Product Description
Kids will enjoy poring over the exciting pictures and fascinating information about different kinds of passenger and freight trains. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book
Once again, a winner for the 3 & a half year old train addict.This is his favorite train book and he knows all about all of the illustrated vehicles.He generalizes information from books to DVDs to calendar.We have lots of train stuff and this remains a favorite.Book has stimulated good discussions about various types of trains and why he likes them.

Cute book
I bought this book for my brother as a Christmas present. I learned a bit from reading the book.

Not bad, for little train nuts
My toddler boy is nuts about trains and he likes this book pretty well, although he can't quite understand everything it says.The illustrations are rather good and the information generally is very useful.We'd buy it again.

Train Book for "Thomas The Train" DVD
We ordered this book as recommended with a "Thomas The Train" DVD. It is a little advanced for my 2 year old grandaughter, but she loves the pictures and story, and as she gets older will read it, I'm sure.

It is good to see real trains added to the Thomas models. We have an active track 50 yards from our house. She loves them.

Really cute book for a good price!
This is a really cute book. My nephew (4 yrs. old) loves listening to me read it to him and looking at the pictures. As a teacher, having a child really interested in something is just the first step to get them to read. I would say that if you have a child who loves trains (like my nephew), then you should really look into getting this book ..... and others like it! :) ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Great book on a classic American road
Being the grandson of a former superintendant of the Illinois Central Railroad, this book brought back some great memories and solidified some of the stories my grandfather had told me growing up about the IC. Great pitures too! If you are a rail fan, I strongly recommend this book! A tribute to a great road still running to this day via the Canadian National.

A Railroad Through the Center of the Country
The Illinois Central was another of America's premeir railroads that helped to develop the contry and which now is no more. From its start in 1838 (with 24 miles of track) it grew to over 6,500 miles. Alas, in 1999 it passed into the hands of the Canadial National.

This is a colorful history of the Illinois Central from its early day through its acquisition. It is profusely illustrated,with a lot of color pictures. The text that accompanies the pictures gives an accurate telling of the story of the line and its operation down through the years.

The IC grew by acquiring other lines as well as by expanding its own tract into new areas. It remained, however a north-wouth line with its solid anchors in Chicago and New Orleans. It grew west to meet with the Union Pacific in Omaha. It grew to the south east, eventually connecting to Birmingham and eventually Miami.

Only in the last couple of pages in the book is the Canadian National merger. It has become a major railroad, from the original IC trackage from Chicago to New Orleans and CN all across Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. But alas, it's under the CN name, not the IC. ... Read more

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Product Description
Headquartered in Chicago, the Illinois Central Railroad was known as the "Main Line of Mid-America," as it was a major railroad cutting through the middle section of the United States with two major routes: the Main Line, which ran south out of Chicago toward New Orleans, and the Western Lines, which ran west toward Iowa. The Illinois Central Railroad had eight major freight yards in Chicago, which in 1937 handled nearly two million freight cars. It was also well known for its passenger service and operated some of the finest passenger

trains: the Green Diamond, the all-Pullman Panama Limited, and the City of New Orleans. Chicago and the Illinois Central Railroad covers the railroad's operations within the city of Chicago, plus the outlying suburbs, from the late 1800s to 1960. It explores, through vintage photographs, the passenger and freight trains, suburban trains, locomotives, shops and repair facilities, and people that made the railroad function. ... Read more

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After the Civil War, the Louisville & Nashville Railroad took the lead among southern railroads in developing rail systems and organizing transcontinental travel. Through two world wars, federal government control, internal crises, external dissension, the Depression, and the great Ohio River flood of 1937, the L&N Railroad remained one of the country’s most efficient lines. It is a southern institution and a railroad buff’s dream.

When eminent railroad historian Maury Klein’s definitive History of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad was first published in 1972, it quickly became one of the most sought after books on railroad history. This new edition both restores a hard-to-find classic to print and provides a new introduction by Klein detailing the L&N’s history in the thirty years since the book was first published. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Pennsylvania Loco Archive review
While this book had very good photo examples of most prominant Pennsy locomotives, there were still some important engines missing. I also expected to see more information on rosters, unit numbering, locations where used, and paint schemes as they evolved over time.
The author had several very good references but relied too heavily on the few that were used and could have expanded his/her search to obtain more information. The cover illustrates the best color picture of the entire book.
All in all, the book does cover some of the most prominant engines that the Pennsy had albiet superficially compared to other books I have purchased in similar price range.
Backround information on each loco is limited and devoid of scaled drawings showing any dimensiions so modelers will want to refer to other sources for dimensions and paint scheme accuracy.

