The central subject is a classic 19th-century steam locomotive pulling a string of passenger carriages along a track. The engine, positioned on the right, features a prominent cowcatcher, a large funnel-shaped smokestack, and intricate metallic detailing. It is painted in rich shades of red, gold, and deep blue, with a thick plume of black smoke billowing behind it across the sky. The passenger cars follow in a sequence of wood-toned yellows and browns, filled with silhouettes of seated travellers.
The train traverses a grassy, rugged landscape alongside a body of water where a distant paddle-wheel steamboat is visible. In the background, rolling hills covered in dense, dark green trees create a natural horizon under a soft, overcast sky filled with white clouds. The composition is angled to highlight the length of the train as it moves toward the viewer, set against a naturalistic pastoral backdrop.
The artwork is rendered in a historical lithographic style, characterized by detailed linework and a muted, earthy colour palette. The lighting appears diffused, evoking a nostalgic, mid-19th-century atmosphere. Below the scene, the text "AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAIN." is printed in a clean, serif font. The overall mood is one of historic industrial progress set within a serene, expansive landscape.