Railway Wonders Of The World Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Railway Wonders of the World But this work Of remodelling is revealed in its most compelling form in other countries, especially in the United States and Canada. In both instances the first lines were laid hurriedly and cheaply in order to open up the country, or to link together towns which were isolated hun dreds Of miles apart. The sleepers were thrown on the ground and the rails tacked to them. The engineer, having plenty Of elbow room, wandered hither and thither with his permanent way, in order to complete construction quickly. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1913.

Excerpt from Wonders and Curiosities of the Railway: Or Stories of the Locomotive in Every Land Although, in the preparation of the following work I have drawn upon the entire literature of the railway during the half-century of its existence, and am therefore under obligation for materials to innumerable books, magazines, and newspapers, I must yet acknowledge especial indebtedness to the "Railway Age," of Chicago; to files of the London "Times," and certain early American newspapers kindly placed at my disposal by the librarian of the Boston Athenaeum, Mr. Charles A. Cutter; and to Mr. William H. Brown's "History of the First Locomotives in America." Mr. Brown's book is standard authority on the subject of early American railroads, although it has been for some time out of print, and is unfitted for the general reader by reason of its technical details. The chapter on "The Vertical Railway," in the present volume, was originally contributed by me to "Harper's Monthly Magazine"; and for permission to use it here, with the accompanying illustrations, I am indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Harper & Brothers. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."

Explore the history, quirks, and stories behind signals with gorgeous period and contemprary photography. Railroad signals are the link between the steam era and modern railroading. Designed for reliability and durability, signals can survive for decades. In fact, old semaphores installed during the early years of the twentieth century were still in service during the 1990s, protecting trains that were running with the latest modern diesels. Even searchlight-style signals that were the epitome of 1940s railroading continue to work today. Though standards were introduced in the early twentieth century, interpretation varied greatly among railroads, so even major railroads have individualized signals. Some, such as the Pennsylvania Railroad, were noted for their distinctive signaling hardware. Others lines became known for their peculiarities in practice. Classic Railroad Signals examines how different railroads developed specific hardware to serve their unique needs, in the process tracing the lineage of various types of hardware and highlighting how and where they were used. From nineteenth-century mechanical signals to disc signals, upper- and lower-quadrant semaphores, three-light electric signals, searchlight-style targets, positional lights, and color-position light hardware, author Brian Solomon covers nearly every conceivable piece of North American signaling hardware, even the virtually extinct wig wag that was once standard in California and Wisconsin. Gorgeous period and contemprary photography shows signals and trains from around North America. Classic Railroad Signals should be next to Railroad Signaling on every railroad fan's bookshelf.