Here are carefully selected articles, photographs, and art. Route 40 and still later donner pass road, as well as indirectly by interstate 80. For many years railroad tracks had varied in width, so that cars could not pass from one line to another. Railroad history timeline this is an interesting chart of some of the important dates in the development of railroading in the united states. Please join us in our efforts and enjoy the website. This should stimulate some historical research on the modelers part. Railroad passes can be highly collectible, especially early passes late 1800searly 1900s from rare railroads, those featuring attractive vignettes, or those signed by a notable or famous person. Each entry includes a photos, general location, directions from the nearest highway, list of operating railroads, and the type and regularity of trains operating. The years from 1985 to 2009 were added by adrian ettlinger, then webmaster, in consultation with taber. Union pacific operates north americas premier railroad franchise, covering 23 states in the western twothirds of the united states. The dozen tunnels were some of the most treacherous parts of the transcontinental railroad, linking the rail networks of omaha, nebraska, to the west coast at oakland. After some time i began to think, why not just create such a website myself. Learn more about railroad history with this selection of books available in the museum store. Jan 01, 2012 the great railroad revolution is a history of trains in the united states from their beginnings to the present day.
Railways were introduced in england in the seventeenth century as a way to reduce friction in moving heavily loaded wheeled vehicles. Trains magazine offers railroad news, railroad industry insight, commentary on todays freight railroads, passenger service amtrak, locomotive technology, railroad preservation and history, railfan opportunities tourist railroads, fan trips, and great railroad photography. Railroad history timeline pdf model railroad academy. Americas long romance with the train has been the subject of many books, but none has used contemporary maps to comprehensively illustrate the story. The pass has been used by the california trail, first transcontinental railroad, overland route, lincoln highway and victory highway both later u. This book, spanning nearly two centuries, offers an exhilarating tour of the railways inroads into the economy, society, and culture of north america. This authoritative account traces the southern railways 88year tenure as the transportation force in the south, in the process paying tribute to the railroads profitable operations and wellmaintained infrastructure and equipment, and presenting an important chapter in the regions history. Dont forget to bookmark this page so you can return easily and often. The lot includes several vintage references including four about trolleys and electric rail. Specializing in western railroad history books by john r. In 1881, the greeley, salt lake and pacific railroad laid rails from boulder west to the town of sunset, and in the 1890s the successor colorado and north western.
The historical guide to north american railroads, 3rd edition trains books trains magazine on. The history of the denver and rio grande railway, 18711881. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Navigate to the global search form search landmark. Discover the best history of railroads in best sellers. Travel by train in europe with rail europe, your travel planner. Taber iii compiled the 19211984 index that was printed in 1985. However, in the mid1880s a standard gauge of 4 ft 8 12 in. The pass we are showing has virtually no color, but the train scene is well above average. A freight hauling railroad that operates 8,500 locomotives over 32,100 routemiles in 23 states west of chicago and new orleans. Some antique railroad passes are simply small works of art and a testament to the printing standards that existed in the 19th century. A compilation of the best places to watch trains in operation across north america. The placersierra railroad heritage society psrhs was formed to preserve and protect the history of the donner pass route portion of the transcontinental railroad. Preserving railroad history along the donner pass route.
Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. It contains original scholarship and fresh interpretations that set the standard in railway research. Donner pass one of the stiffest main lines in the west was central pacifics original route over the sierra nevada mountain range through donner pass, located in eastcentral california. The book starts with a history of the railroads of california starting with the central pacific. The tunnels at donner pass were constructed by chinese laborers and took more than 15 months of hard work to finish. However, more than a decade would pass before railroading truly took hold in america. Welcome to the railroad commissary online railroad book catalog. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. Class ii 3 ft 914 mm narrowgauge railroad linking the port of skagway, alaska, with whitehorse, the capital of yukon. The museum has the definitive railroad book store with more than 1,000. Rail buffs love nearby tiny town, georgetown loop railroad and colorado.
