A Short History of the Railroad

Name: A Short History of the Railroad
Brand: Penguin Random House
Availability: InStock
Author: Christian Wolmar
ISBN: 9780744086645

Author: Christian Wolmar

Narrator: Robert Maskell

Unabridged: 11 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: DK

Published: 02/28/2023

Categories: Nonfiction, Transportation, Railroads

Synopsis

A fascinating journey through the history of railways, packed with first-hand accounts of innovation, triumph, and tragedy.

From the earliest steam engine to the high-speed bullet trains of today, A Short History of the Railway reveals the hidden stories of railway history across the world - the inspired engineering; the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the construction of the tracks; the ground-breaking innovations behind the trains that travelled along them; and the triumphs and tragedies of the people who made the railway what it is.

Chart the history of the Trans-Siberian railway, the Orient Express, and Maglev trains and the impact of world events on the development of trains and the railway. Explore the pioneering railway lines that crossed continents, the key trains of
each era, and the locomotives that changed the world.

Previously published as The Iron Road, A Short History of the Train makes perfect reading for train buffs.

© 2019 Christian Wolmar © 2023 DK Audio

About The Author

Christian Wolmar is an author, journalist, historian, and politician based in London. The author of several books on the history of the railway, including The Subterranean Railway, Fire and Steam, The Great Railway Revolution, and The Iron Road, his writing has also appeared in The Observer, The Independent, and RAIL magazine. He is active in London politics and ran for London mayor in 2016.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Larry on October 21, 2019

very interesting......more

Goodreads review by Juliet on August 22, 2023

Trains offer a great way to travel, as they are generally the safest and most environmentally friendly mode of transport. I also have a fondness for trains, due to two personal connections. My great-grandfather, Mr Train was a station-master (his son Mr Train junior married a Miss Driver, thankfully......more

Goodreads review by Helen on October 09, 2022

I have read and enjoyed a couple of Wolmar’s books before, so I was expecting to like this one, too, and I wasn’t disappointed. I travel quite a lot by train, and have visited the National Railway Museum in York many times with my train-mad son, so reading this potted history helped to put a few thi......more

Goodreads review by Don on September 19, 2024

I found this to be a delightful global history of the railroad. I also purchased the book that is full of illustrations (diagrams and photos) that visually illustrate the some of the history and technical aspects. The book is based on laying out the facts of the matter, as the title suggests. So, it......more

Goodreads review by Paul on January 24, 2023

Christian Wolmar's "A Short History of the Railroad" is a book that means well in describing the history of the railroad but gets caught by a couple factors. First off, the type in in the book is extremely small which can be a headache for readers in general. Secondly, the book at times gets distrac......more