Goin' railroading: A century on the Colorado high iron

by Margaret Coel, Sam Speas

Fascinating memoirs of Sam Speas, a life-time Colorado railroader who worked on the Colorado Central, Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific, the Denver, South Park & Pacific and the Colorado & Southern. His memories provide a first-hand, true to life description of railroading and how it changed from the early days on the narrow gauge lines in South Park to the final days of steam on the main line out of Denver. It's rare to find such a personal, authentic look at the hard work, long hours and constant physical danger that employees faced over the years combined with an accurate description of railroad operations. Illustrated throughout with black and white photos. 312 pages with index.

Genres: Railways, History

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Margaret Coel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the acclaimed novels featuring Father John O'Malley and Vicky Holden, as well as several works of nonfiction. Originally a historian by trade, she is considered an expert on the Arapaho Indians.

Reviews

[Chris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful memoir of Sam Speas Jr. "as told" to his daughter Margaret Coel, a popular mystery writer and a fine historian in her own right. It covers over 100 years of history of the Speas family, and the men who went 'railroading.' For an informative look of the railroads, cities, people, steam operations, occupations, administration, and growth of the railroads, I don't think you can beat this. Told in a conversational tone (well, doh), it just brims with information and excitement. With the historical investigation, it cites its claims and provides a close-up look of what, 'goin' railroading' meant for the men, their wives, and families. Well done.

[Steven Haworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful biography, tracking what it was like to live and work in Colorado, from about 1885 through 1967. You also get a deep slice of what the depression and dust bowl years were like, the impact of both wars on work in the US, and how early union movements started, and labor rights on railroads came into being.

And for the railfan, it's a wonderful slice of life on the South Park, and later C&S, from narrow gauge years through mainline running with 1st-generation diesels, in the mountains.

HIGHLY recommended!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked "Little Engines Big Men" better, but this collection of stories of a man and his father working on the Colorado railroads for a span of a century was still fascinating. What a super specific treasure of a book to exist in an age where railroaders are a generation that has passed.

[Nicole Schiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED. so informative, was a beautiful retelling of the narrow gauge railroading life of the late 1800s in Colorado

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised by the low rating. This was my first Coel book--living in Colorado, being a history and RR buff I loved it. She's writing about her own family--wonderful slice of life in late 19th & early 20th century Colorado.