In 1853 the US began evaluation of railroad routes to the Pacific with mapping announcements going to Europe and the rest of the world. Praises went forth of coming to America and obtaining free land. New York City served as America’s main point of entry for European immigrants receiving the largest number of immigrants. However, after many of these people arrived in the U.S., they faced difficult conditions and were not able to find employment due to the dramatic influx of laborers. Many immigrants made long overland journeys while countless others stayed living in New York City. As a result, families were forced to give up their children handing off mere newborns to orphanages and releasing mere youths to fend for themselves on the streets of New York. Times were challenging but the truly visionary found ways to make a difference in children’s lives.

As of 1854-1929, over 200,000 children were placed out on orphan trains. The incredible journey for these children of the train belong exclusively to those who rode the rails from the East Coast, particularly New York, to all points West across America to find family homes. The transfer was the first emigration plan and largest mass migration of children ever to take place on American soil; never to be duplicated again.

An incredible collection of orphan train history boasts over 200 hauntingly good photographs weaved throughout revealing text. Readers resolve to learn a complete history on the infamous orphan trains throughout this historical documentary.