Reviews
"Written from an economic viewpoint, Riding the Rails is not the standard discussion of transportation. Instead, it explores the history of railroads, the invention of the steam engine, the development of popular train travel, and the railroad's impact on American life as a means to movepeople and goods across the country....A winner for both casual readers and student researchers." --School Library Journal, "Written from an economic viewpoint, Riding the Rails is not the standarddiscussion of transportation. Instead, it explores the history of railroads, theinvention of the steam engine, the development of popular train travel, and therailroad's impact on American life as a means to move people and goods acrossthe country....A winner for both casual readers and student researchers."--School Library Journal, "Full-color and black-and-white reproductions and quotes from period literature and newspapers such asHarper's Weeklyadd life and personal interest to the text." "A winner for both casual readers and student researchers." --School Library Journal "Reproduced in color, the many well-captioned photographs, documents, and prints from various periods are attractive and informative illustrations for the texts." --Booklist "The various modes of transportation are an interesting lens through which students can view culture, economics, politics, and life choices." --History Matters "This book is helpful to readers of any age who like trains and want to know more about the part that they played in American life." --Catholic Library World "...an excellent stepping stone to full-blown rail enthusiasm." --Trains, "Full-color and black-and-white reproductions and quotes from period literature and newspapers such as Harper's Weekly add life and personal interest to the text." "A winner for both casual readers and student researchers." -- School Library Journal"Reproduced in color, the many well-captioned photographs, documents, and prints from various periods are attractive and informative illustrations for the texts." -- Booklist"The various modes of transportation are an interesting lens through which students can view culture, economics, politics, and life choices." -- History Matters"This book is helpful to readers of any age who like trains and want to know more about the part that they played in American life." -- Catholic Library World"...an excellent stepping stone to full-blown rail enthusiasm." --Trains, "Full-color and black-and-white reproductions and quotes from period literature and newspapers such as Harper's Weekly add life and personal interest to the text." "A winner for both casual readers and student researchers." -- School Library Journal "Reproduced in color, the many well-captioned photographs, documents, and prints from various periods are attractive and informative illustrations for the texts." -- Booklist "The various modes of transportation are an interesting lens through which students can view culture, economics, politics, and life choices." -- History Matters "This book is helpful to readers of any age who like trains and want to know more about the part that they played in American life." -- Catholic Library World "...an excellent stepping stone to full-blown rail enthusiasm." --Trains, "Full-color and black-and-white reproductions and quotes from period literature and newspapers such as Harper's Weekly add life and personal interest to the text." "A winner for both casual readers and student researchers." -- School Library Journal "Reproduced in color, the many well-captioned photographs, documents, and prints from various periods are attractive and informative illustrations for the texts." -- Booklist "The various modes of transportation are an interesting lens through which students can view culture, economics, politics, and life choices." -- History Matters "This book is helpful to readers of any age who like trains and want to know more about the part that they played in American life." -- Catholic Library World "...an excellent stepping stone to full-blown rail enthusiasm." -- Trains
Synopsis
Preachers railed against it: "Traveling at speeds up to 20 miles per hour went against the Lord's plan!" Doctors told their patients that traveling on it would cause serious physical and mental ailments, including the boiling of the blood. Newspapers cried out, "It is a topsy-turvy, harum-scarum whirligig!" But it didn't matter: America loved the train and the freedom of movement that came with it. Riding the Rails in America traces the dynamic relationship of America with the train, showing how the railroad was the single largest influence on the development of the nation's history and economy as it became possible to move freight and people farther and faster than ever before., Preachers railed against it: "Traveling at speeds up to 20 miles per hour went against the Lord's plan!" Doctors told their patients that traveling on it would cause serious physical and mental ailments, including the boiling of the blood. Newspapers cried out, "It is a topsy-turvy,harum-scarum whirligig!" But it didn't matter: America loved the train and the freedom of movement that came with it. Riding the Rails in America traces the dynamic relationship of America with the train, showing how the railroad was the single largest influence on the development of the nation'shistory and economy as it became possible to move freight and people farther and faster than ever before.
