War history of american railroads book

The name of the book is railroads in the african american experience, and my guest has been theodore kornweibel, sdsu emeritus professor of african american history. American railroads in the 1850s 1978 american railroads 2nd ed 1997 good, brief overview. Gaps between lines, incompatible track gauges, and other vexing impediments remained in. By the end of the war nearly one of every two american personnel in uniform had passed through its doors. This resource for teachers provides information about the american memory collection. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. This book is a second editon, revised and corrected and thirteenth thousand and has gilt lettering on the cover and spine. The historical guide to north american railroads trains. Railroad wars were business rivalries between railroad companies, which occurred frequently in american history. As we know, this great nation would not have grown and prospered as it did without the railroads, which brought together the young country and allowed for unprecedented prosperity.

Instead, each railroad was rented and provided fair compensation for its cooperation. Military railroad usmrr was established by the united states war department as a. Civil war railroad books page 4 american civil war forums. World war ii brings railroads the highest ridership in american history, as soldiers are being sent. There has been competition between railroad companies since the beginning of railroading in the united states, but violent confrontations were most common in the.

Stover describes the growth of the railroads monopoly, with the consequent. It is intended for audiences interested in american military history, american. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It will bring joy and happiness to any person that has an interest in railroads. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Even rails were largely imported from england until the civil war. By 1860, railroads are a major feature of the american landscape moving goods and passengers between towns. This is a definite must have for every person interested in the american civil war. The history of trains in america kindle edition by wolmar, christian.

Although they were usually little more than legal disputes inside a courtroom, they sometimes turned into armed conflicts. To capture the essence of the nations railroad experience, grant explores four fundamental topics trai. For many americans with a little money to invest, railroads seemed like a cantmiss proposition. Military history professor christopher gabel talks about the importance of railroads and steampowered locomotives to the the union and confederate armies during the u. Railroad history, railways, locomotives, entrepreneurs. The best books on american economic history five books. Confederate railroads in the american civil war wikipedia. Civil war books and authors this is a fantastic book about the railroads of the civil war.

Soon after the war, the first transcontinental railroad was constructed. List of books and articles about railroad history online. The two companies met at promontory point, utah, on may 10, 1869. A history of christianity, a history o f the jews, modern times. Any recommended reading list therefore has to be highly selective and at least somewhat arbitrary. This book examines the construction of the virginia and tennessee railroad through southwest virginia in the 1850s, before the civil war began. Dieselization and american railroad, 19201960 by jeffrey w.

This is the first english translation of a monumental account of american railroads and canals in the years 18381839. A pictorial history of the united states civil war railroads, 18611865 new york. Dec 15, 2017 also, michael leavys new book, railroads in the civil war. Discover librarianselected research resources on railroad history from the questia. Between 1762 and 1764, at the close of the french and indian war 17561763, a gravity railroad mechanized tramway montresors tramway. Division of economics and history, 1928 ocolc578047354 online version. They were also vital to the economies of the divided nation. Norton, 1979, are good sources of images of civil war.

After the first crude beginnings, railroadcar design took divergent courses in north america and europe, because of. A world war ii pictorial history, author don denevi points out that additional rail mileage was laid down between 1910 and 1920. The building of the transcontinental line across the vast mountains, plains, and deserts of the west was, undoubtedly, a spectacle to behold, and this is the book that puts you there. Buy the historical guide to north american railroads trains books 3rd ed. The best books on american economic history recommended by michael lind. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. Like all american heritage history books this one provides a good overview of the subject with plenty of nice pictures. The book presents quite a bit of coverage of what was shipped by train and how. American history and world history can be found at historycental history s home on the web.

Military railroad during the civil war, and in 1868, he set out to document the union pacifics journey to. The american civil war was the first in which large armies depended heavily on railroads to bring supplies. Railroads critical role in the civil war historynet. American hannibal of the revolutionary war the peoples mosquito fundraising campaign to complete fuselage moulds. A great deal has been written about railroads in the war, and in particular the spectacular engineering feats of the u. American civil war rail road historical society main page. Railroads in americas postcivil war economy dummies. Civil war railroad books american civil war forums. During world war ii, however, when gasoline rationing forced many travelers to abandon their cars, railroads increased their passenger traffic. Railroads made their first decisive mark on warfare in 1849, when they expedited the movement of russian forces to crush hungarys shortlived attempt to wrest an independent republic from hapsburg austria. There had been hoboes on the railroads ever since the american civil war, but with the depression the. The american soldier surveys rip 78, american prisoners of war and civilian internees.

