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Making Tracks: An American Rail Odyssey
The author relates his journey across America aboard passenger trains, recalls the tales of noted figures in the history of American railroading, and highlights adventures and passengers he met along the way
- GenresTravelTrainsNonfiction
Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 27, 2018
I bought this book at a second-hand shop due to my weird love of trains (and the signature of a previous owner from San Francisco, from before I was born) and ended up with an amazing read that went above my expectations. Pindell gave great insights into the history of the railroads in the US, which I never realized were so violent or eventful, as well as great stories about his fellow passengers. The tale of the man from the man from Iran and his comments on his trip to the southern states were two highlights of this book for me, resonating in 2018 just as well as they did when it was published in 1990.
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October 26, 2023This book is 33 years old. 13 years ago when I became interested in trains after the Chatsworth accident I started to do a book search through Bud. I found this book, but I wasn’t reminded of it again until last month when someone from my Book club out of Florida, was interested in taking a train trip and was reading books about train travel. I think if I had read this book when I was first investigating trains, I would’ve been overwhelmed. As it was, The stories he chose to tell in his odyssey adventure of travel, along with the historical information and rail road legends was familiar to me, so I did not find it so daunting. The writing was very good. The stories reminded me of my own train travel, and the kind of stories that I sometimes hear as I am Traveling the country by train. There were some things I didn’t realize but I was happy to learn them. This was a great book. I know the guy worked very hard on it. The narrator was really good also. There are some narrators through the national library service that I really enjoy, and this book was done by one of them. This was recorded in the days before audiobooks produced by the market were being shared with a national library service so we didn’t have a large number of books that were available that way. We have quite a few books and quite a few narrators available through the service itself, and they chose a good one for this book. I will give this book 5 stars just for the effort it took to write it. It was interesting to encounter the trains that no longer exist. It was also interesting to see some of the names of some of the trains I’ve been on over time or the ones I’ve watched coming to the station with the guys in Fullerton. I have been on the Texas eagle in the sunset, limited and the coast starlight. Those are the three long-distance trains I have been on.
It’s very ironic that I saw this book between 10 to 13 years prior to this date and I finally get around to reading it. I think at the time it was written, there were some of the roots that no longer exist, and had not existed when I first discovered the book. so I am glad that I waited to read this book till I got some more information under my belt. There is a good bibliography of sources at the end of the book. That’s always a great thing and I’m sure I will be consulting it to read more on the railroad. I’m sure my train traveling days aren’t over yet, knock on wood. :-)
It’s very ironic that I saw this book between 10 to 13 years prior to this date and I finally get around to reading it. I think at the time it was written, there were some of the roots that no longer exist, and had not existed when I first discovered the book. so I am glad that I waited to read this book till I got some more information under my belt. There is a good bibliography of sources at the end of the book. That’s always a great thing and I’m sure I will be consulting it to read more on the railroad. I’m sure my train traveling days aren’t over yet, knock on wood. :-)
December 24, 2016
A few weeks ago, ironically just before Castro's death, I attended a poetry reading at the Savannah’s delightful Book Lady Bookstore. Featured that evening was Virgil Suarez, a Cuban poet who lives and teaches in Florida. The reading was enjoyable and I purchased and read through his collection of poetry, 90 Miles: Selected and New Poems. But my real find that evening, in the book store was a used copy of Making Tracks. As I am drawn to travel stories and especially train one. I purchased this book and quickly devoured it. Years ago, I had read Pindell's book, Last Train to Toronto (I don't know what happened to that book and it may have been a library one). In it, he tells the story of the Canadian rail system as he rides over much of the lines (some of which were being discontinued). Now, a quarter century later, I have come across another of his books (and after some research, learn that he has yet another rail book about Mexico).
In 1985, Pindell took a train from his home in New England to Florida, to visit Disney World. That trip sparked an interest in traveling by train. After the death of his father, Pindell decided to make his dream a reality and in 1988, he spent the year riding Amtrak around the nation. In four trips, mostly loops covering large sections of the country, he rode approximately 30,000 miles on iron rails, riding all the major Amtrak lines (including a couple of lines that longer exist such as the Desert Wind (Los Angeles to Salt Lake) and the Pioneer (Salt Lake to Portland and on to Seattle). Having ridden almost all these lines (I have two major missing links: the Sunset Limited from San Antonio to New Orleans and the Southern crescent from Atlanta to New Orleans), I found myself reliving, while reading, many miles and days I've spent on the train.
