The Peter N. Halgren collection includes periodical clippings and photographs Mr. Halgren used for research on railroads and railroad modeling. It is organized by railroad, topic, locomotive type, car type and other subjects selected by Mr. Halgren. Circus trains make up the contents of several binders. Much of the collection includes photocopies of commonly available periodicals as well as photographs collected by Mr. Halgren. Many North American railroads are covered, including the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The Phil Beach Collection materials focus primarily on the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and its successor, the Burlington Northern Railroad Company, with addition materials covering the railroad industry as a whole. Documents include annual reports, timetables, accident investigation reports, employee rule books, Official Guides and Railway Operating Equipment guides. Photographs are primarily of Northern Pacific and Burlington Northern subjects. Also included are books on railroad subjects and a variety of railroad and model railroad magazines.
The Ray W. Howard Library Deposit comprises microfilm copies of documents from the Great Northern (1862- 1922) and Nothern Pacific (1864-1922). Coverage includes the Board of Directors, corporate history, labor, and settlement and development of railroad land. Also included are James J. Hill personal and private papers 1874-1916.
The Reese Humphreys Collection is comprised primarily of Northern Pacific documents dated between 1910 and 1970. They include timetables, annual reports, maps, special instructions and calendars. Additional materials from the Burlington Northern and other railroads are also included.
