Book Description
Railroad Heritage 1827-2005 Brian Solomon This beautifully illustrated history celebrates CSX's 25 years on the American railroad scene. Formed in 1980 as a holding company for the Chessie and Seaboard Systems and several other eastern railroads, CSX then merged them all into CSX Transportation in 1986. That move made CSX one of the nation's dominant merger roads. The marvelous color photography shows CSX diesel-electric powered freight operations in the East and Midwest as well as CSX hardware, facilities, and operations on more than 20,000 miles of track across the eastern United States, from 1980 to today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

CSX BOOK BY BRAIN SOLOMON IS FIRST CLASS READING!!!
THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BOOK WRITTEN ON THE CSX RAILROAD COMPANY TODAY. BRAIN SOLOMON TAKES YOU ON A GREAT JOURNEY THROUGH 25 YEARS OF CSX COLOR/B&W RAILROAD HISTORY. THE TRAIN PICTURES ARE JUST PLAIN GREAT, THE PURITY OF THE PICTURES JUST BLOWS YOU AWAY. THE TEXT IS VARY WELL WRITTEN, EASY TO UNDERSTAND PICTURE CATIONS, AND THE OVER ALL LAYOUT OF THE BOOK IS GOOD. BRAIN SOLOMON IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE ONE OF THE BEST RAILROAD AUTHORS OF OUR TIME. YOU WILL BE VARY HAPPY WITH THIS NEW CSX BOOK. 5 STARS!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description
The true grit and glory days of one of Americas greatest railroads come to dramatic life in this full-scale illustrated history by industry veteran Tom Murray. Words and pictures carry readers across the vast tracts of land and time traversed by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul Pacificbetter known to history as the Milwaukee Road. Ranging from the railroads late-nineteenth-century beginnings to its purchase by onetime rival Soo Line in 1985, the book looks at The Milwaukee Roads famed streamlined Hiawatha passenger trains, the Little Joe electric locomotives, and the sprawling fabrication and repair facilities in its namesake city. Whether surveying the railroads routes and the trains that plied them, and the people who worked behind the scenes, or focusing on the lines motive power, rolling stock, passenger and freight operations, The Milwaukee Road provides a broad-scale, brilliantly detailed portrait of a great railroad, an industry, and a bygone era. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Well Done
The writer is in the rail industry. He's careful. Both the photos and the text reflect this. This is not an academic history, but it is a first class ticket on a first class story about a first class railroad. Tom Murray is a good writer. It is rare to suggest in the trade that this writer didn't write enough. The selection of photos was done with a finely tuned and patient hand. The result is a book that is not just a pleasure to read; it is a genuine resource about this timeless railroad and its unique story.

The Milwaukee Road by Tom Murray
This is an excellent book about the Milwaukee Road and I am happy to add it to my Milwaukee Road shelf.The photos are excellent and the selection was done very carefully in that there are photos of many types of equipment from the various decades.The history of the railroad is detailed just enough and allows the reader to understand this railroad.I recommend adding this book to your Milwaukee Road or general railroading collection. ... Read more

Book Description
Captured in rare archival imagery, readers can explore the New Haven, the legendary railroad of New York, New Haven, and Hartford. From 1872 to 1969 this railroad connected Boston and Providence with New York City. New Haven's four-track electric mainline across the Hell Gate Bridge into New York Citycarried millions of commuters and travelers and is one of the most recognized railroad images in the world. The book includes a large selection of New Haven print advertising featuring the famous Shore Line Route as well as the memorable orange, black, and white color scheme. The book is a definitive guide to 'The New Haven as well as a rich source of pictorial history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Train Yourself to Relax
Here is an outstanding history and pictorial survey of the late (but still beloved) NYNH&H.The author gives a basic (yet thorough) history of the railroad and describes what it did and how and why it did it.Thoughtfully selected and captioned pictures supplement the well-written text.The book includes maps which will provide readers not familiar with the scope and operations of the NH an idea of "what was where when."The quality of photo reproduction (color, black and white, sepia)is excellent.This will be a good addition to your collection of books on railroads in New England.Also, in this era of drastically overpriced and often indifferently produced railroad books, Lynch's work is refreshingly affordable.

