Great Trains of North America

The story of railroads in North America is also a history of the development of two great nations: the United States and Canada. The coming of the railway made possible the rapid expansion and growth of the two countries in the nineteenth century, and today railroads form an important commercial network over the continent. This book traces the colourful history of the great trains and railroads from the beginnings to the present, and looks at the possibilities for the future. It describes important railroads such as the Penn Central, Burlington Northern and the Union Pacific in the United States, and the CNR and CPR in Canada. Some of the giants of American steam -- the 4-4-0, Camelback, Mother Hubbard and Mallet -- are recalled, and famous trains and coaches like the Twentieth Century Ltd. and the Hawatha are included. The reader is taken along the important tourist railways of America and is given a look into the probable future of North American trains, when concepts such as automatic wagon identification, piggyback operations and crewless locomotives will be an integral part of the railroad scene.