The American Railway

I've learned to appreciate books written before the turn of the 19th century, especially history books. They are well-written, clearly written, and written by intelligent people for intelligent people. The facts and sources are provided, and the reader is assumed to have brain enough to follow a clearly written line of thought. This is not merely a history of the railways in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, it is nothing short of a how-to run a railroad. What the ticket offices were like, how a conductor behaved and why, how rail inspectors did their jobs, how the passengers expected to be treated. Then the equipment used to build and maintain the rails and trains themselves. This book will tell you how the waiting rooms at a station operated, how line inspections were done, and how piers were set in water, in rock, and in wood. Even the beancounters get their due. If you're remotely interested in trains, or even considering writing about train travel via passenger or freight in the Americas, I highly recommend this lovely gem which covers the time of the great expansion 1830-1889. There are a great many very clear illustrations. My copy arrived quickly, as always, and the book and dust jacket were in fine condition. Cannot recommend this enough. Reading through all this makes me realize that our forebears make us look like such wimps. God bless them all.