Best of the best
For those interested in Railroads in general, and the New Haven Railroad in particular,you would be well advised to grab a copy of this book. As a 46 year veteran of the NH,PC,Conrail & Amtrak progression, I found it to be very accurate, concise & mostly very interesting reading, bringing the whole history of the New Haven in easily followed chapters (couldn't put it down once I started reading it).Also, there are many excellent photo's. I strongly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Travel west through the Rocky mountains on the legendary 'Rio Grande' railroad. Also known as the DRGW, it is a favorite among rail fans and modellers for its breathtaking scenery and its fascinating narrow-gauge legacy. On it's journey from Denver to Salt Lake City the 'Rio Grande' ran through the six-mile-long Moffat Tunnel, one of America's miracles of railroad engineering. This book treats the reader to a wealth of information including overviews of steam and diesel locomotives as well as famous passenger trains such as the Vista-domed California Zephyr (Chicago to Oakland,) and the Royal Gorge (Denver to Salt Lake City). All aboard for a tourl of arguably the most scenic railroad in America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Rio Grande History
Good review of the history, would have liked to see better route maps.

Rio Grande Railroad- Highly Recommended
James Griffen has provided a desirable snapshot and synopsis of the D&RGW historical issues with a select compilation of other 'fans' photos as well as his own.

The book describes the time and scale, significant persons and financial history providing great context, expansion and demise of the integral operations and relationships between owners and operators, as well as the 'state and federal' legal issues that are unique to the United States.

James uses modern photography and earlier 20thC from unpublished private sources to highlight the country and 'real estate' that the D&RGW subsequently served.

As a coffee table book (not meant to be a death knell!) for the detailed pictures, a text reference to the operations and hardships encountered, and even better pictorial reference for modellers and enthusiasts showing great detail and variation in the 'living' equipment and trains that real people used. For a non-US train enthusiast I learnt a lot from the book and James has done an excellent job capturing the feel of the topic.

Although tinged with sentiment and a legacy to a disappearing era of corporate leadership, this helps the book personify the way RG employees appeared to enjoy their burdens and lament the loss of their independence. Highly Recommended!

Interesting and well done
This book contains breathtaking photographs and easy to read and understand text.It is interesting to see the changes over the years and the information is well documented.I'm not a "train buff," but I enjoyed reading this book and looking at the photos.We keep it on our coffee table so others can view it as well.I'm sure it'd be a valuable addition to any library, especially those who are fans of the Rio Grande Railroad. ... Read more

Book 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

Book Description
The Virginian Railway existed as a separate entity for only a half century, but that period of American history witnessed two world wars and the emergence of the United States as a global superpower. Henry Huddleston Rogers, who marshaled the development of the U.S. oil industry through his leadership of Standard Oil, invested $30 million of his personal wealth into the making of the Virginian. He speculated that south-central West Virginia coal would fuel America’s Industrial Revolution. Although Rogers died before his railroading dream could realize its full potential, the Virginian Railway

continued on from 1909 until its merger in 1959 with the Norfolk and Western Railway (now Norfolk Southern). During that time, the Virginian grew to a point that it was originating from 1,200 to 1,500

hundred-ton carloads of coal per day and serving 60 active coal mines. It earned a reputation for power, service, and efficiency that placed it among the great railroads of America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

virginian railway images of virginia rail
-Not what I expected ..Not enough written text..But some pictures I'd not seen Pretty Good what there was of it... ... Read more

Book Description
The notion of working on a railroad has always carried its share of romance, taking in everything from the dreams of small boys to legends like John Henry and Casey Jones. The reality is far more complicated and often, as this book amply demonstrates, more interesting. This richly illustrated volume takes us behind the scenes to show what goes into keeping a railroad running in our era of computer-aided 6,000-horsepower diesel locomotion. Author and photographer Brian Solomon explains who does what, and how, from dispatching and signaling to maintaining locomotives and driving trains. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More than a coffee table book, but less than a reference book
Overall, this is an easy, enjoyable read with some pretty good information on the various key disciplines comprising the rail industry labor force, past and present.While it did yield some valuable insights and technical knowledge (particularly with respect to the evolution--and extinction--of railroad crafts in light of advancing technology), this book focused more on photos and anecdotes.If you're looking for a book that provides comprehensive information regarding the tradecraft of modern railroading, this work may leave you wanting.

