two steel rails? The answer was remarkably s…

In 1894, a dispute between one company and its workers grew into a nationwide confrontation that crippled rail traffic, brought federal troops into Chicago and became a defining moment in American…

In 1917, Monorails Were Already Moving Washington When we think of monorails, we tend to think of the future. But in 1917, while a section of steel rail was being rolled in Tennessee—the rail…

Look closely at the rail beneath the glass of our Sleepers Coffee Table No. 62, and you’ll find a few marks pressed into the steel: KRUPP 1902 VIII — L–N R R They aren’t dec…

On the morning of July 9, 1918, two passenger trains were traveling toward each other just west of downtown Nashville. On the same track. At approximately 7:20 a.m., Nashville, Chattanooga & St…

We hear this a lot from our clients: “People are always asking me about my desk.” That’s one of our favorite things about what we make. Because when someone asks, you don’t…

You voted. We counted. And this one has officially earned its name. Meet the Short Line Bench. After asking our social media followers and email subscribers to choose between Siding Bench, Spur…

The dome head drive spike occupies a fascinating place in railroad history. Unlike the familiar offset-head track spike used to fasten rails and tie plates to wooden ties, the dome head spike was deve…

What we really do, or at least what we began doing, was good ole blue-collar labor. In fact, we still do that. Our railroad construction/maintenance business feeds the artisan craftsman side. It's a s…

A Moment in History: The Classic Railcar Bench Experience Clara Whitmore arrived early, like she always did. The Benton Avenue station wasn’t much to look at in 1911—just a modest wooden d…

Shuffleboard has a rich history dating back to 15th century England. Originally, it was played by sliding coins down a table, a game known as “shove groat” or "shovel-penny". It became pop…

We sculpted this work of art from sections of century-old reclaimed steel to pay homage to the classic lines of the railroad. The railway runs outdoors and indoors, and this sculpture can be exhibited…