As he shares his experiences of riding the trains, Pindell weaves in the history of various rail lines and their signature passenger services. He also provides some of the history of towns around the tracks as well as the politics that went into the track’s development. The building of the transcontinental lines are especially interesting. A southern route would have been the easiest to build but the upcoming Civil War stopped that. Some of the railroads fought with Native Americas while others (such as the Sante Fe) hired natives to help build and maintain the lines. One of the last line built, the Great Northern, who originally operated the luxury "Empire Builder," runs just south of the Canadian Border. While riding this line, he stops at Essex, Montana where he stays at a lodge next to the tracks for a few days. As he explores part of Glacier National Park, we learn about a passenger train caught in these mountains in an avalanche for a week and how they survived. Another story is of a derailment of corn cars on this line. The corn spilled out on the ground and what couldn't be salvaged was buried. A few months later, train crews began to notice strange behavior of bears in the area and they learn that the bears have been digging up fermented corn and were essentially becoming drunks. One also learns where phrases like "wrong side of the tracks" came from (Dodge City, Kansas), and about the railroad robbery industry that developed in the 19th Century.
In addition to stories on the rail lines, Pindell tells about the people he meets traveling. There are those looking to see America and who want to slow down. Others are in search for sexual encounters or appear to be running drugs. In riding the rails so frequently, he often reunites with crew members from one train on another train a few months later. One of the running theme through much of the book is his grandfather, who was an engineer. He stops in his home town along the railroad in Illinois.
There is a political element to this book which was written at the end of the Reagan era. There is no doubt he has a liberal lean in his politics. He jokingly referred to the old Pullman cars which Amtrak received from the railroads as Republican cars as most were only stainless on the outside and had rusted so badly underneath that they were no longer safe and had to be rebuilt or replaced. However, the Budd cars (which he suggested were Democrats) had stainless insides and were still rolling strong 30 and 40 years after they were manufactured.
If you like trains, I'd recommend this book. Unfortunately, it is no longer in print, but used copies are available on Amazon. Pindell entertains us with great stories. There are a few places where he has his facts mixed. He speaks of the Southern Railroad buying North Carolina Railroad (this they wanted to do, but didn't and the line is still owned by the state even though it leases the right to run over the line to Southern Railroad). I also questioned his interpretation of the Mormons being run out of Illinois based on Joseph Smith's revelation of polygamy. Although polygamy was practiced in Illinois and led to their departure, the "revelation" didn't become public knowledge until the 1850s, long after they'd settled in the Salt Lake Valley. But these were small mistakes and didn't distract my enjoyment of his stories.
In 1985, Pindell took a train from his home in New England to Florida, to visit Disney World. That trip sparked an interest in traveling by train. After the death of his father, Pindell decided to make his dream a reality and in 1988, he spent the year riding Amtrak around the nation. In four trips, mostly loops covering large sections of the country, he rode approximately 30,000 miles on iron rails, riding all the major Amtrak lines (including a couple of lines that longer exist such as the Desert Wind (Los Angeles to Salt Lake) and the Pioneer (Salt Lake to Portland and on to Seattle). Having ridden almost all these lines (I have two major missing links: the Sunset Limited from San Antonio to New Orleans and the Southern crescent from Atlanta to New Orleans), I found myself reliving, while reading, many miles and days I've spent on the train.
As he shares his experiences of riding the trains, Pindell weaves in the history of various rail lines and their signature passenger services. He also provides some of the history of towns around the tracks as well as the politics that went into the track’s development. The building of the transcontinental lines are especially interesting. A southern route would have been the easiest to build but the upcoming Civil War stopped that. Some of the railroads fought with Native Americas while others (such as the Sante Fe) hired natives to help build and maintain the lines. One of the last line built, the Great Northern, who originally operated the luxury "Empire Builder," runs just south of the Canadian Border. While riding this line, he stops at Essex, Montana where he stays at a lodge next to the tracks for a few days. As he explores part of Glacier National Park, we learn about a passenger train caught in these mountains in an avalanche for a week and how they survived. Another story is of a derailment of corn cars on this line. The corn spilled out on the ground and what couldn't be salvaged was buried. A few months later, train crews began to notice strange behavior of bears in the area and they learn that the bears have been digging up fermented corn and were essentially becoming drunks. One also learns where phrases like "wrong side of the tracks" came from (Dodge City, Kansas), and about the railroad robbery industry that developed in the 19th Century.
In addition to stories on the rail lines, Pindell tells about the people he meets traveling. There are those looking to see America and who want to slow down. Others are in search for sexual encounters or appear to be running drugs. In riding the rails so frequently, he often reunites with crew members from one train on another train a few months later. One of the running theme through much of the book is his grandfather, who was an engineer. He stops in his home town along the railroad in Illinois.
There is a political element to this book which was written at the end of the Reagan era. There is no doubt he has a liberal lean in his politics. He jokingly referred to the old Pullman cars which Amtrak received from the railroads as Republican cars as most were only stainless on the outside and had rusted so badly underneath that they were no longer safe and had to be rebuilt or replaced. However, the Budd cars (which he suggested were Democrats) had stainless insides and were still rolling strong 30 and 40 years after they were manufactured.
If you like trains, I'd recommend this book. Unfortunately, it is no longer in print, but used copies are available on Amazon. Pindell entertains us with great stories. There are a few places where he has his facts mixed. He speaks of the Southern Railroad buying North Carolina Railroad (this they wanted to do, but didn't and the line is still owned by the state even though it leases the right to run over the line to Southern Railroad). I also questioned his interpretation of the Mormons being run out of Illinois based on Joseph Smith's revelation of polygamy. Although polygamy was practiced in Illinois and led to their departure, the "revelation" didn't become public knowledge until the 1850s, long after they'd settled in the Salt Lake Valley. But these were small mistakes and didn't distract my enjoyment of his stories.
December 2, 2010
The author of this book set out upon a quest: to ride every mile of passenger rail in the U.S. Part travelogue and part railroad history, this book is a completely magical and successful combination of both. Pindell relates his adventures as he criss-crossed the nation in the mid-80's, with stories of the people he encounters, the places he sees, and the trains he rides. I completely envy him this delightful odyssey and vicariously enjoyed every moment of it! But even more than his personal anecdotes, I *adored* the bits of railroad history that he wove into his narrative. It gives you the thrill that accompanies any discovery of the whys behind what is observed today. Railroad history explains, for example, why Cheyenne is located where it is and why the tracks take certain routes over the Rockies and not others. The stories are riveting about the actually bloody battles between rival railroads racing to be the first to lay track. (Here I thought that just happened when playing Ticket to Ride!) The prominent historical characters (Pullman, Huntington, Hastings, and more) are all vivid and fascinating. More, more!
The only minor drawback in this book was Pindell's rather effortful attempt to make it all come together with a Message -- not only an economic and political message ("save passenger rail!") but also a personal message. I realize that this was his Odyssey, and after riding 30,000 miles one might reasonably hope for some kind of breakthrough or inspiration or revelation. But the occasional reference to his issues with his father I found to subtract rather than add to the otherwise charming, absorbing, hands-down fascinating tale that lies within book.
If you like to ride trains and want to know the backstory behind what we have now... read this book!
The only minor drawback in this book was Pindell's rather effortful attempt to make it all come together with a Message -- not only an economic and political message ("save passenger rail!") but also a personal message. I realize that this was his Odyssey, and after riding 30,000 miles one might reasonably hope for some kind of breakthrough or inspiration or revelation. But the occasional reference to his issues with his father I found to subtract rather than add to the otherwise charming, absorbing, hands-down fascinating tale that lies within book.
If you like to ride trains and want to know the backstory behind what we have now... read this book!
March 14, 2012
I had read the author's other books about rail history/travel in both Canada and Mexico and found them both interesting and informative. It was only natural then for me to read his first book of the series about the history of rail travel in the US and his experiences while riding all of the Amtrak routes in existence at the time of his writing. Those of us who are old enough recall the glory days of passenger trains can identify with the author and his desire to see the real America- its beautiful scenery as well as its industrial wastelands and urban blight. I have been fortunate to have traveled cross country during both the pre-Amtrak and Amtrak eras. Each trip was an adventure. I guess that is the allure of a book like this. If one is planning a trip by train, read the author's account of your proposed route. However the cast of characters for your trip will be totally different and you will have much more time to interact with your fellow travelers than on an airline flight. I found this to be a wonderful account of a trip I would like to make someday.
August 3, 2007
Terry Pindell deftly weaves rail history with a present day quest to travel every Amtrak route. He sensitively portrays his fellow travelers and rail employees as well as bringing history to life. This was a great preparation for my Midwest train odyssey this summer.
December 15, 2013
More of a 3.5.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews