A lush, large (10x12") collection of color pictures of trains, their crews, railroad workers, and a few passengers. The photos are of the exhibition quality that have won the author and his wife, Shirley Berman, admiration and awards. A splendid book at a remarkably low price. Published by Cedco Publishing Co., 2955 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Thousands of commuters south of the Thames use the railway daily, but how many know the fascinating history of the Southern Railway, created in 1923 from four smaller companies? Colin Maggs, one of the country’s foremost railway historians, tells the story of the London & South Western Railway, the London Brighton & South Coast Railway, the South Eastern Railway and the London, Chatham & Dover Railway (also known as the London, Smash ’em & Turnover Railway due to its poor safety record) in comprehensive detail. In addition to the company’s history, he covers the railway’s cross-Channel shipping enterprise and the creation of Southampton Docks for ocean-going vessels. From its Victorian beginnings, the golden age of steam, diversification, Edwardian amalgamation through nationalisation and to the present day, Colin Maggs tells the gripping story of one of the country’s proudest railway firms. Illustrated with over 100 photographs and period posters, many in colour.

One of America's greatest business enterprises, the Pullman Company provided outstanding service aboard a vast fleet of railroad passenger cars that could be found in almost every nook and cranny of the United States. This illustrated history examines Pullman's diverse fleet, from its spectacular custom-built wooden cars of the nineteenth century to steel heavyweight cars in the prewar years and on into the lightweight streamlined era. Author Joe Welsh includes period photos, many in rare color, as well as car diagrams and ads that help trace the development, composition, and evolution of the historically and culturally significant Pullman fleet, including the gamut of sleeper, parlor, and restaurant cars. This is a fitting tribute to the former cultural icons aboard which strode giants of American life, such as Babe Ruth and Clark Gable, as well as first-time travelers from small-town America.

McCommons spent much of 2008 on Amtrak researching this book. Here he celebrates the joy of train-riding and, gracefully preaches its efficiency together with a sketch of passenger train history, its current progress, the oil- and votes-loving opponents, and the proponents--even among the freight roads' executives. One UP executive spoke the company line about its obligation to move Amtrak over the road expeditiously: "...we don't care". A fine primer on economics, politics, engineering. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The opening of the world's first railroad in Britain and America in 1830 marked the dawn of a new age. Within the course of a decade, tracks were being laid as far afield as Australia and Cuba, and by the outbreak of World War I, the United States alone boasted over a quarter of a million miles. With unrelenting determination, architectural innovation, and under gruesome labor conditions, a global railroad network was built that forever changed the way people lived. From Panama to Punjab, from Tasmania to Turin, Christian Wolmar shows how cultures were enriched, and destroyed, by one of the greatest global transport revolutions of our time, and celebrates the visionaries and laborers responsible for its creation.

These days, a subway is an integral part of a city's heritage and a key feature of the urban landscape used by passengers, but subways are also full of history and art. They reflect a city's personality and its past and future, and are worthy of exploration, even for those not boarding a train. It's safe to say that a great many subways have overcome their past reputation for unpleasant shadiness. Subways revolutionized urban transport, moving people from crowded streets to efficient underground tunnels. This book has two parts: the first tells the stories of six major subways: London, Paris, Moscow, New York, Berlin, Tokyo. It describes their histories, the circumstances of their construction, and many anecdotes from what were invariably political, financial, engineering and architectural marathons. As well, deadly accidents, scarce funds and corruption set construction off the rails more often than not. The second half of the book is a stunning photo gallery of some of the most surprising subway stations around the world. They include examples from the six systems covered historically plus stations whose architecture reflects the cities and the people that they serve. They include: Szent Gellért, Budapest -- One of the world's oldest subways, spiral patterns take riders on an intergalactic trip of misleading perspectives and concrete interlacing. Puhung, Pyongyang, North Korea -- This dictator's showcase is one of only two stations, open but two hours a day, and apparently, a mandatory activity for tourists. Beitucheng, Beijing -- Echoes of ancient blue and white porcelain are rendered contemporary, even in the subway maps. Rådhuset, Stockholm -- Where Franciscan monks prayed in the 15th century, artist Sitgvard Olsson has created an organic cave, its rough walls lit in red like volcanic magma. New York City -- The vaulted tile ceiling of New York's City Hall "ghost station" is unfortunately rarely seen. Toledo, Naples -- Seen on this book's jacket, it is one of Europe's most magnificent stations.. Concorde Station, Paris -- Tiled walls form a word search puzzle of the Declaration of the Rights of Man.

Chronicles the race to finish the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s and the exploits, sacrifices, triumphs, and tragedies of the individuals who made it happen.

Profusely illustrated with rare historic and previously unpublished modern photography, this is the perfect book for every railfan. This invaluable volume spans more than 150 years of locomotive technology to examine the wide variety of steam, diesel, and electric locomotives that have powered ninety North American railroads, past and present, through the decades. Because locomotive-building has long been a made-to-order business, the book is arranged alphabetically by railroad to give readers a better understanding of how specific technologies suited specific needs. The railroads range from the best-known historic lines, such as the Canadian Pacific, Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and Baltimore & Ohio, to today's giant Class I roads, commuter lines, and selected short lines. The result is a beautifully presented reference guide that features more than 400 locomotive gems, including historic machines such as New York Central's J3a Hudsons, Pennsylvania Railroad's GG1 electrics, and EMD's classic E- and F-Units, to today's most powerful modern diesels. All the major builders - past and present - are represented, including such heavyweights as Baldwin, Alco, Lima, EMD, GE, and more.