The Railroaders

The Old West #5

by Keith Wheeler

The Railroaders six Chapters pack full of fantastic picures, illustrations and photographs. A great depiction od the early history of the U. S. and the development of the Railroads.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Westerns, Historical

240 pages, Leather Bound

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume, a part of the Time-Life series "The Old West," examines the development of rail in the West. The book begins with the statement (Page 6): "As late as the 1850s, the notion that a Bostonian could soon buy a railroad ticket to California and be there within a week seemed as remote as the fantasies of Jules Verne." And yet, within a short period of time, there was a transcontinental railroad that transformed the country--and the Old West.

This book, as others in the series, features many wonderful photos from the era, maps, and other features that assist the reader in "getting it." The first chapter speaks to the visionaries who thought that rail could bind the country together. Such figures as Senator Thomas Hart Benson, Asa Whitney, John C. Fremont (as part of the surveying expedition to determine the best routes available), Jefferson Davis (who, surprise, favored a southern route), and so on. A nice map on page 21 lays out some of the competing proposed routes for the transcontinental railroad. The second chapter considers the "barons of the Western roads." Here, we learn of the "movers and shakers" who sought to advance their economic interests. Among these? Thomas Durant, Leland Stanford, C. P. Huntington, and many others. The chapter provides some insight into their character and their motives.

The third chapter explores the workers, who helped build the railroad. Very hard work. Very challenging conditions. The chapter humanizes the workers. . . . The photos illustrate the heroic efforts of engineers and workers to build bridges and lay the rail line. Pages 121-127 depict the joining of rail lines between east and west. Chapter 4 discusses the travel situation created by the completed railroad, indicating what life was like on the tracks. . . .

And so on. . . .

If interested in a quick read about the development of the transcontinental railroad and if interested in an array of photos which helps bring the era to life, this volume should be reasonably satisfying.

[Dimitri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another well-executed tale of the hardship behind the myth of the transcontinental connection, this time about a method of transport to my heart: the train.

[Pat Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Time Life book with special leather cover and lots of pictures. Gives a pretty good history of railroads and their history in the U.S. Mostly the characters that took on the task of engineering the actual placement of the rails and running the railroad as a business which is much more than just hauling freight and people.

[Paul Metting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read the chapter about the early railroad workers and how dangerous their lives were. I appreciated the mention of places fairly near my home, such as Buckley, Stampede Pass, and Yakima. I find this book easy and enjoyable to read.

[spike marlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all the others in the series that I have read so far this one talles about the building of the first US transcontinental railroad that was finished in 1869. There is brief mention of the other railroads with and ending article in JJ Hill of the Great Northern Railway. The book talked about the surveyors, the builders, the financing and the corruption. Once the railroad is built the book talks about the service, and the people who worked upon the railroad. I find these books balanced in there perspective telling the good with the bad. Still there was a sense of American superiority as a people and a nation for building such a monumental piece of infrastructure.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

It certainly does present all the facts about the men who financed and built the first railroads to the west. Compared to the other books in this series I’ve read so far, at times I felt like it was going on too long about the financing, government deals, and that sort of thing. I was hoping for more tales of the men who ACTUALLY built it, the workers.

[Bright Boy Books]

2 copies

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures are marvelous, but the text is very dry.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The railroad; is there anything more American? The Golden Spike, steam and smoke bellowing up from an engine chugging through some gorgeous mountain pass. It is a deeply embedded image in our national subconscience.

While I was reading The Railroaders I often thought of Sergio Leone's 1968 film Once Upon a Time in the West. The amount of corruption associated with the financing given to the Central Pacific and Union Pacific by Congress to build the first transcontinental railroad is staggering. The cost to finance this rail project was more than the entire U.S. government's federal budget for the first year of the Civil War. That's a lot of dough!

In the 1850's The Great Basin Desert and California beyond were often called the "The Far West". The transcontinental railroad changed all that and bound a nation together.

Also check out Thomas Edison's 1903 film "The Great Train Robbery" on YouTube. It's fantastic!

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again