Iron Horses: America's Race to Bring the Railroads West
Nov 2014 · Sold by Little, Brown
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12 reviews
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448
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About this ebook
A "masterly" account of the origins of the transcontinental railroad (Douglas Brinkley) by the author of the bestselling The Admirals.
After the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, the rest of the United States was up for grabs, and the race was on. The prize: a better, shorter, less snowy route through the American Southwest, linking Los Angeles to Chicago.
In Iron Horses, Borneman recounts the rivalries, contested routes, political posturing, and business dealings that unfolded as an increasing number of lines pushed their way across the country. Borneman brings to life the legendary robber barons behind it all and also captures the herculean efforts required to construct these roads -- the laborers who did the back-breaking work, the brakemen who ran atop moving cars, the tracklayers crushed and killed by runaway trains.
From backroom deals in Washington, DC, to armed robberies of trains in the wild deserts, from cattle cars to streamliners and Super Chiefs, all the great incidents and innovations of a mighty American era are made vivid in Iron Horses.
After the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, the rest of the United States was up for grabs, and the race was on. The prize: a better, shorter, less snowy route through the American Southwest, linking Los Angeles to Chicago.
In Iron Horses, Borneman recounts the rivalries, contested routes, political posturing, and business dealings that unfolded as an increasing number of lines pushed their way across the country. Borneman brings to life the legendary robber barons behind it all and also captures the herculean efforts required to construct these roads -- the laborers who did the back-breaking work, the brakemen who ran atop moving cars, the tracklayers crushed and killed by runaway trains.
From backroom deals in Washington, DC, to armed robberies of trains in the wild deserts, from cattle cars to streamliners and Super Chiefs, all the great incidents and innovations of a mighty American era are made vivid in Iron Horses.
A "masterly" account of the origins of the transcontinental railroad (Douglas Brinkley) by the author of the bestselling The Admirals.
After the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, the rest of the United States was up for grabs, and the race was on. The prize: a better, sho...
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Ratings and reviews
12 reviews
Elizabeth Spear
- Flag inappropriate
November 19, 2021
Why is there no option for downloading this as a PDF? Without the ability to download individual chapters and print or at least make my own electronic annotations, this is essentially worthless to me. Other Google Books have this option and I don't understand why this one doesn't.
Stephanie Berrones (love)
- Flag inappropriate
May 21, 2015
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About the author
Walter Borneman is the author of eight works of nonfiction, including The Admirals, 1812, The French and Indian War, and Polk. He holds both a master's degree in history and a law degree. He lives in Colorado.
Walter Borneman is the author of eight works of nonfiction, including The Admirals, 1812, The French and Indian War, and Polk. He holds both a master's degree in history and a law degree. He lives in Colorado.
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