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 and industry. This book celebrates the glory and grandeur of that legacy with a lavish tour of the history of the American railroad and the culture surrounding it. Generously illustrated with vintage photographs, modern images, maps, timetables, tickets, brochures, and all manner of memorabilia, this volume offers a fascinating look at the rail industrys beginnings and development, as well as its place in American history. From the might of the major rail companies and their empires to the romance of rail travel, this is the full and fabulously colorful story of the industry that moved a nation--and stirs our imaginations to this day.

"What to expect from a trip on a train"--

Queue up for a whistle-stop tour of trains of all kinds, narrated in lively verse and featuring dynamic retro artwork. Rows of grooves, cables, and bars. Graffiti rockin’ out the cars. A badge of rust. A proud oil stain. There’s nothin’ plain about a train. Trains of all shapes and sizes are coming down the track — bullet train, sleeper train, underground train, zoo train, and more. All aboard! Skila Brown’s first-class poems, as varied as the trains themselves, reflect the excitement of train travel, while Jamey Christoph’s vintage-style illustrations provide a wealth of authentic detail to pore over.

This work presents a view of the history of American railroads in the nineteenth century from a somewhat different perspective. The maturation of the railroad is traced through an exposition of the railroad technology that was developed and applied during the period. Throughout the nineteenth century, a symbiotic relationship existed between railroading and technology, each dependent upon the state and progress of the other to a large degree. A great deal of new technology was created for the railroad, and the railroad, in turn, applied new technology as it became available. Volume four is about bridges and tunnels, and signals. An exposition of the various types of bridges, their foundations, and the materials of which they were made is included. Tunnels and marine railroad operations are treated also. The development of signal systems is an area that has been overlooked or neglected in the general literature but is fully covered here. The text of this volume is accompanied by 145 illustrations and accurate drawings of the equipment and appliances, many of which have not been published before outside of old technical journals. Anthony J. Bianculli is a mechanical engineer with extensive and varied experience in a Fortune 500 company.

In this visually glorious chronological history, prolific railroad historian and photographer Brian Solomon curates a selection of the world’s most significant trains and locomotives over the last two centuries. Hop aboard to see trains and locomotives at work in scenic locations throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Two centuries after iron behemoths first began appearing in Europe and North America, locomotives and trains continue to fascinate folks of all ages. From North American steam and electric-diesel machines designed and built by the likes of Baldwin and General Electric to state-of-the-art electric freight and commuter trains in Europe and Asia, Solomon provides a thorough look at the development of the most famous, most influential, and most technologically advanced trendsetters across more than two centuries, with photography depicting heavy hardware at work in North America, Europe, and Asia. Topics covered include: The Consolidation Type – The most prolific steam locomotive design in America and one of the most common types around the world. Electric pioneers – The earliest commercial applications for Edison, Tesla, and Siemens. Featuring hardware from Germany and Scandinavia. Gas-Electrics and Wind-splitters – Pioneering aerodynamic trains that looked like machines dreamed up by Rube Goldberg. Budd stainless-steel streamliners – Burlington’s famous Zephyr and the trains it inspired swept public imagination. Britain’s Sir Nigel Gresley and his remarkable locomotives – Includes World Famous Flying Scotsman and steam speed record holder Mallard . Electro-Motive’s F-unit – The iconic American diesel that killed steam. Germany’s Flying Hamburger – The pioneer high-speed diesel streamliners from 1932. Stanier’s Black Five and 8F 2-8-0 – Trendsetting British designs that found widespread application as far afield as Turkey and Egypt. Spanish TALGO trains – Innovative lightweight passenger trains sold around the world. Japanese Shinkansen trains – These record-breaking electric trains are the epitome of high-speed rail. French TGVs – Some of the world’s fastest services with trains operating in more than a dozen nations. Soviet M62 diesel – Soviet-era relics continue to work in the former Eastern Bloc. Swedish Rc Electrics – Over the last 50 years, these icons have worked in countries across Europe, as well as Iran. Siemens Vectron – During the last decade this versatile electric design has rapidly displaced older electric locomotives across Europe. In addition to learning about the technology, railfans learn about significant designers, builders, and operators. When it comes to illustrated histories of railroading spanning time and nations, fans of heavy iron will be hard-pressed to find a more compelling collection.

The story of the men who build the transcontinental railroad in the 1860's.