Acknowledgements and disclaimer: The compilation of the lists used on this site include many date and cross references to aid the understanding of the context of each timetable. The lists attempt to reflect names changes from the perspective of timetable publication, which is not always the same as corporate sturcture. Railways often continued the use of a former corporate title as a "DBA" after a change in legal structure. The control of one railway by another was sometimes very public, sometimes very discreet. Control itself could be exercised many ways, through ownership, joint ownership by a "paper" parent, operating lease, stock majority, and so forth.
For example, the Alabama Great Southern never issued its own public timetables after the 1880s, even though the corporation may still exist as an obscure tax entity of the Norfolk Southern. The Wabash was controlled for many years by the Pennsylvania with no publicized relationship.
These sources were used in compiling the lists and should be consulted by those desiring more complete or more accurate information:
American Railroad Manual, Edward Vernon, 1874
The Electric Interurban Railways in America, George W. Hilton and John F. Due, 1960
Kalmbach Guides: American Shortline Railway Guide, Edward A. Lewis, 1986; Train-Watcher's Guide to North American Railroads, George H. Drury, 1984; Historical Guide to North American Railroads, George H. Drury, 1994 (all in many other editions).
The Official Guide of the Railways and Steam Navigation Lines of the United States, Porto[sic] Rico, Canada, Mexico and Cuba (and early var.), 1868-1973.
Poor's Manual of Railroads, 1868-1924
Railroad Names, William Edson, 1989 (revised in editions up to 1993).
