While there are a number of personal stories, some of which were related to the author firsthand, its not a collection of colorful anecdotes from railroad men. The northern central railway was one of americas pioneering railroads, serving pennsylvania, new york and baltimore for almost a century. The historical guide to north american railroads trains. As the author vividly shows, the erie possessed an uncommonly interesting history. List of books and articles about railroad history online. The story of american railroads by stewart hall holbrook. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles national. In short, i entered the study of american history through the back door. Stovers american railroads traces their history from the first lines that. There is no question about the importance of railroads in american history. The first north american gravity road, as it was called, was erected in 1764 for military purposes at.
History of railroads 112 of over 4,000 results for books. The history of trains in america by christian wolmar, railroads and the american. Commuter rail service is provided near a few major cities such as new york. The rise of the railroads makes for a great, uniquely american story. There are over 100 photos and many drawings, but most are too small to pick out a lot of detail.
Railroads history united states western, railroads. Everything, audio recordings, booksprinted material, films, videos. Stover describes the growth of the railroads monopoly, with the consequent need for state and federal regulations. The encyclopedias overarching theme is the evolution of the railroad industry and the historical impact of its progress on the north american continent. This book is a readable and provocative economic and business history of. In 1998, tony horwitzs confederates in the attic changed the way we talk about the civil war and the american south by. The beginnings of american railroads and mapping history of. He wrote for the oregonian for over thirty years, and stewart hall holbrook 1893 1964 was an american lumberjack, writer, and popular historian.
American railroads in the 1850s 1978 american railroads 2nd ed 1997 good, brief overview. With the war, railroads become both a necessity and an objective. Some railroads were seemingly destined to become strong, profitable operations. It is a large book of 255 pages, with very interesting and detailed text, and profusely illustrated with. Penned by local experts, each images of america book weaves the history of a community in stories and rare photos, from its beginnings to today.
This article is part of the history of rail transport by country series. The nation lacked a uniform integrated system but worked around breaks and different gauges. Buy the historical guide to north american railroads trains books 3rd ed. In 1864, the sacramento valley railroad and the central pacific railroad began competing for the ownership of a road from ashland to a point just outside auburn station, which was in the process of being abandoned by the sacramento, placer and nevada railroad. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. It arose out of disputes over slavery and states rights. A short history of the american railways, covering ten decades and with 400 illustrations.
This masters thesis covers the major angle of american railroad history and. Discover librarianselected research resources on railroad history from the questia. By 1860, railroads are a major feature of the american landscape moving goods and passengers between towns. Near the end of the twentieth century, after several difficult but. History of rail transportation in the united states wikipedia. American railroads the chicago history of american civilization by john f.
The historical guide to north american railroads, 3rd edition trains books. This is the ninth book that wolmar has written about trains of various kinds. This book is a second editon, revised and corrected and thirteenth thousand. Illustrated with more than 400 historical and modern photographs and period advertisements, the complete book. He is the author of records relating to north american railroads reference information paper 91. The first actual railroad in arkansas was laid from what is now west. Any recommended reading list therefore has to be highly selective and at least somewhat arbitrary. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Best books about the civil war a history blog about the. In the original documentation for the service, all class i railroad companies were to create a battalion for the war. Civil war railroad books page 4 american civil war forums.
According to historian mike del vecchios book, railroads across america, the very first railroadlike operation was opened in england during 1630 which used wooden rails, with wooden crossties or sleepers for lateral support, to haul coal. Milford, oxford university press, for the carnegie endowment for international peace. Ancient monument reveals secrets of history changing battle you can also read about napoleon wars, cold war, world war i, vietnam war, military vehicles, american civil war, and many more topics or just continue to browse everything we have. Churella finds that back in the 1950s business and economic historians, led by alfred d. Michael leavys new book, railroads in the civil war. Guide to north american diesel locomotives, author. The american indian wars were a centurieslong series of battles, skirmishes and massacres by european settlers against native americans, beginning around 1622. A history of christianity, a history o f the jews, modern times. These early uses of railways gave little hint that a revolution in methods of. Stovers american railroads traces their history from the first lines that helped eastern seaports capture western markets to todays newly revitalized industry. Start with the checkered history of railroad regulation. The great locomotive chase or andrews raid was a military raid that occurred april 12, 1862, in northern georgia during the american civil war. The baltimore and ohio in the civil war by festus p.
