American Railroads

John F. Stover

Published by University of Chicago Press 1997

American Railroads

John F. Stover

In the series The Chicago History of American Civilization

https://doi.org/10.7208/9780226776606

Overview
Contents

About this book

Few scenes capture the American experience so eloquently as that of a lonely train chugging across the vastness of the Great Plains, or snaking through tortuous high mountain passes. Although this vision was eclipsed for a time by the rise of air travel and trucking, railroads have enjoyed a rebirth in recent years as profitable freight carriers.

A fascinating account of the rise, decline, and rebirth of railroads in the United States, John F. Stover's American Railroads traces their history from the first lines that helped eastern seaports capture western markets to today's newly revitalized industry. Stover describes the growth of the railroads' monopoly, with the consequent need for state and federal regulations; relates the vital part played by the railroads during the Civil War and the two World Wars; and charts the railroads' decline due to the advent of air travel and trucking during the 1950s.

In two new chapters, Stover recounts the remarkable recovery of the railroads, along with other pivotal events of the industry's recent history. During the 1960s declining passenger traffic and excessive federal regulation led to the federally-financed creation of Amtrak to revive passenger service and Conrail to provide freight service on bankrupt northeastern railroads. The real savior for the railroads, though, proved to be the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, which brought prosperity to rail freight carriers by substantially deregulating the industry. By 1995, renewed railroad freight traffic had reached nearly twice its former peak in 1944.

Bringing both a seasoned eye and new insights to bear on one of the most American of industries, Stover has produced the definitive history of railroads in the United States.

Topics

General Interest

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Illustrations Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Editor’s Foreword to the Second Edition Daniel J. Boorstin Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Editor’s Foreword to the First Edition Daniel J. Boorstin Publicly Available Download PDF	xiii
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	xvii
1. “A Perfect System of Roads and Canals” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. First Rails Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	10
3. Early Maturity: Expansion and War Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	35
4. The Rails Move West Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	61
5. Corruption, Discrimination, and Regulation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	96
6. Uniformity and Consolidation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	133
7. Railroads at War Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	167
8. Railroads in Decline after World War I Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	192
9. Troubles in the 1960s and 1970s Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	226
10. The Staggers Rail Act of 1980 Brings Prosperity and Many Mergers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	245
Important Dates Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	263
Suggested Reading Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	273
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	287

Language: English
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 324
Illustrations
- Other: 24 halftones, 5 maps, 9 tables
Keywords: american; united states of america; usa; railroads; rails; trains; transportation; freight carriers; industrialization; industry; markets; economy; monopoly; regulations; wars; history; historical; amtrak; government; governing; legislation; expansion; westward; transcontinental; regulation; corruption; discrimination; consolidation; uniformity; prosperity; mergers; business

eBook

Published: April 15, 2008
ISBN: 9780226776606