This book provides photographs and informative prose in a dated but useful look at U.S. and Canadian railroads. The author begins by briefly examining the buildup of railroads in the 1800's, but devotes more attention to the 20th Century - from heyday to the longstanding post-World War II decline. Readers learn about rail equipment and routes (steam, diesel, electric), freight trains, passenger lines (both defunct and still-existing), rapid transit, etc. Written in 1983, the book doesn't mention modern developments like Amtrak's faster Acela service on the East Coast, nor the clear success of high-speed passenger trains in Europe (beginning with the French TGV in 1989) and parts of Asia. Still, it's an informative read, and every page contains useful pictures sure to be of interest to rail buffs.
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