The Story of American Railroads

by Stewart H. Holbrook

This richly comprehensive history by a self-proclaimed "low-brow" historian features more than 100 photographs and contemporary prints of America's railway system. Stewart H. Holbrook presents a dramatic, highly readable chronicle of the development of the backbone of the country's commerce and industry. Abounding in episodes of ingenuity and achievement, the growth of the railway system required constant improvements in techniques, devices, and machines, from the first wood burner that traveled on wooden rails to modern streamliners and diesel-powered giants.
In addition to technological innovations, the colossal enterprise required courage and resolve to battle challenges posed by nature as well as by political maneuvering and corruption. This fascinating survey draws upon many hitherto unknown original sources and new data, in addition to firsthand accounts from hundreds of brakemen, conductors, engineers, and other railroad employees. Sound and authoritative, it constitutes a definitive history of America's railroads.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Railways

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Stewart Hall Holbrook (1893 - 1964) was an American lumberjack, writer, and popular historian. His writings focused on what he called the "Far Corner" - Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. A self-proclaimed "low-brow" historian, his topics included Ethan Allen, the railroads, the timber industry, the Wobblies, and eccentrics of the Pacific Northwest.

He wrote for The Oregonian for over thirty years, and authored dozens of books. He also produced a number of paintings under the pseudonym of "Mr. Otis."

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It might be more accurate to call this "Stories from America's Railroads" than the story of them. Holbrook, who clearly loves steam engines and trains, has collected decades worth of anecdotes and stories from reading about and talking with railroad workers, and his love for the subject comes through on every page. It's not an academic history, it's not really a history of the industry so much as a labor of love that celebrates dedicated engineers, inventors, and the rare railroad executives who pushed their visions through and created and ran the railroad system that spanned the continent. The text was written in 1947, so it's a picture of the industry before its decline, so it is not the most enlightening about current transport trends if that's what you're looking for.

[Chris Utter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though written in 1947, this history of the American railroads, nonetheless is thorough in all aspects of railroading, covering such things as the very early wooden roads right up to the Diesel locomotives. He talks about some of the “firsts”, such as the RR’s in New England, the backwoods of Maine and the first railroads in Chicago. He also cover’s of the newsboys, the hobos, train wreaks, Pullman and Wagner and the early sleeping cars. The book is easy to read...I could not put it down. I enjoyed it very much and only wish that it included more modern times. But it dose give a very good history and makes me want to find histories of such things as the electric trolley car, more details about dining cars and other such thing. Thank you, Mr. Holbrook!