Highly illustrated volume covering the emergence of the modern railway in a unique, essentially geographical way. Contemporary maps, many never before published, showing the locations and routes of the early railways. Highly illustrated, for in addition to the maps it has photos of most of the surviving first locomotives from collections around the world, and of replicas too, where they exist. Much of the early railway system originated in Britain, but the earliest railways in France, Germany, and the rest of continental Europe are also considered, as are railways in North America and elsewhere. Several sections cover the emergence of the first steam locomotives, in particular those of Trevithick, Blenkinsop, Chapman, and Stephenson, and the historically important Stockton & Darlington and Liverpool & Manchester railways in detail. In addition to mainstream railways, atmospheric railways are considered-as a technically sound system that failed because of the unavailability of suitable materials-plus electric railways, underground railways, monorails, and mountain (rack) railways, all of which have fascinating histories.

Originally published by UNC Press in 1952, The Railroads of the Confederacy tells the story of the first use of railroads on a major scale in a major war. Robert Black presents a complex and fascinating tale, with the railroads of the American South playing the part of tragic hero in the Civil War: at first vigorous though immature; then overloaded, driven unmercifully, starved for iron; and eventually worn out--struggling on to inevitable destruction in the wake of Sherman's army, carrying the Confederacy down with them. With maps of all the Confederate railroads and contemporary photographs and facsimiles of such documents as railroad tickets, timetables, and soldiers' passes, the book will captivate railroad enthusiasts as well as readers interested in the Civil War.