Enhanced with previous unpublished archival photos
American railroads were, and continue to be, an integral part of the establishing this country as a prosperous nation and an essential means of transportation and commerce. They are also an enduringly popular field of study for railroading enthusiasts. "Pennsylvania Railroad Locomotives: Photo Archive - Steam, Diesel & Electric" by railroading enthusiast John Kelly is a superbly compiled and presented collection of the locomotives that worked the Pennsylvania Railroad and includes experimental engines, the various classes and categories of steam locomotives, diesel powered engines, and electric locomotives. Enhanced with previous unpublished archival photos, a system map, timetables, advertising, and locomotive designs by Raymond Loewy, "Pennsylvania Railroad Locomotives: Photo Archive - Steam, Diesel & Electric" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library American Railroading History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
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Customer Reviews (1)

Union Pacific
Overall the book has so and so information about the locomotives of Union Pacific. If you like the Challenger, Big Boys, and the UP Streamliners, don't get this book. It does not show that much information about those trains. The pictures you find in this book, you can find elsewhere and has also been published on other locomotive books. ... Read more

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At one point in time, no place in Iowa was more than a few miles from an active line of rail track. In this splendid companion volume to Steel Trails of Hawkeyeland (IUP, 2005), H. Roger Grant and Don L. Hofsommer explore the pivotal role that railroads played in the urban development of the state as well as the symbiotic relationship Iowa and its rails shared. With more than 400 black-and-white photographs, a solid inventory of depots and locations, and new information that is sure to impress even the most well-versed railfan, this detailed history of the state's railroads -- including the Chicago & North Western, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, and the Iowa Northern -- will be an essential reference for railroad fans and historians, artists, and model railroad builders.

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Railroad Book
Excellent book.Great for the railroad enthusist as well casual railroad fan.Makes a great gift for either on your list.

Excellent Photographic Summary of Iowa Railroads
If you like railroads of the Hawkeye State you'll probably be fascinated with this book. The authors certainly don't need an introduction, both being familiar with anyone who follows granger rails.
Their work is a photographic study of the subject, spanning 298 pages and containing hundreds of shots spanning Iowa railroads from the late 1800s through the first decade of the 21st century.
The book is broken into seven chapters, each dealing with a specific area, including steam power, depots, electric roads, traffic, people and the diesel era. Each chapter has about four pages of intro to set the stage and then pages and pages of fascinating photographs with well-written and highly descriptive captions.
Just about every road you can think about that touched Iowa is contained somewhere in this book; from the big Class 1's like the Burlington, Milwaukee Road, CNW and Rock Island to shortlines, interurbans and terminal outfits.
With the exception of the dust cover, all shots are in black & white; but don't let that scare you away as the subject matter and wide variety of content make up for any lack of color. Photographers used include familiar names like Lou Marre, Bill Kratville and Bill Middleton, among many others. While some of these pictures have appeared over the last 50 or so years in magazines like "Trains", I suspect the vast majority will be new to most readers.
Two large railroad maps from the state government are provided; one showing tracks circa 2008 and another showing abandonments by period. There are also Official Guide-style maps for several specific railroads provided.
The only thing I would have like to have seen included was an index, which would have been useful to locate pictures of specific locations.
That being said, this work should be welcome in the library of any railfan who follows the railroads of Iowa.



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Customer Reviews (4)

Great source for information on Railroad Bridges
Railroad Bridges form a big part of the appeal of railroads to many fans. From the old style trestles of the western railroads, to the stone viaducts in the East, the bridge has been a critical component of railroad engineering since the beginning of the railroads.

Looking at a railroad bridge, you might wonder why that particular style of bridge was used. One of my favorite bridges is the Ex-Southern Railroad bridge currently used by the Norfolk Southern over the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia. It appeals to me because of the construction techniques and also as a relic of old-time engineering.

Looking to learn more about railroad bridges in general, I had the chance to read North American Railroad Bridges by Brian Solomon.

This great book gives the reader the chance to learn about the variety of bridges that have been used over the past 150+ years in one concise volume. Drawing on his vast collection of pictures, plus a wealth of other resources, Solomon provides a great overview to the reader without burying him in technical details.

Modelers will find the book a great resource as they determine which bridges would be correct for their layout. They will also find detailed drawings and pictures of bridge construction to help them build a "prototypical" model.

