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How Railways Transformed the World
Railways are one of the most important inventions in modern history. From the 1825 opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England, trains revolutionized both travel and trade and radically changed the way we experience the world.
In the 24 richly illustrated lectures of How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll experience the amazing world and impact of railways, from the early 19th century to today’s futuristic trains, including extensive material on the pleasure and appeal of rail travel today. Professor Patrick N. Allitt of Emory University takes you through key developments of railways, such as:
· The Beginnings: Steam and Iron. Encounter the inventers who first mounted steam engines on wheels; track evolving rail technology and the engineering marvels that drove the railway revolution.
· A Radically Changing World. Observe how railways galvanized the Industrial Revolution, hugely increased mobility, made nationwide commerce possible, sparked organized labor, and pioneered tourism.
· Railways in Politics, Empire, and War. Note 19th-century politicians’ strategic promotion of railways; the use of railroads in European colonial empires; and delve into the integral wartime use of railways.
· Great Train Journeys of the World. Learn where you can enjoy the best of rail travel today: Visualize the dramatic terrain on South Africa’s Rovos Rail; glimpse superlative trains and scenery on Switzerland’s Jungfrau and Bernina railways, India’s Darjeeling railway, Colorado’s Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway, and many others.
· Rail Travel in Culture and Art. Examine the use of railway settings in great novels; in art; in great films; and explore some of the most magnificent architecture of the modern world: great train stations.
· Railways and the Future. Learn about advancing rail technology, today’s high-speed trains, and cutting-edge rail systems which envision trains traveling at up to 700 mph.
In How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll enjoy the fascinating history and lore of an invention that forever changed human life.
In the 24 richly illustrated lectures of How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll experience the amazing world and impact of railways, from the early 19th century to today’s futuristic trains, including extensive material on the pleasure and appeal of rail travel today. Professor Patrick N. Allitt of Emory University takes you through key developments of railways, such as:
· The Beginnings: Steam and Iron. Encounter the inventers who first mounted steam engines on wheels; track evolving rail technology and the engineering marvels that drove the railway revolution.
· A Radically Changing World. Observe how railways galvanized the Industrial Revolution, hugely increased mobility, made nationwide commerce possible, sparked organized labor, and pioneered tourism.
· Railways in Politics, Empire, and War. Note 19th-century politicians’ strategic promotion of railways; the use of railroads in European colonial empires; and delve into the integral wartime use of railways.
· Great Train Journeys of the World. Learn where you can enjoy the best of rail travel today: Visualize the dramatic terrain on South Africa’s Rovos Rail; glimpse superlative trains and scenery on Switzerland’s Jungfrau and Bernina railways, India’s Darjeeling railway, Colorado’s Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway, and many others.
· Rail Travel in Culture and Art. Examine the use of railway settings in great novels; in art; in great films; and explore some of the most magnificent architecture of the modern world: great train stations.
· Railways and the Future. Learn about advancing rail technology, today’s high-speed trains, and cutting-edge rail systems which envision trains traveling at up to 700 mph.
In How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll enjoy the fascinating history and lore of an invention that forever changed human life.
12 pages, Audible Audio
Published May 24, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 26, 2024
Audible Credit 11 hours 23 min. Narrated by Patrick Allitt (A)
Highly recommend this course. The teacher's passion for railways shows through in his well-developed plan for each lecture, and his enthusiastic voice captures his personal passion. He includes interesting observations from his own personal insights from trips he has taken by train in England, France, Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States.
Highly recommend this course. The teacher's passion for railways shows through in his well-developed plan for each lecture, and his enthusiastic voice captures his personal passion. He includes interesting observations from his own personal insights from trips he has taken by train in England, France, Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States.
November 29, 2024
I doubted that this course would interest me much. To my delight -- and my benefit -- Professor Allitt proved me wrong.
I am such an admirer of Dr. Allitt that I thought I'd give this course a chance. Even though I had scant interest in anything about railroads.
But I was absolutely fascinated by this course.
Even though I have studied many of Patrick Allitt's courses, I must call this one his masterpiece. So much of his personal fascination with trains, dating from the age of eight, has informed his teaching.
Absolutely, I consider this offering from him to be a masterpiece. Not a word I use lightly.
I am such an admirer of Dr. Allitt that I thought I'd give this course a chance. Even though I had scant interest in anything about railroads.
But I was absolutely fascinated by this course.
Even though I have studied many of Patrick Allitt's courses, I must call this one his masterpiece. So much of his personal fascination with trains, dating from the age of eight, has informed his teaching.
Absolutely, I consider this offering from him to be a masterpiece. Not a word I use lightly.
January 26, 2025
Sometimes I gripe that Great Courses has gone from college level to general knowledge, but in some ways this is no bad thing. This course on Railroads is simply enjoyable with enough information to keep it feeling like a learning experience.
As with the Great Tours courses, it is stuffed full of pictures and videos making it a much more visually interesting course than many of the older ones. The instructor loves trains and it shows. His breadth of travel gives him plenty to talk about and show in regards to train trips and train museums.
As with the Great Tours courses, it is stuffed full of pictures and videos making it a much more visually interesting course than many of the older ones. The instructor loves trains and it shows. His breadth of travel gives him plenty to talk about and show in regards to train trips and train museums.
November 3, 2024
The author is clearly passionate about thier subject and did their best to communicate that excitement with more or less consistent success. A bit of a fixation on the british but that's probably unavoidable. It got a little dru during the corporate structuring stuff, but that's kind of unavoidable.
October 15, 2025
Trains through history. Robber barons, wars, movies, Agatha Christie, MAG-LEV and everything basically. Fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews