Train Wrecks: A Pictorial History of Accidents on the Main Line

by Robert Carroll Reed

Pictorial History of train wrecks.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

183 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Mark White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing my binge of non-fiction favourites. Fascinating account of the times when to travel by train was taking your life in your hands. This book has stories, photos and engravings giving accounts of the many tragic train wrecks on American railways, mainly in the late 19th century. It is well researched, very clear and lists the causes and eventual cures of the major types of train wrecks. The photos and engravings are fascinating. Highly recommended for anyone interested in trains, historical travel, engineering or American history.

[Jeffrey Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Carroll Reed does a fabulous job in analyzing the history of railroad accidents from the 1830s to the 1970s. Each chapter has key facts and case studies and the book is loaded with photos. This is a good overview for anybody looking at railroad accidents throughout history.

[Kevin Postlewaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing pictures fill this book, containing chapters of the various ways train wrecks occurred.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical survey has engravings and photographs of every type of old train wreck imaginable including boiler explosions, telescoping, bridge failures, head-on and rear-end collisions. The text has many bits and pieces of railroad history as well as some contemporary accounts of life on the tracks.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book from my grandfather's collection of books about trains. Although any tragedy is sad, these are also interesting.