A Good Overview of the Subject at Hand
A good begining on the subject. A good overall discrption of the art of railroad bridge design. If the reader has a background in civil engineering this is not the book for you. For lay folks it is a good begining. I found Solomon's All About Railroad Signaling to have much greater depth bout the sugect at hand. Not the best Solomon effort. In general Solomon books provide information on specific subjects of railroad information. His books are good background material in the area of Signals, Bridges, Maitainence of way equipement and others.

Engineering marvels
A good overview of the many different types of bridge construction. As Soloman states in his intro, this is not a definitive encyclopedia of bridge engineering, but an easily read and understood explanation of the many different types of construction. A good deal of effort has been made to provide photographs (and other images) of the bridges being described--this is one the highlights of this book. My only complaint is that the Rockville Bridge and Lackawanna Viaduct do not have better images of them; but I have my own great photos of them. You could also build model bridges for your scale railroad from the info here. Overall, a good book with lots of good illustrations that is enjoyable to read.

A wealth of information and a book that can be confidently recommended
Superbly illustrated throughout with color photography, "North American Railroad Bridges" by railroad historian Brian Solomon focuses upon railroad bridges and trestles that have been a feature (and often a quite dramatic feature) of the American landscape for the past century. Each particular bridge, whether traversing rivers or roadways, creeks or canyons, were individually engineered for a particular terrain and were of varied construction methodologies including trussells, trestles, viaducts (both stone and steel), suspension, and even with movable spans. The informed and informative text is highlighted with landmark patent drawings, period postcards, as well as modern photography by some of today's best rail photographers. The result is a wealth of information and a book that can be confidently recommended for community libraries in general, and railroad buffs in particular! ... Read more

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Kalmbach Pub Co. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

As good as ever.
I used this book 25 years ago to build the Jerome & Southwestern RR with my three sons. I bought this copy to give to my youngest son, so he can build the same layout with his two sons. Appropriate photos, plans and tips to make a nice little layout. An excellent how-to book. ... Read more

Product Description
Classic American Railroads is a beautiful tribute to the golden age of railroading in America. Focusing on the years between WWII and the decline of rail travel in the 1970s, 16 of the most-remembered railroads and their finest equipment are featured in 200 original color and black and white photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Value and a Good Read
Being sofa bound for a week this was a sanity saver. It inevitably is not an in depth history of each railroad but as a large collection of colour images of American railroading with good background information its a steal. The box set even more so compared with buying the individual books.

Classic American Railroads
This book displays all the old classics that I as a child remember my grandfather working with at the railroad depot in my hometown. ... Read more

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In 1827, a group of Baltimore capitalists feared their city would be left out of the lucrative East Coast-to-Midwest trade that other eastern cities were developing; thus, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was chartered. Political pressure kept the B&O out of Pennsylvania at first, and so track crews

headed for what is now West Virginia, building mountainous routes with torturous grades to Wheeling and Parkersburg. Eventually the B&O financed and acquired a spiderweb of branch lines that covered much of the northern and central parts of the Mountain State. This book takes a close look at the line's locomotives, passenger and freight trains,

structures, and, most importantly, its people who endeared their company to generations of travelers, shippers, and small Appalachian communities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Greatest Ever
Whether you are a slight fan or an avid fan of trains and railroads, you don't want to miss this book! It is very well written and the pictures are great! Bob Withers is one of the best writers ever.
S. Smith, Ravenswood, WV ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Regional Railroads of the Midwest by Steve Glischinski
"Regional Railroads of the Midwest" is a very intriguing title. The volume covers twelve, as the title says, regional railroads in the Midwest. Alphabetically they are: Chicago, Central & Pacific; Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern; Escanaba & Lake Superior; Indiana Rail Road; Iowa, Chicago & Eastern; Iowa Interstate; Kyle Railroad; Red River Valley & Western; Twin Cities & Western; Wisconsin Central; and Wisconsin & Southern. Each railroad is covered in about a dozen pages with current and historical photos, a color map, and text outlining the road's history and operations. This book is very welcomed in that it puts in hardcover print a number of railroads that had not previously been covered other than by a Trains or Railfan & Railroad article. Kudos for that. On the downside, there are also railroads represented that are already overexposed in the railfan press, namely the Indiana Rail Road and Wisconsin Central. In their absence it would be nice to see more under-represented railroads presented. This is one of the better produced titles from MBI in recent years. The number of historical photos presented is low and the subjects seem relevant; the use of steam excursion photos was also, thankfully, kept to a minimum. What photos are presented are reproduced very well, better than many other books from the same publisher. Overall, this is a very good release for the modern Midwest railfan.