The beginnings of american railroads and mapping history of. In the early days of rail travel, passes could be purchased, but were mainly given out to railroad executives, employees, family members and special. The historical guide to north american railroads, 3rd edition trains books. How railroad history shaped internet history the atlantic. Some of them are stories and picture books, others are guides from the railroad companies to employees, manuals, train listings and other textbooks on locomotives with technical documents and plates. Pass james long and five carpenters, master carpenter and carpenters.
Over the course of researching i was finding it a bit frustrating none existed on a broader level. The first north american gravity road, as it was called, was erected in 1764 for military purposes at the niagara portage in lewiston, new york. Antique railroad pass value guide railroad memorabilia. One of the most fascinating areas to explore near donner pass is the old railroad tunnels. Online shopping for history railroads from a great selection at books store.
This book i thought was very immformitive about the southern pacifics donner pass. Here the latest of derek hayess historical atlases delves into the history of the. As time passed, the railroads matured, became a mainstay that ultimately. The pass gets its name from the illfated donner party who overwintered there in 1846. Upper chinese wall seen from the area of the original donner trail. Railroads history united states western, railroads, books. If you wanted to wade into the quagmire of corrupt railroad financeand, admittedly, thats a pretty big ifwhites article would be a good place to begin. Donner pass summit tunnels truckee, california atlas. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The historical guide to north american railroads, 3rd edition. An isolated system, it has no direct connection to any other railroad. Years later the line became part of southern pacifics main line to the east where it connected with the union pacific at ogden, utah. Railroad passes, railroad books, colorado, rare books.
Jul 15, 2009 the year 1827 marked the completion of the united states first railroadand the beginning of a transformation of american life. Railroad passes, railroad books, colorado, rare books, old maps, photographs, western americana, colorado history, arizona, new mexico, wyoming, utah, gold mining. The author, christian wolmar, also provides some background information about railroads in britain early in the book, because steam trains originated in that country. The union pacific railroad system is the second largest in the united states and it is one of the worlds largest transportation companies. How railroad history shaped internet history its no accident that iowa, where the first transcontinental railroad began, is now home to a huge datacenter industry. Hvrm seeks to keep the towns railroad heritage alive via display and operation of vintage railroad equipment atop the historic rails that bend their way around the museum. The hoosier valley railroad museum is dedicated to preserving the railroad history of north judson.
It told quite a bit about not only the operations on the railroad but also about all of the equipment that is used to keep and mantain the railroad through the harsk sierra mt. The donner trail above the cprr grade approaching the summit of donner pass. As an official cooperating organization with state parks, the nonprofit california state railroad museum foundation is dedicated to enhancing the educational and interpretive programs of the california state railroad museum and railtown 1897 state historic park. An informal history of the black river and utica railroad boonville, ny. The history of the denver and rio grande railway, 1871 1881. A pass issued for a person and designated members of his family will be honored only when presented by the person named on the face of the pass, that is to say, a pass reading.
And that, in a nutshell, is the basis behind americanrails. Its great for history buffs, archaeologists, and photographers. Built in 1898 during the klondike gold rush, sit back as we take you on a journey to see our splendid panorama of mountains, glaciers. One of the most important developments of the 19th century, railways spanned continents, enabled the settlement of the american west, and even helped the north win the civil war.
It continues to discuss the history of the big four railroads of california, the southern pacific, santa fe, union pacific, and western pacific. The railroad commissary bookshelf we specialize in outofprint and hardtofind used rr books. But as with all technologies the railroad was slow to develop. By 1880, there were dozens of railroads passing through denver, and the city had four. Nycshs announces a new exciting book know thy hudsons. Almost everything was abandoned during the 1970s and 80s. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. Elsewhere, the seach will be visibly opened after this button is selected.
History of the north pennsylvania railroad by hare, jay v. List of books and articles about railroad history online. Countless books, guides, manuals, texts have been written about railroads. This hard cover book is the complete story of the nyc hudson by subclass, written by nycshs director and former president tom gerbracht, after several years of research into the most famous nyc steam locomotives.