An Insiders View of Working on the Railraod
This is an insiders look at what it's really like to work on the railroad. It's a collection of stories and pictures of men and machines from the later days of steam to today. Here is the engineer pulling on the throttle, but here also is the maintenance man carrying an oil can to lubricate the reciprocating parts of a steam locomotive.

The pictures and the book can't help but convey the romance of the men who make it happen on the railroad. This is in spite of the words that point out that the work is dangerous, that you can be called out at any moment, and that a lot of the work is very dirty - especially during steam engine days.

Mr. Solomon has spent most of his life writing about the railroads. He has already published twenty-something books before doing this one. He knows whereof he speaks and is able to explain what he knows clearly and interestingly. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

A focus on the railroad's financial history
The Erie Lackawanna, whose main line was New York-Chicago, was one of themore interesting US railroads. It was originally laid with awider-than-standard track gauge, had wider clearances than competingrailroads, and had unusually mild gradients, at least in Indiana andwestern Ohio. However, throughout its history, it was always clinging onfor dear life, never a truly credible competitor against the largerrailroads. Today, it's little more than a memory, and much of its main linetrack has been lifted.It's a shame, because railroad rights-of-way areimpossible to assemble in this day and age. As the author points out, ErieLackawanna would have been perfect as a 1990s-style carrier dedicated tocontainer and `piggyback' trains, thanks to its generous clearances. TheErie Lackawanna was also noteworthy for avoiding all significant citiesbetween New York and Chicago - a liability in its heyday, but an asset inthe container era.

This book might more accurately be labeled a`financial history.' We're given an incredible depth of information aboutsecurities, taxation, business practices at headquarters, and biographicalinformation of executives; the end result is thorough but something lessthan riveting. The most interesting portions describe the organizationalturmoil resulting from Erie's acquisition of the Lackawanna, and the lateracquisition by Conrail. Sadly, there is very little regarding rollingstock, stations, details of its route, or operating practices.This bookhas four excellent maps and about 20 black and white photos of rollingstock, plus various miscellaneous photos, especially formal pictures ofexecutives.

The "Weary Erie"
The years immediately following the end of World War 2 were good ones for the nation's railroads. Flush with cash after record war time traffic, they set about to modernise their worn out systems. Tracks were upgraded,diesels were purchased to replace aging steam locomotives, buildings werepainted and rolling stock, passenger and freight, were upgraded orreplaced.But by the mid-1950's, the circumstances had changed. Increasedhighway competition was cutting into revenues while archaic laboragreements ("featherbedding"), high property taxes and cripplinggovernment regulations colluded to sap the roads of cash. The situation wasparticularly desperate in the northeast leading some railroads to seekmerger partners.Two such roads were the Erie and the Delaware, Lackawannaand Western (Lackawanna). Running side by side in many places, the twocompanies were quite different. The Erie had been in and out of financialtrouble for much of its existence, its stock attractive only to"venturesome investors" ("when Erie common pays a dividend,there will be icicles in hell").The Lackawanna by contrast, was asmaller, but sturdy anthracite coal hauler whose stock was suitable for"widows and orphans" paying a regular and generous dividend wellinto the 1930's.But by the late fifties, the two roads could not meetexpenses by revenues alone, survived by selling assets (property,equipment, etc.).They entered into merger talks and in 1960 merged as theErie lackawanna.This book deals with the pre-merger planning and postmerger jockeying to keep the merged company solvent. The merger trend wasin its early phase at the time, so there were some difficulties. Thecorporate cultures came into immediate conflict. While it was supposed tobe a merger of equals, it soon became evident that it was an Erie takeover.Said a happy former Erie official: "The place is just like the oldErie" while Perry Shoemaker, the former president of the Lackawannatold his former colleagues: "I feel terrible. I sold all of you downthe river.H. Roger Grant follows the ups and downs in the 16 year existenceof the company, paying particular attention to the brief, but importanttenure of CEO William White. A "railroad man's railroad man," hecame to the EL in 1963. He had creditability with lenders who had beenreluctant to extend financing and he is generally credited withimplimenting policies which would eventually reduce the deficit and evenproduce a modest profit.He is probably best known outside the industryfor re-instating the premier "Phoebe Snow" passenger train, amostly sybolic gesture, but an effective PRmove and employee moralbooster.There was some cause for optimism in the late 1960's. The EL wasable to negotiate more favorable labor agreements and attract morelucrative on-line industry. It received permission to discontinue its lastlong distance passeneger train, a considerable savings, and was nowreceiving substantial subsidies from the state for its North Jerseycommuter operation.But a recession in 1970 along with soaring interestrates rocked the still fragile EL and by early 1972, out of cash andhounded by creditors, the company again was "on the brink."InJune, a storm, which washed out vast sections of road, finally pushed thecompany into bankruptcy, thus joining a group that would soon include allmajor northeast railroads and lead to the creation of Conrail in1976.Railroad fortunes improved in the 1980's due to governmentderegulation, more reasonable work rules and highway congestion whichreversed the flow of freight traffic to trucks.Auther Grant contemplateswhat all this could have meant to the EL had it come about sooner.We willnever know, of course, but as is illustrated by the heavily footnoted text,EL officials managed to operate an efficient and remarkably safe systemregardless of the immense challenges-no small feat.It is seeing how theydid it that makes this book interesting. ... Read more