Well researched, with photography to match
This book provides a concise history of selected "regional" railroads from Indiana through North Dakota ("regional" railroads are too big to be called "short lines", but vary greatly in size). The author provides the start-up story of each railroad in adequate detail that includes a brief history of the lines acquired, their purchase cost and existing traffic. He then provides a brief narrative of how that railroad increased its traffic base, made additional line acquisitions (or abandoned others), and discusses its motive power (locomotives). Nice maps are provided (with one exception) and the reader has a great reference volume that combines good photography with informative text. Given the great maps, it was surprising to find no map for the Red River Valley & Western, a road with a somewhat confusing line acquisition history that was hard to follow without a map. Sometimes the history of line acquisitions appeared sketchy, and little information is given on actual train movements - no doubt due to space constraints (the debatable inclusion of the rather large, and now gone, Wisconsin Central no doubt squeezed the space available). And although each road's locomotives were discussed, summary rosters would have increased this book's utility. But, this is a great book and a great value!

A mine of information
Having criticised a recent volume in the series, it's only fair that I should compliment Glischinski and the publisher on this offering. It contains a mass of fascinating information that will probably be new even to many Americans, let alone those of us who live thousands of miles away. As well as the details of the individual railroads, it encapsulates an important trend in the development of the industry. Production values are as good as we have come to expect, though it would have been useful if the individual company maps had been accompanied by a broader map putting the systems into a geographical context.

An enthusiastically recommended core addition
The railroad was key to the development of the American Midwest as a means of East and West Coast communications and transport, as well as the settlement midwestern communities and the exploitation of the agriculture, mineral, and timber industries of the midwestern states. The latest addition to the outstanding 'MBI Railroad Color History' series, "Regional Railroads Of The Midwest" by railroading enthusiast Steve Glischinski is a superbly organized, illustrated, and presented historical overview of the twelve principle railroad systems , companies, and trains that are especially associated with the midwest including: Chicago Central & Pacific; Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern; Escanaba & Lake Superior; Indiana Rail Road; Kyle Railroad; Iowa, Chicago & Eastern; Iowa Interstate Railroad; Red River Valley & Western; Toledo, Peoria & Western; Twin Cities & Western; Wisconsin Central; and Wisconsin & Southern. Combining a knowledgeable text based on his own archives and studies, with Glischinski has very nicely integrated photographs in his accounts of each railroad's history, motive power, and operation. Enhanced with the inclusion of system maps, a bibliography, and an index, "Regional Railroads Of The Midwest" is an enthusiastically recommended core addition to personal, community, and academic library Railroading History reference collections. ... Read more

Product Description
Fascinating text-and-photo documentary details economic, social upheaval following inauguration of Long Island Rail Road’s service in 1844. 225 rare photos provide splendid views of early coaches, locomotives, snow-removal operations, stations, passengers, crew, much more. Extensive captions.
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Customer Reviews (1)

Great LIRR Book!
In keeping with the high standards of the illustrated pictorials from Dover, the LIRR in Early Photographs does not disappoint.

This illustrated history covers 90 years of operations of the railroad, from 1865 to 1955. It's all here - early steam, 20th century steam, electrics, deisels, nautical operations, snowfighting, structures and wrecks. Plus a whole lot more.

Lots of very interesting photos, many of them never seen before depict the colorful history of the LIRR before the MTA took over.

A must have for any rail historian or Long Island Railroad enthusiast. ... Read more

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Culled from the 20 years she spent traveling the American West as a freight brakeman and conductor, Linda Grant Niemann's Railroad Noir delves into the darker side of railroading. The 1990s were a time of crisis for workers caught in the breakup of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Niemann's tales of exhaustion, alcoholism, homelessness, and corporate blundering present a revelatory account of railroading life. Photographer Joel Jensen realizes Niemann's vision of the working West with images of cowboy bars, blue motels, and railroaders working in electrical storms, white-outs, and desert heat waves. The result is an honest, gritty, and striking collaboration.

Customer Reviews (3)

The journey continues...
Dr. Linda Niemann (who earned a Ph.D. at Berkley before "hiring out" on the Southern Pacific railroad) continues her memoirs of being a highly intellectual, bi-sexual woman working in in a male-dominated profession.By this time, Neimann is an "old head" - an experienced raliroader - and we ride along as she grows wiser and the railroading landscape changes beneath her.After spending two years as an assistant conductor on Amtrak trains (which provide some good stories), Neimann returns to the "Espee" in time for its takeover by the Union Pacific.Suddenly it's open season on labor, with a UP-imposed disciplinary system so draconian that employees are afraid to do anything, lest they be on the fast track to dismissal.Traffic grinds to a halt, managers with any knowledge are fired, and Neimann has the most American of experiences: having "the company" all but take away your pride, accomplishment, and sense of professionalism.

After having to run the disciplinary gauntlet herself,Dr. Niemann uses her "other Union card" - her Ph.D., to land a teaching job in Georgia, trading her switchman's boots for students who cut class if it's raining outside - a bit annoying to someone who has been on-call, 24 hours a day, in any weather, for nearly 20 years. I was pleased to read that Niemann's house backs up on the CSX main line and that she can now sleep through the night as freight trains barrel past.

Noted railroad photographer Joel Jensen supplies beautiful images that are the perfect accompaniment to Niemann's haunting, funny, brutally honest prose.

I hope Dr. Niemann continues to share her experiences with us in her post-railroad life.

Must Read for Western Enthusiasts
Linda Niemann takes the reader on a sweeping journey of the demanding and exhilarating life working on the railroad.Terrific prose portrays fascinating real-life characters, insightful political realities and the author's deep love of the West. The strikingly evocative photographs make this not only a great read, but a book worth prominently displaying on the coffee-table.

Railroad Noir by Linda Nieman Grant
"Boomer" was great.This book continues the story, and deepens the feel for the job of brakeman,
and describes the way it has changed, and how work is not respected in this economy. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

How the Pennsy Evolved.
Mike Schafer has done a masterful job in chronicling the history of the Pennsylvania Railroad from its beginnings to the Conrail Era. He does an excellent job in covering the aspects of the various companies that were merged into the Pennsylvania Railroad as it acquired them while building its system which truly was SERVING THE NATION right up to its final years.

It was my great-grandfather's railroad route
My great grandfather, David Webner, took the PRR from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh in 1852.With this book, I was able to travel alongside him throughout the trip.The book provides fascinating detail of the early route.Readers will also enjoy "On the Main Line" by Edwin P. Alexander.

A Fine Introduction
This is a very fine, concise introduction to the "standard railroad of the world."For a readable, yet remarkably thorough introduction to the Pennsy, this is the book to read.

Colorful Review
Excellent book, great resource for the train lover.Lots and lots of high-quality photos, good text.Highly recommend.

Great book.
I purchased this book as a gift to myself and it is super. Pictures are very nice and the reading is easy to deal with.
Even my 5 year old loves it.
If you are into trains, this book is worth the money. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Great History and Photos of the B&O
I am thinking about modeling the B&O and this book provides great photos and a history of the railroad which is truly inspiring.I would recommend this to anyone interested in the B&O.

T'was Once a leader
Very informative review of the B&O when it was a force to be reckoned with.

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Color History
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Color History describes the rich history of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 1827 to 1987 when it merged into CSX Corporation. The book has excellent black and white and color photographs of Baltimore and Ohio passenger trains like the National Limited and Capitol Limited and freight trains. I like the color photos of the National Limited (Cover and page 43) at Jersey City with a pair of Baltimore and Ohio E8 diesels on the front of the National Limited in April 1958. I also like the color photo of the National Limited at St. Louis Union Station sharing the platform with Gulf Mobile and Ohio's Abraham Lincoln in November 1964 on Page 99. This is an excellent book.

[...] ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published by UNC Press in 1952, The Railroads of the Confederacy tells the story of the first use of railroads on a major scale in a major war. Robert Black presents a complex and fascinating tale, with the railroads of the American South playing the part of tragic hero in the Civil War: at first vigorous though immature; then overloaded, driven unmercifully, starved for iron; and eventually worn out—struggling on to inevitable destruction in the wake of Sherman's army, carrying the Confederacy down with them.

With maps of all the Confederate railroads and contemporary photographs and facsimiles of such documents as railroad tickets, timetables, and soldiers' passes, the book will captivate railroad enthusiasts as well as readers interested in the Civil War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A classic
If you are a Civil War buff, and especially a Civil War buff who is interested in how the transport net in the Confederacy was allowed to slowly deteriorate, then this book is for you. It is a classic -- I first encountered it at a college where I was was transcribing Civil War diaries. It tells the story of the gradual deterioration of the southern railway network, and does it well.

