Sep 17, 2025
Railroads have shaped America’s growth, technology, and daily
life for nearly two centuries. In this episode of AMSEcast, Alan
talks with Dr. Albert Churella of Kennesaw State University about
how innovations such as the automatic knuckle coupler,
Westinghouse’s air brake, and the move from steam to diesel
transformed safety and efficiency. Dr. Churella explains how
signaling, centralized traffic control, and GPS-based Positive
Train Control modernized operations. While U.S. passenger service
lags Europe, its freight rail system leads the world in ton-miles,
fuel efficiency, and low emissions. Albert also previews his
forthcoming book on Conrail, reflecting on the railroad industry’s
resilience, its economic impact, and its enduring relevance
today.
About Dr. Albert Churella
Dr. Albert Churella is a leading scholar of transportation
history and policy with a particular focus on railroads. He earned
both his MA and PhD from The Ohio State University and now serves
as a professor at Kennesaw State University. Albert’s research
explores how railroads shaped American economic growth, technology,
and public policy, linking the past to today’s transportation
challenges. His work combines rigorous scholarship with a clear,
engaging style that reaches beyond academic audiences. In addition
to his extensive publications, Albert is widely regarded as an
expert who makes the complex history of railroads accessible and
relevant to modern readers.
Show Highlights
- (1:40) When the first train operated in the United States
- (14:13) America’s addition of the air brake and the automatic coupler
- (28:12) When track signals came into use
- (40:05) Are trains high-tech now?
- (45:04) The transition from steam to diesel and where the advancement was developed
- (58:29) Why railways are still important in the US
- (1:02:52) What Dr. Albert Churella is working on now
Links Referenced
- The Pennsylvania Railroad three-volume series: