Hopper's etching The Railroad alludes to the changing character of rural America caused by industrialization and the railroad. The railroad is an important theme in Hopper's work, often illustrating the fast-paced modern times. Here railroad tracks cut through a rural, hilly area with a group of identical houses on the left. Telegraph poles, another symbol of progress, are lined up along the tracks. A railroad man, the sole human figure in this composition, appears in the darkness, hinting at the hard and often dangerous working conditions for these laborers. The isolated figure depicted next to the railroad tracks also contributes to the atmosphere of silence, characteristic for Hopper's work.

The dark, gritty scene, sketch-like rendering, and work-related subject reflect Ashcan School influences. Like his other prints and paintings, this etching is based on a preliminary drawing (Philadelphia Museum of Art).