Highball: A Pageant of Trains

by Lucius Beebe

This magnificent volume is a work wherein pictures and text fuse together into the unified whole bringing you the full story of Colorado railroading from the time when the golden spike was stolen as the first rails were laid in Denver, right up to present day. In putting this volume together, Mr. Beebe has been concerned with two objects - to recapitulate and bring up to date some aspects of railroading, and to venture into other entirely new fields. The text is written throughout with all Mr. Beebe's exciting combination of expert's knowledge and layman's language, so that it presents no difficulties to the technically uninitiated. More than 190 photographs are included.

Genres: Trains, Nonfiction

223 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Steve Boyko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucius Beebe is well known among railfans for his prodigious output of books and photographs about trains. He pioneered the book format that featured train photos interspersed with essays. Highball continues the series begun with High Iron.

Breve’s language is baroque to the extreme and forced me to look up several words in a dictionary. Still, his writing is compelling and entertaining. I can almost imagine him tossing the words out while holding a snifter of brandy and contemplating his next meal.

The photography is pedestrian by modern standards but pretty remarkable for the technology of the time. It is particularly noteworthy because many photos were taken during WW2 when you would think photography would be frowned upon or banned. The print quality is only so so, alas.

I look forward to reading more Beebe.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful look at railroading in the 1930s through early 1940s.
Some of the best pictures of smaller railroad lines to be found.
I've enjoyed this book since I was a wee lad. Just re-read it again and it still is as enjoyable as it was when I first read it in the 1970s.

[Ruppert Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beebe was one of the pioneers of the railfan/rail enthusiast hobby in the US, and this book in considered one of the classics in the genre. It is filled with wonderful photos and information of railroading in the first half of the last century.