Fifty Railways That Changed the Course of History

Fifty Things That Changed the Course of History

by Bill Laws

Fifty Railways that Changed the Course of History is a fascinating and beautifully presented guide to the train lines and rail companies that have had the greatest impact on modern civilization.

Entries range from the Metropolitan Line of the London Underground, the world’s first underground railway, to the Pacific Railroad, the first transcontinental railroad in North America.

In order to justify the assertion that they literally 'changed the course of history,' each railway is judged by its influence in five categories: Engineering, Society, commerce, Politics, and Military.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Trains, Railways

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 26, 2013

Reviews

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review title: Trails to rails

Today railroads are romance, but we cling warily today on the shoulders of giants for whom railroads were commerce, industry, science, politics, culture and the future. This small book documents 50 railroads that these giants built and how they turned their dreams and visions into steel and steam.

Each railroad is identified by its country, type (passenger or freight), length, year of establishment, and primary historical impact. Because the book is a small format the numerous picture are small, but this is a beautifully designed and printed volume. The author also expands in some chapters from the railroad into the list to others similar to it or building on it in the fighter, so that more than just a list, this is a compact history of the impact of railroads on the lives and landscapes of the world they changed and we inherited.

The first railroad in the list, a small mine railroad in Wales, predates the use of steam, diesel, or electric power, as horse power was used to pull mine cars, then freight, then passengers. The early days of rail basic decisions like types of rail and with of gauge and cars were still up in the air, and documented here are technical, political, and even social implications of these decisions. Some of the railroads here are iconic because of their luxury (the Orient Express) or their length (the Trans Siberian).

These were men who turned trails into rails, transforming their and our landscape by the application of technology that transformed our lives, in the great whole for the better. Today we timidly turn their rails into trails, reclaiming some of the damage and losses of progress, but are too ready to throw out the progress with the problems.

This short rail tour of history covers all the bases and the basics. This would make a great gift for a rail fan.

[Trena · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a train fanatic this was a good brief overview.Would be good for someone just discovering the magic of trains.

[Atlantean BCT · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a light read, for reasons I don't really understand, I found this book hard going. The book is an introduction to railways rather than an indepth account.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not certain I would agree with the title, as railways are part of our history rather than changers of it. That aside, it's a wonderful book which documents the importance of railways and their either their social, commercial, political, engineering, or military impact by location over the past 200 years. Lots of little asides/vignettes/trivia included as well so well worth the read.

[Barry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Scattered & shallow, this book forgets to properly tell the stories that should have made it a good read.

[Jim Blessing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book about the 50 railroads that changed the world. It was mildly amusing for the non-railroad fanatic.

[Joe McMahon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Small and light typeface hinders reading. Whoever designed this book made an interesting work almost illegible. The author presents a gold mine of railway history in somewhat chronological order, but the tiny type makes reading the text or the side bars a struggle. An error tops page 163: "Grand Central served the great trains of the era, from the Twentieth Century to the Broadway Limited. Sorry, the Broadway Limited left from Pennsylvania Station.

[Greg Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was spoilt for me, when I found that for a railway that I am particularly interested in, there has been a significant mix up of dates i.e. The Talyllyn Railway restoration started in the 1950s not the 1970s as stated, I think the author confused this with the Nant Gwernol extension in 1976.

[Thor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid read, though many of the railways steer into in-depth discussions in what occasionally seems somewhat unstructured when you compare other railways. Highly appreciated nonetheless, a recommended read for the interested, but not as gripping as books with clearer red wires.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read but could have done with more information.

[Yasmin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Language used was somewhat problematic. A pity the author didn't mention how the railways impacted diamond mining in South Africa. Otherwise a mild and vaguely interesting read.

[Richard Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book. Liked the train detail and some lesser known history info.

[TrainFanatik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabs you by the balls and never lets go. Laws' beautiful style of writing gripped me from start to finish. As a train enthusiast/conductor I was more than pleased to see all of the great railroads included in this book. You want the continental railroad? You bet your bottoms it's in there. My pages are sticky to say the least from this marvelous book! I have never in my life ejaculated as many times as I did reading this masterpiece. Choo Choo for me and you!

[Pam Ela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapter titles are not necessarily what the article is about. Lots of interesting facts though.

[Michael Pryor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucid, expansive, tantalising.