CONFEDERACY'S WEAKEST ASSET
A MAJOR INOVATION IN THE CIVIL WAR WAS THE STRATEGIC USE OF RAILROADS ON BOTH SIDES. THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTHERN RAILROADS AFFECTED BOTH THE CONFEDERACY AND THE UNION IN THIS WAR.DIFFERENT GUAGES OF TRACKS, WHETHER THE TRACKS RAN NORTH AND SOUTH OR EAST AND WEST WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.THE ABILITY TO REPRODUCE CAPTURES OR DESTROYED ROLLING STOCK AND RAILS WAS A MAJOR FACTOR.IN THIS WORK BLACK ENLIGHTENS US TO THE PROBLEMS AND PROGRESS OF THE CONDEDERACY'S RAILROADS AND GIVES US A CLEAR PICTURE OF THEIR OPERATION AND MILITARY VALUE.A BOOK WELL WORTH READING.

A very useful and fascinating book
After reading dozens of scholarly books, and writing published articles related to the Civil War myself, this book was a refreshing read.It is a reminder of the enormity of the task faced by the bureaucrats andbusinessmen behind the Confederate armies.Yes, the tide did turn atGettysburg.

But for those who like to play "What if?" andspeculate on the fortunes of war, this book is a bleak testimony to thelong odds the south confronted.The Confederate States were almostcompletely unequipped to fight a modern, industrial war.

One shortcomingof this book, and it is a minor one, is that the story is told primarilythrough the eyes of railroad tycoons, and ignores to a great extent theperspective of well-known military personalities.This stems in part fromthe fact that Black relies heavily on the railroads themselves (theirannual reports) for his source material.More research from militarysource material would round the picture out.

On the whole, however, Mr.Black must be commended.As I said, "fascinating."

IMPORTANCE OF RAIL TRANSPORTATION DURING THE CIVIL WAR
This was a fascinating book as it put the Civil War into a slightly different context.It spotlighted the fact that many of the the major battles were fought over areas which were strategic rail centers - the best example being Atlanta.

It also clearly pointed out that the South was severely hampered by three different track gauges limiting the ready ability to carry freight long distances.In addition, even though the track gauges of a connecting railroad might have been the same, many of them were state owned.And some states would not permit rolling stock to cross state lines.This meant offloading and reloading freight at the state border.

And the Southern railroads never came under a unified control until very late in the War - in contrast to the North.And the South only had about a third of the track miles that the North had.

I highly recommend this book to any serious student of Civil War history.You don't even have to be a rail fan to enjoy it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

LVRR at it's best
Not just a great collector's item, but a well written story that one can't put down.The pictures draw you in and the writing makes you want more from this author.Their is too little written on this region that boasts a terrific rail history.There's something indescribable that keeps you pulling the book out and looking at it again and again.

Lehigh Valley Memories
Some well needed LVRR material from upstate New York. The pictures of the branch line action are GREAT.I keep on going back for more!!! I would like to see another come out with more photos of the upstate region. ... Read more

Product Description
By the 1840s, daring Americans were trickling westward to begin a new life in the great wide open. When gold was discovered in 1848, the promise of riches drew people by the thousands out to California. But the journey was slow and dangerous, since the best ways of travelling were by wagon and on foot.During the "railroad fever" of the 1830s, thousands of miles of track were laid, mostly throughout the Northeast and the South. Few had dreamt of extending this new travel westward-but all it takes is a few. Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862, allowing for the start of the first transcontinental railroad.Though construction problems and hard times confronted them, American workers, Chinese immigrants, and former slaves pounded away through the rough geography of the western U.S., paving a path for the new train.A day in the life of a railroad worker was not an easy one. The work was backbreaking; the conditions were terrible; and workers were often faced with attack from Native Americans. The building of the railroad turned into a great race between two companies, the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific, to see who could finish their part of the railroad faster. The company that got farthest stood to make the most money. The "great race" turned into a national pastime-with reports of progress dominating the news.Railroad Fever illuminates the struggles of the railroad worker, the anger of the Plains Indians, and the many changes in both American life and geography that were prompted by the railroad. The completion of the transcontinental railroad left empty boomtowns across the country, changed the ethnic face of America, and, of course, created a new exciting and fast way of travel.Like the other titles in the Crossroads America series, Railroad Fever is illustrated with period paintings, drawings, and photographs. Also included are a glossary and an index. ... Read more