"The Orphan Train" refers to a social experiment in the United States from the 1850s to the 1920s, where thousands of orphaned or abandoned children were placed on trains and sent from cities like New York to rural areas in the Midwest. The goal was to find homes for these children, often through adoption or fostering, as many were left homeless due to poverty and urbanization. The program was initiated by organizations such as the Children's Aid Society, which aimed to provide better living conditions for these children. While some found loving families, others faced challenges, including separation from siblings and difficult living situations.