---
title: Don't Waste Transportation
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dont-waste-transportation-railroads-1942/
description: 'Home-front travel-restraint poster from a railroad trade body: a block of statistics on Pullman cars and coaches assigned to troop service sits over'
section: Collection
---

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3. Don't Waste Transportation

[![Don't Waste Transportation, 1942 US poster: Home-front travel-restraint poster from a railroad trade body](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/dont-waste-transportation-railroads-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/dont-waste-transportation-railroads-1942.jpg)

# Don't Waste Transportation

Home-front travel-restraint poster from a railroad trade body: a block of statistics on Pullman cars and coaches assigned to troop service sits over red-and-white stripes, with an illustration of soldiers talking and reading in a crowded rail car. The figures are chosen to show scarcity, and the closing request is to plan ahead, avoid week ends and holidays, and travel light.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Card stacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/card-stacking/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
Don't Waste
TRANSPORTATION
Of the 6,800 Pullman sleeping cars and 17,500 passenger coaches on the railroads today, a large part are assigned to troop service-and the armed forces have first call on all the rest.
Essential travel on war business-men on furlough-tire shortage and gasoline rationing-all add to the demand for space on the trains.
That demand must be met with the cars we have-other war needs make it impossible to get any more.
So please help the other fellow who must travel-and help yourself-and help us to get the best use out of what we have.
Don't Waste Transportation
Plan ahead-avoid week ends and holidays-travel light.
Association of AMERICAN RAILROADS
```

[← Don't wait --- report every injury for first aid](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dont-wait-report-every-injury-1942/) [Drive slower in hot weather →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/drive-slower-in-hot-weather-1942/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)