Customer Reviews

Civil War Railroads: A Pictorial Story of the War between the States, 1861-1865

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Civil War Railroads by George Abdill is a wonderful browsing book on railroading in the 1860's. One can open to most any page and find an interesting story, anecdote, biography or fact about Civil War railroading. The book is organized chronologically with no clear academic theme. It draws few conclusions. It is, however, flooded with over two hundred photos mainly from the Library of Congress and the National Archives. There is a wide mixed spectrum of topics including locomotives,rolling stock, structures, yards, track, car ferries was well as burned and destroyed trains and bridges on both sides. Somehow Abdill seems to have identified by name almost every locomotive pictured. Devastation is certainly a common thread. Book length topics like the Andrew's raid (the great locomotive chase) and the Lincoln funeral train are covered in only a few pages.

Readers should note this is a word for word reprint of Abdill's 1961 book of the same title. The Indiana University Press digitally enhanced reprint on glossy paper greatly improved the photo quality from the muddy first edition. For the modeler it has no scale drawings, track layouts or even color lithographs. It is very pleasing blend of many railroad topics. I was never bored.

I would recommend it to Civil War buffs, model railroaders and anyone interest in a fascinating part of our history.

This book combines two of my greatest interest, Railroads and the Civil War. After many, many hours searching websites and trying to collect Civil War era railroad photos, I came across this book. It was published back in the 60's, but Amazon connected me with someone willing to part with their copy. I am now holding all of those photos I've been trying to collect. If you've seen a Civil War railroad photo anywhere, I'm sure you will find it in this book. It does have writing as well, but you'll want it for the photos!