Steam, Smoke, and Steel: Back in Time with Trains

by Patrick O'Brien

All aboard! This train travels through history making stops in time to learn about the progress of travel by rail.

Hop up into the cab of a speeding modern-day locomotive and look down the tracks into the past. Perhaps these are the same tracks that the diesel-electric locomotives of thirty years ago thundered down, pulling their loads. Perhaps you can see the steam engines of thirty years before that. Watch time unravel and the landscape change as the history of trains barrels through the pages of STEAM, SMOKE AND STEEL: BACK IN TIME WITH TRAINS.

The first trains puffed great billowing clouds of smoke and showered passengers with burning embers as they sped down the rails at a pulse-pounding twenty miles an hour! By the 1850's, however, trains were traveling much faster, much farther, and much cleaner and train travel contributed to the growth of our nation. Young readers will be fascinated by the exciting -- and sometimes dangerous -- story of trains while they learn about the different kinds of engines, equipment, and jobs necessary for operating trains throughout history. The young narrator introduces readers to trains from the time of his great-great-great-great-great grandfather at the turn of the nineteenth century to his father's train of today, showing the great changes that invention and progress have brought over time.

Patrick O'Brien's striking illustrations emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and romance of the train. Detailed and richly textured oil paintings take readers on a trip through time to ride aboard open-air cars, travel through mountain passes, and roar down the rails on high-speed bullet trains. Budding engineers will love getting a glimpse at the past and dreaming about the future of trains.

Genres: Trains, History, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Historical, Childrens, Transport

32 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2000

About the author

Patrick O'Brien has been a full-time illustrator and artist since 1985. His clients have included National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, and the Smithsonian. His art has appeared in magazines and newspapers, on posters and greeting cards, and even on billboards.

Patrick is the author and illustrator of twelve picture books for children. These are mostly non-fiction books about things like knights, pirates, ships, and dinosaurs, although he has done a couple of science-ficition books about dinosaurs in space.

In 2003 Patrick began creating oil paintings of maritime scenes. In 2010 the U.S. Naval Academy Museum mounted an exhibition featuring twenty-eight of his maritime paintings. In 2012, The National Maritime Historical Society awarded O’Brien with their Distinguished Service Award for his body of artwork. See www.PatrickOBrienStudio.com

Patrick teaches part-time in the illustration department at The Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD.

Reviews

[James]

A story about one family and their love of trains stretching back through American history, the illustrations are great and really capture each period of locomotive history - there is a sense of grandeur and glory of the age of steam and rail. Perfect for budding train drivers and anyone who loves the railways.

[Desi A]

A nice structure, moving back in time. I appreciated the nod to the grandmother engineer.

[Emma]

This is a must kids who love trains!

[Krysta McFarland]

This book is a very informative, nonfiction, book and if you ever have to teach a lesson on trains I would highly recommend grabbing this book. I could see this being read in grades 3-4 both aloud and as independent reading books. This is one of the non-fiction books that I could read over and over and not get tired of. The book is written in a way that actually pulls the reader in keeps them attentive as you read. O'Brien uses an abstract way of incorporating facts that keeps the storying fun and moving. Again, a good read and I would highly recommend reading this if you ever wanted to teach a lesson over trains.

[Cheyenne Cortesi]

Steam, Smoke, and Steel is about the author Patrick O’Brien’s family and how they were all involved with trains. A story that mentions differences in trains from one year to the next and even gender differences (since his great grandmother drove a train).This story was great because it was informational and extremely personal. The text was written like a conversation, for example “my dad’s got the best job in the world” (2000, p.3). Also the book included very well done illustrations, some of which included captions to help the reader understand certain concepts which was helpful. This book can be used many ways in a classroom. One of those ways being utilized to teach about trains and how they have changed over time. Another way this book can be used in the classroom is to teach about family and family trees. This is because the book deals with the author’s family.

O’Brien, P. (2000). Steam, Smoke, and Steel. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing.

[Melissa]

Informational
K-2nd grade
This book was very informational on the history of different types of trains. I liked how it was told from the perspective of a young boy telling his family's history with trains. There were beautiful images of trains with additional facts as well. This was an entertaining book and I think kids who are interested in trains will enjoy it.

[Anita]

Cooper loves this book. It is all about the history of trains, starting with the present and showing the types of trains used in different decades, going back through time until the train was first invented in the 1830s. I love it when he points out the train's firebox in every picture.

[Sara]

has some women engineers in it, a nice change. Lots of words, aimed at older elementary kids.

[Lindsay]

3.5