The nation lacked a uniform integrated system but worked around breaks and different gauges. List of books and articles about railroad history online research. Russell had been the official photographer of the u. The role of the federal government in the history of railroads in the united statesa historical overview acknowledgments. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It is a great reference book for those who want to learn about how the railroads got started, how they merged and split up over the years, and how they ended up in the current state a few large freight companies, and amtrak with a virtual monopoly over passenger traffic. With the war, railroads become both a necessity and an objective. The history of trains in america by christian wolmar, railroads and the american. By the time of the civil war, the railroads had advanced to allow the movement of large numbers of troops even though railways had not yet matured into a truly integrated transportation system.

Mar 01, 1978 john stovers book on american railroads is certainly a comprehensive history of the subject, and it goes into great detail. Timeline of united states railway history wikipedia. Gaps between lines, incompatible track gauges, and other vexing impediments remained in both the north and south. As historian john stover notes in his book, the routledge historical atlas of the american railroads, they were paid via the average of the net operating income for the three years between june 30, 1914, and june 10, 1917. By kind permission of harvard university press, we present a chapter from robert gallamores new book, american railroads. This features many evocative historical pictures as well as superb color photographs of the latest trains. The great railroad revolution the great railroad war. Originally published by unc press in 1952, the railroads of the confederacy tells the story of the first use of railroads on a major scale in a major war. A railway history depends upon the definition of a railway, as follows. Between 1866 and 1873, 35,000 miles of new track were laid, and railroads trailed only agriculture in their importance to the economic wellbeing of the country. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Stovers american railroads traces their history from the first lines that helped eastern seaports capture western markets to todays newly revitalized industry. As they drove the golden spike uniting the two tracks, a new age was born. The american heritage history of railroads in america book.

This article is part of the history of rail transport by country series wooden railroads, called wagonways, were built in the united states starting from the 1720s. The earliest of all american railroads dates back to the new jersey railroad company of 1815, chartered by colonel john stevens. The famed carry nation almost six feet tall and around 175 pounds was a member of the womens christian temperance union, and her antics were recorded by oscar getz in his book, whiskeyan american pictorial history. The military railway service was created in the 1920s as a reserve force for the quartermaster division of the united states army. Early years, 18491900 and pioneering the upper midwest. Military railroads construction corps under herman haupt. Far more books have been written about the civil war than about any other event in american history, and lincolns stack of books towers over that of any other american figure. This book is a second editon, revised and corrected and thirteenth thousand.

Apr 15, 2008 a fascinating account of the rise, decline, and rebirth of railroads in the united states, john f. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles national archives. Westholme publishing, 2010, and a volume by roy and arthur meredith, mr. During the war, new parts were hard to obtain, and the system deteriorated from overuse, lack of maintenance, and systematic destruction by union raiders. A short history of the american railways, covering ten decades and with 400 illustrations. Harrisburg has played a critical role in american history during the westward migration, the american civil war, and the industrial revolution. Milford, oxford university press, for the carnegie endowment for international peace. In this social history of the impact of railroads on american life, h. But i also got to know about it directly during the research for a number of books i wrote in these years. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. The great railroad revolution is a history of trains in the united states from their beginnings to the present day. Railroad, mode of land transportation in which flangewheeled vehicles move over two parallel steel rails, or tracks, either by selfpropulsion or by the propulsion of a locomotive. Economic and social history of the world war walker downer hines, james t.

In short, i entered the study of american history through the back door. Roger grant concentrates on the railroads golden age, 18301930. Research our special sections on diverse subjects ranging from presidential elections to naval history. By the end of the war, the agency operated 2,105 miles of railroad, with a combined rolling stock of 419 engines and 6,330 cars, 642 miles of track, and 26 miles of bridges built or rebuilt, at a cost of nearly 30 million dollars. Though it covers the antebellum period through the end of reconstruction, the focus is american railroads from 1860 through 1865. Start with the checkered history of railroad regulation. The author addresses the two fundamental questions of railroad law. Journal of american history this is the best single book on the history of railroad law. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to. Oxford university press for the carnegie endowment for international peace, division of economics and history new haven. This masters thesis covers the major angle of american railroad history and.

