His long-time friend and collaborator Barry Hansen recalled in an interview about Fahey's initial move to Oregon, "He loved the green countryside.

He cited the strain of running the label and its lack of direction as reasons for selling it to the UK-based Chrysalis Records.

[3] In his Record Collector review, Terry Stauton called the music "twangily instrumental laments to the almost mythical trains of frontier America" and "perhaps an ideal starting point from which to further investigate his vast catalogue.

"[11] Critic Stewart Voegtlin praised the 2007 reissue in Stylus, singling out the tracks "Oneonta", "Imitation Train Whistles/Po' Boy" and "Afternoon Espee Through Salem".

"[12] In his liner notes for the Ace Records 2007 reissue, author Kris Needs calls Railroad "...a timelessly evocative tribute to America’s mighty man-made artery.