Book Description
Celebrating the culture and design of the railroad from its beginnings in the Industrial Revolution through its 20th-century heyday, Railroad is a loving tribute to the unique aesthetic of trains. With hundreds of archival and contemporary photographs, it examines the glamorous early days, when train travel meant sumptuous, luxurious interiors with formal black-tie dining cars and private sleeping-suite cabins, up to the present with the sleek, streamlined design and record-breaking speeds of modern trains around the globe. Touching on every aspect of railroad design, from the interiors and exteriors of the trains, to railroad stations, signage, and trestles and tunnels, Railroad also abounds in such train ephemera as tickets, conductor uniforms, timetables, and advertisements, and is sprinkled with trivia and anecdotes illuminating railroading’s colorful history.
As both harbinger of modern engineering and nostalgic symbol of an earlier age, the railroad continues to exert a fascination over all those interested in travel, engineering, and design. Railroad is a stylish trip down memory lane, paying whimsical tribute to our earliest modern form of transportation and examining how design continues to shape and reflect transportation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fine overview of railway design
I found this book to be a generally good overview of railroad "branding," and industrial design, though light on specifics. Excellent photos and good selection of equipment, designs and publicity brochures.

Written for Rizzoli, an architectural and industrial design publishing house 'Railroad' is a companion to 'Airline.' The book is very general and targeted to an industrial designers and graphic artists. It won't be of much use to a rail historian or rail enthusiast, other than it's excellent image quality.

Great idea, poorly executed.
Speaking as a Brand Planner for a big ad agency and a huge railroad buff since birth I was dissapointed at the lack of depth in the book.

It has a lot of great photos, some you may have seen before if you are a train buff, some you may have not.Not a whole lot more than that.

By the description of the book, I was looking for someone to illustrate what great brands railroads once were.How a railroads like the Southern Pacific, Rio Grande or The New Haven really supported what their slogans and brands were with how the railroad was run.What kind of experience shippers and passengers had with their trains and how it was communicated across comp[any media like timetables, frieght car and locomotive paint schemes and tag lines like "Mainline Through the Rockies."

The 1940s through the 1970s were amazing times for railroads and their brands, someone should put that together in a book, but not Mr. Lovegrove.

Another one collecting dust on my shelf.

A must for industrial designers
Second in a series of design books, Keith Lovegrove gives a general view of the railroad world and its evolution through time. Wonderfull pictures and text, though I would like to see more about modern design. Great book. ... Read more

Book Description
Structures coast to coast, past and present are represented with archival and modern photography and the stories behind their service and architecture. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent overview for the non-specialist train enthusiast
This book is sure to kindle even the smallest flames of love for old trains. If you are looking for any particular details about a specific old railroad, this is not the book for you. Instead, it appeals to all for whom old railroads also have a certain emotional appeal. The texts are intriguing and very well written. The pictures, as well, are captivating. Many of them benefit from the beautiful fall colors this area has to offer.

