Railroad Trains

Michael Gillespie applies his generous wit, dry humor, and historical insights to the school of railroading literature at the height of the steam era. Personal journals, press reports, and trade magazines all produced stories meant at the time to entertain readers… but which today offer a compelling folk history from the early days of railroads. 350 pages of railroad stories... with editorial introductions and commentary, dozens of historic photos, and a complete railroad glossary... make "OLD TIME RAILROAD STORIES" a true collector’s edition! Michael is also the author of two of the ...

America was made by the railroads. The opening of the Baltimore & Ohio line—the first American railroad—in the 1830s sparked a national revolution in the way that people lived thanks to the speed and convenience of train travel. Built through heroic effort, the American railroad network was bigger in every sense than Europe's, and facilitated everything from long-distance travel to commuting and transporting goods to waging war. It united far-flung parts of the country, boosted economic development, and was the catalyst for America's rise to world-power status.

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...

When Monisha Rajesh announced plans to circumnavigate the globe in 80 train journeys, she was met with wide-eyed disbelief. But it wasn’t long before she was carefully plotting a route that would cover 45,000 miles - almost twice the circumference of the earth - coasting along the world’s most remarkable railways; from the cloud-skimming heights of Tibet’s Qinghai railway to silk-sheeted splendour on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Packing up her rucksack - and her fiancé, Jem, Monisha embarks on an unforgettable adventure.

Watch the landscapes shift as travelers board and disembark a train in this Audible Sleep story told by John Stamos. Travel through cities and over shimmering waters reflecting the moon, enjoying the steady chug of the train’s engine as you drift off to sleep.

“I can't die but once!” This was the rallying cry of Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor in the history of the Underground Railroad. Her name is legendary, but many don’t know Harriet’s full story. The Tubman Train starts with her dramatic early years, including the pivotal day when she began having visions from God—visions of flying North. The story follows Harriet through her own escape in 1849 and the beginning of her work as the “She-Moses,” culminating in the dramatic attempt to rescue her brothers. The Tubman Train is the first novel to explore the complicated ...

Prepare to embark on a captivating journey into the intricate and enchanting realm of miniature railroading with "Miniature Worlds Unleashed"—your comprehensive guide to creating your very own microcosm of railroads, towns, and landscapes that echo the vibrancy of life itself. As the conductor of your miniature universe, you’ll unlock the secrets of this beloved hobby that fuses art, engineering, and storytelling. From envisioning a theme that sparks your interest to crafting a bustling rail empire uniquely your own, this guide traverses every aspect of model train creation. Dive into ...

Named one of the "75 People You Should Know" by Trains Magazine, Jim McClellan was a railroading legend and one of the railroad industry’s titans. An iconic and innovative executive, McClellan participated in the creation of both Amtrak and Conrail and worked for the Norfolk Southern, the New York Central, US Railway Association, and the Federal Railroad Administration. My Life with Trains combines a world-class photographer’s love of railroading with the insights of a government and railroad official.

Enter the enchanting world of Model Railroad Mastery, your indispensable guide to creating a miniature empire that defies the confines of space. This comprehensive eBook unveils the secrets of building a captivating model railroad, regardless of the room you have at your fingertips. Embark on a journey through the fundamentals of small-scale model railroading, where you'll start with understanding the nuances of scale and gauge. Then thread the needle of crafting balanced layouts that radiate beauty while maintaining full functionality. Delve deeply into the esoteric art of space ...

Many have often thought that they would have liked to work for a railroad. This volume (the third in a series) will take a prospective employee through the transition era (from steam locomotives to diesel) and right up through our modern era. The pros and cons of a job in the railroad industry are discussed and documented through the true accounts of former and current railroad employees in the format of over 80 short stories. This book, written in the style of O. Henry, is particularly relevant to historians, railfans, and anyone else considering making the railroad or transportation ...

