"A revelatory, entertaining account of the world's most indispensable mode of transportation Tom Zoellner loves trains with a ferocious passion. In his new book he chronicles the innovation and sociological impact of the railway technology that changed the world, and could very well change it again. From the frigid trans-Siberian railroad to the antiquated Indian Railways to the futuristic MagLev trains, Zoellner offers a stirring story of man's relationship...

The first global history of the epic early days of the iron railway Railways, in simple wooden or stone form, have existed since prehistory. But from the 1750s onward the introduction of iron rails led to a dramatic technological evolution one that would truly change the world. In this rich new history, David Gwyn tells the neglected story of the early iron railway from a global perspective. Driven by a combination of ruthless enterprise, brilliant...

From the early steam trains to the high-speed bullet trains of today, 'The Iron Road' tells the hidden stories of railway history - the inspired engineering, blood, sweat and tears that went into the construction of the railways. Uncover the compelling tales of bold vision, invention and error, and social change behind the history of trains and railways, with famous railways such as the Transsiberian fully explored.

A collection of international railway maps and posters features a chronological timeline from the Liverpool and Manchester Railway of 1830 to the proposed 2020 high-speed networks of China in an atlas representing more than one hundred countries.

A picture-packed guide to the fascinating story of trains and how they have transformed our world. Discover how the vision of George Stephenson, the "father of the railroad," materialized into an age of steam around the world. Study the cut-out of a locomotive to understand how the movement of the piston turns the wheels. Learn how the American railroad contributed to the development and progress in the US and facilitated the spread of population...

Presents a history of the building of the transcontinental railroad and its effects on American life.

Looks at the process of building the transcontinental railroad to connect the eastern and western parts of the United States.

"From their origins in eighteenth-century England, railroads spread across the globe, changing everything in their path, from where and how people grew and made things to where and how they lived and moved. Railroads rewrote not only the geography of the world but also the history of maps and mapping. The needs of train companies and their users--both passengers and freight companies--have continued to shape the maps we consult and consume down to...