Rails Across The Rock

Rails Across The Rockis an all colour 'then & now 'celebration of the former Newfoundland Railway on the 25th Anniversary of its closing. The reader is taken on a 547 mile photographic journey from Port aux Basques to St. John's with virtually all stops in between. Captured from 1952 to 1988, you can see the last days of steam, ride the Caribou, and watch lengthy freights and little mixed trains, as well as the final run. Those scenes, contributed by some of North America's top railway photographers, capture not only the colour and uniqueness of our narrow gauge line but also the breathtaking beauty of this wonderful island. The images of James A. Brown, Bill Linley, Phil Mason, Robert J. Sandusky, Mike Shufelt, Rich Taylor and others are spread all along the trans island journey. When compared to the same scene as it exists today, the changes are remarkable as both nature and progress reclaim the right of way.

Rails Around The Rock is an all-colour then & now celebration of the branchline and industrial railways of Newfoundland. In this follow-up to Rails Across the Rock: a then and now celebration of the Newfoundland Railway and on the 30th anniversary of the closing of the last branchline, the reader is taken on a photographic journey to the beautiful bays and coves and to the interior of the province. Through images captured from 1956 to 1984, readers can ride the mixed trains on the Carbonear, Argentia and Bonavista branchlines, follow extra freights on the Lewisporte and Stephenville lines and watch trains on the Grand Falls Central and Buchans Railway move their commodities. The images of internationally acclaimed train photographers, James A. Brown, Steve Danko, Bill Linley, Phil Mason, Steve Patterson, Robert J. Sandusky, Rich Taylor and others are spread throughout these pages. When their magnificent photographs are compared to the same scene as it exists today the changes that have occurred are remarkable, illustrating how both nature and progress have reclaimed the right of way.

Covering legendary and obscure intercity passenger trains in a dozen Southeastern states, this book details the golden age of train travel. The story begins with the inception of steam locomotives in 1830 in Charleston, South Carolina, continuing through the mid–1930s changeover to diesel and the debut of Amtrak in 1971 to the present. Throughout, the book explores the technological achievements, the romance and the economic impact of traveling on the tracks. Other topics include contemporary museums and excursion trains; the development of commuter rails, monorails, light rails, and other intracity transit trains; the social impact of train travel; and historical rail terminals and facilities. The book is supplemented with more than 160 images and 10 appendices.

Rails Around The Rock is an all-colour then & now celebration of the branchline and industrial railways of Newfoundland. In this follow-up to Rails Across the Rock: a then and now celebration of the Newfoundland Railway and on the 30th anniversary of the closing of the last branchline, the reader is taken on a photographic journey to the beautiful bays and coves and to the interior of the province. Through images captured from 1956 to 1984, readers can ride the mixed trains on the Carbonear, Argentia and Bonavista branchlines, follow extra freights on the Lewisporte and Stephenville lines and watch trains on the Grand Falls Central and Buchans Railway move their commodities. The images of internationally acclaimed train photographers, James A. Brown, Steve Danko, Bill Linley, Phil Mason, Steve Patterson, Robert J. Sandusky, Rich Taylor and others are spread throughout these pages. When their magnificent photographs are compared to the same scene as it exists today the changes that have occurred are remarkable, illustrating how both nature and progress have reclaimed the right of way.

For well over a century, the narrow-gauge Newfoundland railway played a vital role in the growth and development of the tiny island in the North Atlantic. From the commencement of construction in 1881 to the shutdown in 1988, it was a most colourful line, to say the least. It took over 547 miles to cross a 300-mile-wide island, and it had curves sharper and grades steeper than in the Rocky Mountains. There were only 131 miles of straight track, a bridge for every four miles, and a human wind-gauge to safely let trains pass. In Newfoundland, the railway wasn't simply a means of transportation--it was a way of life. Take an all-colour photographic journey from the capital city of St. John's to the ferry connection at Port aux Basques on the longest narrow-gauge railway in North America. Along the way you will ride in both steam- and diesel-hauled Caribou passenger trains, follow boxy G-8 locomotives skirting the shoreline as they lead little mixed trains to the branch lines, and see lengthy multiple diesel freights with boxcars and containers crossing the infamous Gaff Topsails. Watch as the trains navigate the rugged interior and pass through Newfoundland communities with some of the most interesting place names--such as Come by Chance, Gambo, and Goobies--and witness the incredible beauty that this province has to offer. These photographs, dating as far back as 1951 and on through to 1988, were taken by some of North America's most renowned railway photographers, such as James A. Brown, John Freyseng, Bill Linley, Phil Mason, Robert J. Sandusky, Stan J. Smaill, and Rich Taylor. Their work and others clearly illustrate the colourful rolling stock and engine paint schemes against the pristine scenery one encounters along the way. This trip back in time is sure to delight both those who remember when the railway was king as well as those discovering it for the first time. "Ken Pieroway's collection of colour images of the Canadian National and Newfoundland Railway is unsurpassed. His dedication to preserving these images is a labour of love and a means to keep the fabled railway alive and well in the hearts of people everywhere who love and miss the Newfoundland Railway." -- Mike Shufelt, Photographer

With over 15,000 copies sold, Cycling the Kettle Valley has proven to be a remarkable resource for anyone interested in the stunning abandoned railbed located in the southern interior of British Columbia. One of the premier rail trails in North America, it contains spectacular sections through impressive canyons requiring tunnels and trestles to carry the railbed through rock ridges and across mountain streams. Growing public interest in conservation of the railbed and its structures, along with government support, has resulted in many improvements in both access and safety. The Kettle Valley Railway and its many connectors offer the cyclist everything from easy day-riding to multi-day adventures through the magnificent scenery of southern British Columbia between Midway and Hope. This world-renowned guidebook includes detailed maps, safety tips, historic information, a listing of accommodations and a kilometre by kilometre guide to each of the Kettle Valley Railway subdivisions.

"A tale of grand dreams, shady politics, daring engineering experiments, greed, ambition, and westward expansion, Rails across the Mississippi is the first book-length history since 1881 to document the planning, financing, and construction of the first bridge across the Mississippi River at St. Louis, a national engineering landmark completed in 1874 that is now known as the Eads Bridge. Robert W. Jackson takes a fresh look at this monumental project, dispersing the myths and filling in the gaps left by earlier scholarship."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Everybody has a train story. Whether it comes from a distant relative who worked on the railways or from a family train trip that formed a lasting impression of the Canadian landscape, trains inspire a sense of wonder and nostalgia. They are embedded in the history of Canada as a whole and western Canada in particular, and for generations they were how most people travelled and saw the country. Today, trains get the most attention in the context of tragedy, in the aftermath of rare but catastrophic derailments. However, train stories go beyond these modern-day disaster tales or romantic glimpses into the past. Whistle Posts Westpresents a compelling array of stories that illustrate how and why the railways continue to capture our imaginations. From the heartbreaking to the humorous, from the awe-inspiring to the absurd, this fascinating collection of railway tales from BC, Alberta and Yukon is sure to please.