The only reason that I do not give this book five stars is that I feel its layout conveys a certain "restlessness" that contradicts the topic it deals with. Also, some pictures that I don't think deserve it get a full page, whereas others are tiny insets that would have benefitted from a somewhat larger reproduction. And any photograph that goes across the crease should be outlawed, anyway. At least as long as the crease affects the main subject. A case in point is the fine picture of the Manitou & Pikes Peak steam engine on pages 40-41, or the Royal Gorge train on pages 80-81, whereas the Silverton train on pages 114-115 is not affected very much.

But aside from these (overall) minor points, this is a book that deserves a wide distribution. That special combination of a beautiful landscape and fascinating remains of a century old train culture comes across very well. It will thus appeal beyond the train lover community. And it invites visitors to Colorado to explore new areas, e.g. to go into areas that don't have active trains anymore now.

Great book
The narrative and photographs in this book are superlative.I am inspired to get out into the high country and rediscover the beautiful settings and associated railroad history described in this book.For anyone with an interest in great outdoor Colorado landscapes, railroad photographs, a well written history of railroads in Colorado, this book is a must read.In this book, Claude Wiatrowski has displayed his talents as an outstanding writer and photographer.

Colorado Railroad Guidebook
Nicely done "coffee table style" book with excellent photography and content, appealing to both the Colorado railroad history buff and newcomer.The book is well organized for easy reading or for just browsing the photos and captions.The text for each railroad includes a guide for exploring historic locations, as well as tips for riding current tourist railroads.Also included is a reference map showing statewide railroad routes.

Wow Great Pictures
A friend of mine bought this book and it is definitly on my soon to own list.Even if you are not into railroads the pictures are awesome!!This is a must have for all Coloradoians and for people who just want to come visit!! ... Read more

Book Description
From the first steam-powered locomotives of the early nineteenth century to the high-speed commuter trains of today, the American railroad has been a great engine powering the nations growth. This book celebrates the glory and grandeur of that legacy with a lavish tour of the history of the American railroad. Generously illustrated with vintage photographs, modern images, maps, timetables, tickets, brochures, and all manner of memorabilia, the volume offers a fascinating look at the rail industrys beginnings and development, as well as its place in American history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An ideal and enthusiastically recommended addition
Train travel enthusiast and photographer Claude Wiatrowski is a member of the Colorado Midland Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society; the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society; The Colorado Railroad Museum; The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad; Friends of the East Broad Top; the Nevada Northern Railway Museum; the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation; and the Lexington Group in Transportation History. He is therefore in a particularly knowledgeable position to create a profusely illustrated history of American railroads, and has done so with "Railroads Across North America: An Illustrated History", an amazingly informed and informative 256-page compendium of information and images ranges from the first steam-powered locomotives of the 1800s down to the high-speed commuter trains of today. Enhanced with a descriptive listing of historical societies and other railroad organizations, as well as a section devoted to preserved railways, museums and historic sites, ""Railroads Across North America" also includes a bibliography and a comprehensive index, making it an ideal and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Railroading reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Railroads Across North America
Railroads Across North America is a unique book in this field.it illustrates in great color the historic rail lines that made America great.It also shows the breadth of railroad activites that were a part of operations.This book is just plain fun!

Bill Lock,
Founder Friends
of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Great for pros and newbies
Whether an a railfan for decades or just getting into the hobby, this is a great book. Copy is informative and not overdone. Photos and graphics are outstanding. Although my interest in railroading in the Northeast, I found the collection of schedule graphics, promotional pieces, etc. very interesting and, simply, just fun to look at. I lent my copy to a few of my buddies and was happy to see they didn't glance over the pages, but were caught by photos and info. (Hats off to the graphics people). And these are former railroaders and modelers who are "rivet counters," so for the book to get their attention says something about it. A few commented on the price, and thought the book was a real bargain.

