The Strahorn Library of the Illinois Railway Museum is pleased to announce a new podcast series titled “How Vast the American Railways.” The first episode was made available on April 30, 2025, and new episodes are expected to be made available on a regular schedule. The podcast will take deep dives into varied subjects related to the nation’s railroad history, using materials in the Strahorn Library itself as source material.

The first two episodes focus on Carrie and Robert Strahorn, the inspiration for and builder of our Strahorn Library, respectively. The Strahorns were instrumental in the efforts of the Union Pacific Railroad to complete its second link with the Pacific Ocean via the Oregon Short Line Railroad to Portland. They were also involved in the development of the railroad network in the Pacific Northwest.

The podcast is being created using Google NotebookLM with sources drawn exclusively from Strahorn Library holdings. There is no cost to listen and the podcast is completely ad-free. IRM and the Strahorn Library are offering it as a component of the museum’s educational mission.

Click here for Season 1 episodes available for free download via Google Drive.

For more information on the Strahorn Library, visit www.irm.org/libraries