American Railroads

In this social history of the impact of railroads on American life, H. Roger Grant concentrates on the railroad's "golden age," 1830-1930. To capture the essence of the nation's railroad experience, Grant explores four fundamental topics - trains and travel, train stations, railroads and community life, and the legacy of railroading in America. Grant recalls the lasting memories left by train travel, both of luxurious Pullman cars and the grit and grind of coal-powered locals.

In a grand-scale narrative history, the bestselling author of two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize now captures the decades when capitalism was at its most unbridled and a few breathtakingly wealthy businessmen utterly transformed America from an agrarian economy to a world power. The years...

In this New York Times bestseller, Stephen Ambrose brings to life the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad, from the men who financed it to the engineers and surveyors who risked their lives to the workers who signed on for the dangerous job. Nothing Like It in the World gives...

Freedom has a price—and Eve is about to pay it. Mississippi, 1860. Beneath the blistering heat of the cotton fields, Eve dreams of escape. When a brutal overseer’s cruelty pushes her past the breaking point, she flees into the night with only faith—and fear—as companions. On the run, Eve finds an unlikely ally in Nate, a runaway determined to reach freedom across the Detroit River. Guided by whispers of the Underground Railroad, they travel north through hidden trails and Quaker safe houses. But deep in Indiana, they encounter Clem, a terrified teenage boy newly escaped—a meeting ...

The fast-paced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the Key West Railroad—one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell swoop by the strongest storm ever to hit U.S. shores. In 1904, the brilliant and driven...

The American Revolution did not end in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris. Through the Revolutionary War, the fight leading to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, and then the creation of the Republic during the Washington Presidency, this was one continuing Revolution. In every phase, for 21 years, it was George Washington who led and steered this revolution. The vision, the intention, the fight, was not simply Independence - separation from Britain - but the creation of a Republic dedicated to upward human progress. Washington's battles with Jefferson and Madison were not "policy ...

The Full Story of African American History — All in One Place Most history books only tell part of the story. They might teach a little about slavery, a few famous names, or the Civil Rights Movement. But there’s so much more to know. This book brings it all together. It tells the full story of African American history — from early inventions and everyday heroes to powerful leaders and artists who helped shape the country. It shows how African Americans have always been part of building, changing, and inspiring the world around them. This is not just about one time in history. It’s ...

African American History 3-in-1: An Unforgettable Journey of Resilience, Resistance, and Triumph From the inhuman horrors of the Atlantic Slave Trade to the secret heroism of the Underground Railroad, and through the inspiring triumphs of African American pioneers, this book delivers a sweeping, full-scope narrative that will move, challenge, and uplift you. Across three enthralling volumes, you’ll witness the heartbreak, the courage, and the legacy of a people who changed the course of history. Three manuscripts in one book: African American History: An Enthralling Overview of Major ...

The focus of this selection concerns both the Federal and Confederate efforts to disable or maintain the railroads within the active theaters of the war. Real railroads of iron and steam and ribbons of steel vanishing into the horizon quickly became a strategic objective of both armies in the Civil War. Raiders and protectors were deployed both North and South. The damage inflicted on roadways and rolling stock was not always easy to accomplish.

They ran 1,000 miles to freedom and changed the country forever. The Vanishing Woman tells the true story of Ellen Craft, who escaped from slavery in 1848 by posing as a white man, while her husband William pretended to be her slave. They took trains and steamboats north, escaping in plain view. When other passengers looked at her, they saw only an ailing planter from Georgia. Ellen Craft had vanished. Ellen’s mother was a slave, but her father was her master, and she had skin as white as his. This enabled her to pose as a white man in one of the boldest escapes in American history. ...

Introducing "American History: The Legends that Shaped the USA" a riveting exploration of the rich and fascinating early history of the United States. This book takes you on a journey through the remarkable stories of American legends, from the birth of the country, through Westward expansion, wars, and political scandals. It delves into the lives of heroes, leaders, and presidents who played pivotal roles in shaping America's history, making it the great country it is today. Are you interested in exploring the rich and fascinating early history of the United States? This book takes you on ...