Great coffee table book!
As a general book on railroading, this is an excellent book. The photos are excellent, and it covers all the major railroads (and most minor ones) across the USA.There are many chapters on various aspects of railroading, and it is very informative for those who are learning or new to the hobby. ... Read more

Book Description
"[S]ociety so often allows masterpieces of architecture...to be destroyed or altered as though real estate ownership supersedes any other value system....The best railroad stations were conceived in the dreams of architects and civil engineers, and then brought to life by talented craftspeople....This guidebook is a tribute not only to those who built these stations, but also the railroaders who worked within the depots and on the platforms...." — Janet Greenstein Potter

Bustling nerve centers of a dynamic young society on the move, grand last farewells and first welcomes for millions of weary travelers, enduring monuments to the birth of the world's first truly modern nation, railroad stations played a central role in the shaping of the United States and its unique culture. Now, in this, the definitive guide to America's great railroad stations, writer and architectural historian Janet Greenstein Potter tells the stories of more than 700 of these masterpieces.

An excellent resource for on-site and armchair travelers alike, this lavishly illustrated guide provides a generous mix of historical and practical information. Potter provides a detailed biographical profile of each station, covering the year of construction, name of original railroad, designer, style, and materials. Focusing on buildings that are still standing, she discusses depots that have been restored as well as those on the verge of distinction, explains what the station is used for today, and describes its current condition from a preservation/restoration standpoint. And, with the help of more than 500 beautiful archival photographs and detailed drawings, she helps you to gain a fuller understanding of what these structures were like in their heyday.

For quick, easy reference, the book has been organized by region. Stations in all 50 of the United States are covered, and the street addresses of each building have been provided.

Offering an unparalleled opportunity to experience the grandeur and vitality of a bygone era, Great American Railroad Stations is an indispensable resource for travelers, architects and design professionals, preservationists, and train and transportation enthusiasts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must have supplement for any railfan library.
Complete with brief, but detailed history and current uses for stations throughout the country, this tome is a must for any railfan to enjoys seeking out the train depots in cities along the path of his vacation route. Though by no means comprehensive (about 10 to 12 depots are listed for most states; Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio each have dozens,many of which are in excellent condition.), the book is nevertheless tremendously useful. In addition, one should consider Halberstadt & Halberstadt's "The American Train Depot & Roundhouse" and Ward's "Southern Railway Depots, Vol. 1 & 2. The out of print Alexander's "Down At The Depot" should be sought out as well ... Read more

Book Description
This stunning work showcases sixteen of the most-remembered rail companies of yesteryear. This collection of classic American railroads includes the Atchison, Topeka Santa Fe, The Milwaukee Road, New York Central, Pennsylvania, Union Pacific, Denver Rio Grande, Great Northern and a variety of others. Exceptional archival color photography highlights the glory years of Americas classic railroads. ... 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

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program. ... Read more

Book Description
Founded in 1862 as a small carrier connecting St. Paul and Minneapolis with outlying towns, the SP&P became the nucleus of the vast rail system that would open the entire Northwest. When railroad tycoon James J. Hill took over the railroad in 1879, it was absorbed into lines that eventually, as the Great Northern Railway, reached the Pacific Ocean.

Enhanced by rare photographs, The Saint Paul & Pacific Railroad will appeal to all who are interested in Minnesota, the Northwest, and the saga of railroading. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Great history and photos
A knowledgable author makes all the difference. This book is well-written and accompanied by a very nice selection of photographs that include informative captions. The author provides a concise history of VIA Rail, including the conditions that lead to its formation and the political machinations that nearly killed it several times during its existence. He brings the story right up to the present (2007) and expresses a cautious optimism about its future. Maps of the VIA system are included - two on the endpapers depict VIA at its startup and at the present time, while two additional maps cover interim periods. This is not a nuts-and-bolts history as no locomotive or car roster is included, nor is each route detailed. However, the text and photo captions adequately cover equipment acquisitions and retirements as well as most trains and routes. Three pages that list the author's sources are evidence of the research that went into this book and include several interviews of principal players in the VIA story that were conducted by the author. This book sets a high standard for the Railroad Color History series from MBI/Voyageur Press. ... Read more

Book Description
The full history of the UP, its locomotives, its trains, its routes, its stations, and more, from 1862 to today. ... Read more

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