History of rail transportation in the united states wikipedia. The idea of total war, meaning that every part of society was involved in war, not just soldiers, was beginning to emerge during the civil war. Railroad history in the united states is nearly as old as the country itself, dating back to the mid1820s. Explore our complete time lines of major events in american history as well as world history. Americans who had visited england to see new steam locomotives were impressed that railroads. The role of the federal government in the history of railroads in the united statesa. I can understand a 4star rating as the books gives an excellent overview, it just seems a tad thin.

No tale of prohibition would be complete without a few words on this colorful woman. But the real heart of this book lies in the case studies of the chickamauga and chattanooga troop movements. Burke, james, connections book, 1978 edition book, chapter fuel to the flame episode title. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles national. But the prime task was shipping the war material created in the us to american and allied forces overseas. A fascinating account of the rise, decline, and rebirth of railroads in the united states, john f.

Volunteers from the union army, led by civilian scout james j. Stover describes the growth of the railroads monopoly, with the consequent need for state and federal regulations. Oct 04, 2018 shermans total war in georgia was brutal and destructive, but it did just what it was supposed to do. The author, christian wolmar, also provides some background information about railroads in britain early in the book, because steam trains originated in that country. For the confederate states army, the system was fragile and was designed for short hauls of cotton to the nearest river or ocean port.

His most recent books are blood, iron, and gold and engines of war. Americas postcivil war economy was driven by a boom in railroad construction. It fills a niche that, for unknown reasons, has not been well. A railroad was reportedly used in the construction of the french fortress at louisburg, nova scotia, in new france now canada in 1720. Railroad maps, 18281900 collection connections teacher. The line was ultimately never constructed and while small gravity and mulepowered roads popped up here and there it was the coming of the steam locomotive which changed everything. This superb book should be on the shelves of every railroad, economic, and legal historian. In his overviews, clark synthesizes the extant literature very well and provides a compelling case for the significance of railroads in the civil war. Mary chesnut was forever train traveling to richmond, etc. Railroads and the american people is a sparkling paean to american railroading by one of its finest historians.

Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great railroad revolution. The 1867 train wreck that shocked the nation and transformed american railroads. The american heritage history of railroads in america by. The union pacific railroad company started building from the east, while the central pacific began from the west. Stover describes the growth of the railroads monopoly, with the consequent need for. Students can explore the development of railroad transportation, military. Even if you are not interested in model railroading, you will find this book is excellent from a railroad history standpoint,particularly up to and during the civil war. Stover describes the growth of the railroads monopoly. The history of harrisburg, the state capital of the commonwealth of pennsylvania, united states, has played a key role in the development of the nations industrial history, from its origins as a trading outpost to the present. Journal of the american military history foundation, vol. American railroads, stover university of chicago press. After the war, railroads tried to maintain their gains through the introduction of airconditioning and lighter, faster, more streamlined cars, built of steel and aluminum. During the war, railroads were second only to waterways in providing logistical support for the armies.

The railroad and the state is the first book to examine as a coherent whole the. Stewart hall holbrook 18931964 worked as a lumberjack, actor, cartoonist, artillery man, and editor. It peaked in 1910 when 4,122 miles were built and slowly declined from that point forward particularly after 19. Jan 01, 2012 the great railroad revolution is a history of trains in the united states from their beginnings to the present day. History of rail transportation in the united states. This website is not as impressive as the museum itself l20 pieces of railroad rolling stock, 15,000 artifacts, and 5000 cubic feet of archival material but it does offer an interesting history and images of historic locomotives. Railroads and american law university press of kansas. The american civil war was the first war of the modern age. The history of railroad book examines the changing fortunes brought by the civil war and the great depression as well as the remarkable contributions made by pioneers such as baldwin, pullman, westinghouse and edison. Troop transfer and the civil war in the west, 1863 by roger. It is a large book of 255 pages, with very interesting and detailed text, and profusely illustrated with. The great locomotive chase or andrews raid was a military raid that occurred april 12, 1862, in northern georgia during the american civil war. Ancient history, vietnam war, medieval warfare, world war i, and many more topics.