Ruth’s beau died - simply because he was a slave. She is determined to help other enslaved people as she assists with the Underground Railroad. Recently freed and illiterate, Ruth is hired to bake mouth-watering delicious bread in a Philadelphia bakery. Her boss Joseph is kind, handsome, and determined to put an end to slavery. She feels emotionally connected to him as they work together for a common cause. His presence is like a fresh splash of spring rain on her parched soul. However, Joseph has plans. He’s determined to make some major changes in his life. He desperately wants to ...

As the United States moves toward civil war, young printer’s apprentice Thomas Garrett discovers that history is not made only in capitals and battlefields. It is also made in hidden cellars, divided homes, crowded hospitals, newspaper offices, and the choices ordinary people make when the law protects injustice. Beginning in Frederick, Maryland, in 1852, Tom’s life changes when a frightened mother and her two sons arrive at his family’s home while fleeing slavery. Their appearance draws him into the secret routes of the Underground Railroad and forces him to confront the human cost ...

'I couldn't put it down. I'll never stop thinking about it' Ann Patchett 'One hell of a novel about a good woman on the run with her beautiful boy' Stephen King FEAR KEEPS THEM RUNNING. HOPE KEEPS THEM ALIVE. Vivid, visceral, utterly compelling, AMERICAN DIRT is the first novel to explore the...

HE SURVIVED THE WAR. HE BUILT A RAILROAD. NOW HE HAS ONE BREATH LEFT TO FORGIVE. Jim Robbins is the son of a poor Arkansas farmhand who falls hopelessly in love with the one girl he's not allowed to have — the plantation owner's daughter, Angelina “Gina” Barnes. Then the Civil War tears the South apart, and Jim goes to fight it as a Confederate gunner, leaving Gina, and the life he'd hoped to build, behind him. He comes home to find Gina married to someone else and the world he knew burned to ash. With nothing left but iron and ambition, Jim throws himself into building America's ...

Freedom was only one crossing away. As winter tightens its grip near the Canadian border, Nate, Eve, and fourteen-year-old Clem are running on exhaustion, faith, and sheer will. They have survived slave hunters, betrayal, hunger, and the long road north. Now, with the river ahead and patrols closing in, the final miles are the most dangerous of all. Every choice carries a cost. Clem must decide what freedom truly means. Nate and Eve are forced to confront the limits of courage, sacrifice, and love when no safe path remains, and survival may demand the unthinkable. Written in the tradition ...

Ninth book in the "and Other Railroad Stories" collection of TRUE Railroad short stories, written by author, Charles H. Geletzke, Jr. and friends. Stories will take the reader from the last days of steam through and to the present day. If you would like to become a professional railroader, or perhaps wish you were...THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU! Written by professional railroaders for railfans, model railroaders, and career railroaders in all crafts too... Events may not be exactly as they happened to you; but I'll bet they will have you recalling similar events and incidents!

They built the tracks, but they were erased from the map. Buried Beneath the Rails uncovers the hidden history of the Chinese laborers who built the American West—and the systemic exclusion that followed. From the granite-carving slopes of the Sierra Nevada to the desert sands of Utah, tens of thousands of Chinese workers toiled under brutal conditions to construct the transcontinental railroad. Without their skill, endurance, and sacrifice, the United States could not have expanded as it did. Yet they were paid less, subjected to violence, denied citizenship, and ultimately erased from ...

The national radio host and bestselling author of The American Miracle reveals the happy accidents, outrageous coincidences, and flat-out miracles that continue to shape America’s destiny. “The book isn't just inspiring; it reignites faith in God and the country upon which He has so richly...

Transportation is the unsung hero in America's story. Stagecoaches, waterways, canals, railways, busses, and airplanes revolutionized much more than just the way people got around; they transformed the economic, political, and social aspects of everyday life. In Transportation and the American People, renowned historian H. Roger Grant tells the story of American transportation from its slow, uncomfortable, and often dangerous beginnings to the speed and comfort of travel today.