Railroads and the American People

by Grant, H. Roger

• ISBN13: 9780253006332
• ISBN10: 0253006333
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-10-17
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

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--illustrating each topic with carefully chosen period illustrations. Grant recalls the lasting memories left by train travel, both of luxurious Pullman cars and the grit and grind of coal-powered locals. He discusses the important role railroads played for towns and cities across America, not only for the access they provided to distant places and distant markets but also for the depots that were a focus of community life. Finally, Grant reviews the lasting heritage of the railroads as it has been preserved in word, stone, paint, and memory. Railroads and the American People is a sparkling paean to American railroading by one of its finest historians.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Prologue	p. xi
Trains	p. 1
Stations	p. 95
Communities	p. 165
Legacy	p. 248
Sources and Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 291
Index	p. 297
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.