How Railways Transformed the World

By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt

Railways are one of the most important inventions in modern history. From the 1825 opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England, trains revolutionized both travel and trade and radically changed the way we experience the world.

In the 24 richly illustrated lectures of How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll experience the amazing world and impact of railways, from the early 19th century to today’s futuristic trains, including extensive material on the pleasure and appeal of rail travel today. Professor Patrick N. Allitt of Emory University takes you through key developments of railways, such as:

· The Beginnings: Steam and Iron. Encounter the inventers who first mounted steam engines on wheels; track evolving rail technology and the engineering marvels that drove the railway revolution.

· A Radically Changing World. Observe how railways galvanized the Industrial Revolution, hugely increased mobility, made nationwide commerce possible, sparked organized labor, and pioneered tourism.

· Railways in Politics, Empire, and War. Note 19th-century politicians’ strategic promotion of railways; the use of railroads in European colonial empires; and delve into the integral wartime use of railways.

· Great Train Journeys of the World. Learn where you can enjoy the best of rail travel today: Visualize the dramatic terrain on South Africa’s Rovos Rail; glimpse superlative trains and scenery on Switzerland’s Jungfrau and Bernina railways, India’s Darjeeling railway, Colorado’s Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway, and many others.

· Rail Travel in Culture and Art. Examine the use of railway settings in great novels; in art; in great films; and explore some of the most magnificent architecture of the modern world: great train stations.

· Railways and the Future. Learn about advancing rail technology, today’s high-speed trains, and cutting-edge rail systems which envision trains traveling at up to 700 mph.

In How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll enjoy the fascinating history and lore of an invention that forever changed human life.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 The Great Courses (P)2024 The Teaching Company, LLC

The history part is great

I really enjoyed the history portion of this course - about the first 2/3rds. provides great perspective on the ways railroads changed the world and the way we live. However, I wasn't very interested in the lectures on trains in literature, art, movies, and some of the other topics towards the end of the course - just a statement on my personal interest - not the way the material was presented. Narration was great - very engaging.

Patrick is the Best!

I have greatly enjoyed the great courses books on British history and industrialization presented by Patrick N. Allitt. I have been looking for a good book on the railroad’s role in industrialization and was thrilled that he had made a lecture series on this specific topic!

The material is very insightful yet approachable, and the vocal performance has just the right rise and fall to keep your attention for many hours of listening. Highly recommended!

Excellent informative history of trains.

Narration is perfect. Some people narrating their own work—most, in fact—do it poorly. Not so this author; he narrates perfectly, does a professional job. If he has done other GREAT COURSES, I am purchasing them.
It is, perhaps above all, delightful to hear how enthusiastic this expert is in sharing factual and esthetically based enthusiasm for trains.

Content: History of train beginnings and development, explanation of role trains played in the Industrial Revolution, impact on local and national communities, descriptions of various power plants (steam, diesel, coal fueled, super speedy modern trains using innovative propulsion systems (including use of magnets), descriptions of different rail and track systems, impact of trains on people’s lives, roles of governments in fostering train innovation and development, differences between different countries’ funding of train transportation, description of American train origins, development, expansion, and challenges posed by changing economies, abuses by industrialists in their treatment of employees, identifying principal, interesting train museums (many in Britain), economic status of present train systems (including significant comparative advantages over alternative modes of transportation (cars, trucks, planes, ships), and realistic appraisal of future train system innovations.

In about six hours of delightful listening one learns all the above and more.

Dang, but it would be wonderful for trains to again provide more extensive routing.

Joy to explore

The author’s enthusiasm is infectious. I don’t think I was born a train lover, but my son was, and I have been through most of the tourist trains in California and Colorado. This book reminds me of all the adventures I took with my son when he was a small boy. Loved it.

Disappointing

I love Allitt's course on industrialization and narration but this one is a bit disappointing. Too much description, anecdotes, train nostalgia, not enough analysis.