Nicholas Fry 168 pages softcover
It’s no exaggeration to say that, in the nineteenth century, railroads
completely remade the United States: geographically, economically,
and—through the advent of standardized time zones—temporally. Though
today their domination on transport and freight shipping has been
superseded by automobiles and aviation, the railroad remains a vital
piece of the nation’s infrastructure and self-image.
Drawing on
the rich and diverse holdings of the John W. Barriger III National
Railroad Library, the St. Louis Mercantile Library, and select railroad
historical organizations, Travelers, Tracks, and Tycoons
showcases the profound changes the US railroad industry has wrought on
the land and its people since the 1820s. The vast array of artifacts
collected here includes early railroad prospectuses and reports,
promotional materials from the country’s first railroad projects,
technical publications by engineers, ledgers from railroads like the New
York Central, conductors’ logbooks, and dispatchers’ records. A wide
assortment of plans, maps, and drawings presented alongside these
materials helps illuminate the technological advancements brought about
by the railroad industry, while posters, sheet music, and art show how
trains quickly became an indelible part of the American social fabric.
Published in conjunction with a 2022 Grolier Club exhibition, this book
provides a multifaceted look at American railroads in all their
locomotive glory.