John Brown and the Last Train is the story of John Brown and his last raid on Missouri slave farms and the subsequent trip north to Canada. Along the way, a baby was born to a Freedom Seeker and they fought in the Battle of the Spurs. They received help from the major UGR Stations in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. Famous detective, Allan Pinkerton helped them get across to Canada. This is historical fiction based on factual events and told through the voices of the Freedom Seekers.

A fascinating journey through the history of railways, packed with first-hand accounts of innovation, triumph, and tragedy. From the earliest steam engine to the high-speed bullet trains of today, A Short History of the Railway reveals the hidden stories of railway history across the world - the...

This collection of true railroad stories is the author's third book. His first book entitled THE DETROIT & TOLEDO SHORE LINE RAILROAD-EXPRESSWAY FOR INDUSTRY was a detailed complete history with color and b&w photos covering the entire history of this small Class 1 freight carrier. The author's second book, and beginning of a series, is titled WHEN DEADHEAD COUNTED AS REST AND OTHER RAILROAD STORIES and is a collection of 80 short stories depicting exciting, frequently humorous, sometimes mundane, and in a few cases deadly trips over the rails. You will truly be entertained and searching ...

The transcontinental railroads of the late 19th century were the first corporate behemoths. Their attempts to generate profits from proliferating debt sparked devastating panics in the US economy. Their dependence on public largess drew them into the corridors of power, initiating new forms of corruption. Their operations rearranged space and time, and remade the landscape of the West. As wheel and rail, car and coal, they opened new worlds of work and ways of life.

In one of the most inventive travel books in years, Ina Caro invites listeners on 25 one-day train trips that depart from Paris and transport us back through 700 years of French history. Whether taking us to Orléans to evoke the visions of Joan of Arc or to the Place de la Concorde to witness the beheading of Marie Antoinette, Caro animates history with her lush descriptions of architectural splendors and tales of court intrigue. "[An] enchanting travelogue" (Publishers Weekly), Paris to the Past has become one of the classic guidebooks of our time.

In the 1850s, gold fever swept the West, but people had to walk, sail, or ride horses for months on end to seek their fortune. The question of faster, safer transportation was posed by national leaders. But with 1,800 miles of seemingly impenetrable mountains, searing deserts, and endless plains between the Missouri River and San Francisco, could a transcontinental railroad be built? It seemed impossible.

On December 18, 1867, the Buffalo and Erie Railroad's eastbound New York Express derailed as it approached the high truss bridge over Big Sister Creek, just east of the small settlement of Angola, New York, on the shores of Lake Erie. The last two cars of the express train were pitched completely off the tracks and plummeted into the creek bed below. When they struck bottom, one of the wrecked cars was immediately engulfed in flames as the heating stoves in the coach spilled out coals and ignited its wooden timbers

All aboard! The Story of Railroads: How Trains Connected the World – A Guide for Curious Kids is a warm and engaging journey through the history of trains, written especially for young readers ages 6–8. With simple prose, friendly explanations, and gentle black-and-white sketches, this book brings to life the incredible story of how trains changed the world. From the earliest wooden mine carts to today’s sleek high-speed trains, children will discover how railroads helped people explore new places, share ideas, and stay connected across long distances. Perfect for early readers, ...

Jesse Nelson was an executive for the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad and its connection to Casper, Wyoming. His son, Jesse Jr. was enthralled with the building of railroads and decided he wanted a career in the expansion of the railroads west also. A passenger train was finally on its way to Casper in 1888 and he and his father were on it. While sitting down to lunch in a dining car, Jesse Jr. looks across the room and sees the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. His heart begins to pound, his palms are sweating, and he is at a loss for words! Belinda Brown is riding the FE&...

This book covers thirty-eight years working on the railroad. The first twenty-five were with AT&SF Santa Fe. The last were with the BN&SF after the two railroads merged. There are thirteen years worth of thoughts and wisdow after leaving the work force. This will cover my thoughts and feelings along this journey from the day I hired on to the day I retired, and then how life changed after leaving the railroad.