1955 Bradford, 1900. Railroads converge at the foot of Main Street two passenger stations as well as freight stations are located there, needed by the nearly 70 trains that arrive in the city daily. This is the heyday of the steam locomotives - huge, noisy, cinders flying, whistles shrieking upon arrival and departure, steam clouds billowing from their stacks across the valley. The railroad rules. But fifty years later, diesel engines are replacing the steam locomotives.
Diesel engines are quieter, cleaner, and more powerful.
By 1950, the Erie Railroad retires the last steam locomotive on its line. October 5, 1950. The last steam powered train on the Erie Railroad line leaves Brockway early in the morning, heading towards Salamanca. Pulling the thirty car train are two Mikado locomotives - together weighing more than 750 tons and capable of pulling a load of more than 130,000 pounds. Each has eight drivers.