American railroadsis the story of a great industry that dominated us freight transportation. One of the first railroad wars in old west history was the placer county railroad war in california. This is a history book, not something you throw on coffee table for visitors to look at. Even if you are not interested in model railroading, you will find this book is excellent from a railroad history standpoint,particularly up to and during the civil war. Hankey articulately points out in his excellent essay from the march, 2011 issue of trains magazine entitled, the railroad war. When antislavery candidate abraham lincoln was elected president 1860, the southern states seceded. The line was ultimately never constructed and while small gravity and mulepowered roads popped up here and there it was the coming of the steam locomotive which changed everything. His most recent books are blood, iron, and gold and engines of war. Lavishly illustrated and a joy to read, this authoritative reference work on the north american continents railroads covers the u. The great railroad revolution the great railroad war. Its history traces back to the precivil war period when trains near or west of the mississippi river remained a relative novelty. The american civil war also known by other names was a civil war in the united states from 1861 to 1865, fought between the northern united states loyal to the union and the southern united states that had seceded from the union and formed the confederacy. Division of economics and history, 1928 ocolc578047354 online version.
Once an icon of american industry, railroads fell into a long decline beginning. After the war, railroads tried to maintain their gains through the introduction of airconditioning and lighter, faster, more streamlined cars, built of steel and aluminum. The death of an american railroad, this 50year saga of the weary erie goes far beyond describing in brilliant detail the turbulent last decades of a colorful, spunky, and innovative railroad. Far more books have been written about the civil war than about any other event in american history, and lincolns stack of books towers over that of any other american figure. American civil war, fouryear war 186165 fought between the united states and 11 southern states that seceded to form the confederate states of america. The complete book of north american railroading kevin. The american railroad mania began with the founding of the first passenger.
On why the story of grenville dodge the civil war veteran and engineer. Arcadia publishing local and regional history books. Volunteers from the union army, led by civilian scout james j. The chicago, burlington and quincy was one such example. Rebecca beatrice brooks june 22, 2017 may 22, 2019 2 comments on best books about the civil war theres definitely no shortage of books about the american civil war.
The earliest of all american railroads dates back to the new jersey railroad company of 1815, chartered by colonel john stevens. A selfproclaimed lowbrow historian, his topics included ethan allen, the railroads, the timber industry, the wobblies, and eccentrics of the pacific northwest. The author, christian wolmar, also provides some background information about railroads in britain early in the book, because steam trains originated in that country. Summers fascinating history of the active role played by the baltimore and ohio railroad during the civil war. White describes how the rail corporations shaped the u. Railroad history, railways, locomotives, entrepreneurs. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869. By kind permission of harvard university press, we present a chapter from robert gallamores new book, american railroads. The year 1827 marked the completion of the united states first railroad and the beginning of a transformation of american life.
The military railway service was created in the 1920s as a reserve force for the quartermaster division of the united states army. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. The first known implementation of iron rails occurred at whitehaven, cumberland in 1740, followed by william jessops loughborough, leicestershire. Dieselization and american railroad, 19201960 by jeffrey w. The confederacys lack of such infrastructure was further compounded by its inability to effectively harness the iron horse for military purposes as historian john p. The ten best history books of 2019 history smithsonian. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles records relating to the u. From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time for the. But thats not the story richard white tells in his new book railroaded. History of rail transportation in the united states. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. For a book about a railroad that is very near to me. He did do a very respectable job in the very early railroad history here and of the civil war period.
During world war ii, however, when gasoline rationing forced many travelers to abandon their cars, railroads increased their passenger traffic. Step right on to main street at any point in history, and be immersed in the wonder and unique flavor of life in your town, or any town in america. American railroads tells a riveting story about how this iconic industry. A perfectly fine history of the american railroad as researched and seen. Covers not only the use of the railroad during military operations but also the importance of the line within the military zone. Civil war railroad books american civil war forums. This book, spanning nearly two centuries, offers an exhilarating tour of the railways inroads into the economy, society, and culture of north america. In fact, according to the library of congress civil war desk reference, over 70,000 books have been published on various aspects of the civil war and more are being published. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The great railroad revolution is a history of trains in the united states from their beginnings to the present day. Troop transfer and the civil war in the west, 1863 by roger. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to.
A fascinating account of the rise, decline, and rebirth of railroads in the united states, john f. Everything was by the book, and increasingly complex set of rules told. Wolmar does a fine job of carrying us from the initial development of railways, to their near collapse and. Wolmar, a noted historian specializing in the british railway. List of books and articles about railroad history online research. Discover the best history of railroads in best sellers.
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