The Story of American Railroads

by Stewart H. Holbrook

Well-written and entertaining history of American railroads. illustrated with an interesting variety of photos (not just standard shots of locomotives). 468 pages with index.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Railways

468 pages, Hardcover

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!