History of the Orphan Trains

Together these books record a little-known chapter in American history: The "placing out"of 200,000 homeless children, transporting them from mostly New York City by train to areas all across the country where they were taken by new families.

The orphan trains started in 1854 and ended in 1930. They were the forerunner to modern day foster homes. Some say they were a good thing, others are horrified at the thought of lining children up to be looked over by prospective parents. Yet the same thing happens at today's "adoption fairs," where children needing families have the opportunity to meet and mingle with individuals and couples interested in adopting a child.

It's estimated that perhaps 50 percent of the children found good homes. The other 50 percent were taken as workers or were shuffled from home to home or abused in various ways. Yet even these children frequently express their gratitude to the orphan trains for giving them at chance at life--a chance often denied them in the brutal environs of a vast city that offered no shelter.

The children became homeless for a variety of reasons. Many were the offspring of newly arrived immigrants who fell on hard times and could not support their families. Some were removed from their homes for abuse. Others ran away. Sometimes children were orphaned when their parents died of illness or from accidents.

The Children's Aid Society of New York City started the orphan trains as a means to find families for these destitute youngsters. The notion was that farm families could use the children's help, and in return would feed and clothe them, and in every way treat them as members of their families. When it worked this way, as it often did, it was a satisfactory solution all around.

Most children described the selection process at the end of the train ride as traumatic. They wanted badly to make a good impression and be chosen, yet it was so difficult to be stared at, checked over, and sometimes rejected.

In writing both books, I especially enjoyed meeting and interviewing orphan train riders. These kindly people have worked to promote the history of the orphan trains, and all have talked to countless schoolchildren about their experiences. I am privileged to have known them.

Orphan Train Rider        We Rode the Orphan Trains