Bøger af H. Roger Grant

"e;Grant has once again hit a home run . . . a detailed but readable history of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, a major Midwestern railroad."e; -Carlos A. Schwantes, St. Louis Mercantile Library Professor EmeritusThe Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad's history is one of big booms and bigger busts. When it became the first railroad to reach and then cross the Mississippi River in 1856, it emerged as a leading American railroad company. But after aggressive expansion and a subsequent change in management, the company struggled and eventually declared bankruptcy in 1915. What followed was a cycle of resurrections and bankruptcies; a grueling, ten-year, ultimately unsuccessful battle to merge with the Union Pacific; and the Rock Island's final liquidation in 1981. But today, long after its glory days and eventual demise, the "e;Mighty Fine Road"e; has left behind a living legacy of major and feeder lines throughout the country. In his latest work, railroad historian H. Roger Grant offers an accessible, gorgeously illustrated, and comprehensive history of this iconic American railroad."e;This handsome, well-illustrated book merits the attention of any reader interested in the history of Iowa. And just as important, the book reminds us of the importance of railroads to the history and vitality of American society. All aboard!"e; -Iowa City Press-Citizen"e;A Mighty Fine Road lays out the amazing, yet heartbreaking history of the railroad I loved. The historical opportunities and disappointments of the Rock Island is clearly explained in Grant's book, with visionaries keeping the dream moving forward, yet damaged and constrained by greed and lack of vision with the next management regime."e; -Dan Sabin, President, Iowa Northern Railway Company

1) Grant is considered one of the leading scholars in transportation and a well-respected addition to the list. 2) This is the first book that examines all of these aspects of transportation. It will be the authoritative book on the subject. 3) IUP's railroad titles have traditionally sold well and are considered at the top of their field.

This comprehensive history of the Chicago and North Western Railway chronicles the developments of one of America's great railroads.

"e;Readers will find in his biography an extraordinary tale of the travails of twentieth-century railroading through the career of this one man."e; -The Annals of IowaAfter graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, John W. Barriger III (1899-1976) started his career on the Pennsylvania Railroad as a rodman, shop hand, and then assistant yardmaster. His enthusiasm, tenacity, and lifelong passion for the industry propelled him professionally, culminating in leadership roles at Monon Railroad, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and the Boston and Maine Railroad. His legendary capability to save railroad corporations in peril earned him the nickname "e;doctor of sick railroads,"e; and his impact was also felt far from the train tracks, as he successfully guided New Deal relief efforts for the Railroad Division of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation during the Depression and served in the Office of Defense Transportation during World War II. Featuring numerous personal photographs and interviews, John W. Barriger III is an intimate account of a railroad magnate and his role in transforming the transportation industry."e;Thanks to Roger Grant's latest book, Barriger and his amazing legacy endures, waiting to be rediscovered by a new generation of readers. Trust me, you'll learn a lot."e; -Classic Trains"e;H. Roger Grant's biography, John W. Barriger III, offers a new and much needed perspective on this prominent individual. Grant brings together an overview of Barriger's career developments with an appropriate balance of insights into his early life and introduction to railroads."e; -Journal of Transport History

As president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Jervis Langdon Jr had the opportunity to put progressive concepts into practice. From his role in passing the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to his work on creating the quasi-public Conrail, this book examines the impact of Langdon's active life.

One of the most intriguing yet neglected pieces of American transportation history, electric interurban railroads were designed to assist shoppers, salesmen, farmers, commuters, and pleasure-seekers alike with short distance travel. At a time when most roads were unpaved and horse and buggy travel were costly and difficult, these streetcar-like electric cars were essential to economic growth. But why did interurban fever strike so suddenly and extensively in the Midwest and other areas? Why did thousands of people withdraw their savings to get onto what they believed to be a "e;gravy train?"e; How did officials of competing steam railroads respond to these challenges to their operations? H. Roger Grant explores the rise and fall of this fleeting form of transportation that started in the early 1900s and was defunct just 30 years later. Perfect for railfans, Electric Interurbans and the American People is a comprehensive contribution for those who love the flanged wheel.

Among the grand antebellum plans to build railroads to interconnect the vast American republic, perhaps none was more ambitious than the Louisville, Cincinnati & Charleston. The route was intended to link the cotton-producing South and the grain and livestock growers of the Old Northwest with traders and markets in the East, creating economic opportunities along its 700-mile length. But then came the Panic of 1837, and the project came to a halt. H. Roger Grant tells the incredible story of this singular example of "e;railroad fever"e; and the remarkable visionaries whose hopes for connecting North and South would require more than half a century-and one Civil War-to reach fruition.

';[A] wealth of vignettes and more than 100 black-and-white illustrations... Does a fine job of humanizing the iron horse' (The Wall Street Journal). In this social history of the impact of railroads on American life, H.Roger Grant concentrates on the railroad's ';golden age,' from 1830 to 1930. He explores four fundamental topicstrains and travel, train stations, railroads and community life, and the legacy of railroading in Americaillustrating each with carefully chosen period illustrations. Grant recalls the lasting memories left by train travel, both of luxurious Pullman cars and the grit and grind of coal-powered locals. He discusses the important role railroads played for towns and cities across America, not only for the access they provided to distant places and distant markets but also for the depots that were a focus of community life, and reviews the lasting heritage of the railroads in our culture today. This is ';an engaging book of train stories' from one of railroading's finest historians (Choice). ';Highly recommended to train buffs and others in love with early railroading.' Library Journal ';With plenty of detail, Grant brings a bygone era back to life, addressing everything from social and commercial appeal, racial and gender issues, safety concerns, and leaps in technology... A work that can appeal to both casual and hardcore enthusiasts.' Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Follow the Flag" offers the first authoritative history of the Wabash Railroad Company, a once vital inter-regional carrier. The corporate saga of the Wabash involved the efforts of strong-willed and creative leaders, and this book provides more than a traditional business history.

The railway altered the landscape to the United States. Within a few decades of the invention of the locomotive, railways stretched from coast to coast, enabling people and goods to travel far greater distances than ever before, completely altering our concept of time and space.

This text examines the history of one of America's most famous railroads, the Erie, and its successor after 1960, the Erie Lackawanna. It covers the period between the Erie's fourth bankruptcy in the late 1930s, and its final liquidation in 1976.