Conquering the Appalachians: Building the Western Maryland and Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroads Through the Appalachian Mountains [Hardcover]

Mary H. Bogart (Author), William C. Hattan (Author), Mary Hattan Bogart (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: Railroad Research Publications (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884650082
• ISBN-13: 978-1884650086
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,967,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Piece of Railroad History, December 31, 2000

By 

Walter J. Haan "New Netherland" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conquering the Appalachians: Building the Western Maryland and Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroads Through the Appalachian Mountains (Hardcover)

Conquering the Appalachians is an important piece of American railroad history. This book documents railway construction in the Appalachian Mountains in the early years of the twentieth century. The construction of tunnels and trestles is described in detail and enhanced by crystal clear black and white photos from the collection of William Cary Hattan, the civil engineer who actually built large portions of the Clinchfield and Western Maryland Railways. Well written and researched by Hattan's daughter, Mary Hattan Bogart, this book would be an important addition to any library of railroad books. It belongs in the reference departments of every public library within the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Future generations need access to what Hattan and his men accomplished in those states with dynamite, carts, mules, pick axes, shovels and sheer muscle. Many of their trestles and tunnels still exist, unused for their original purpose, but monuments to determination and grit. I've seen two of the trestles, one in Pennington Gap, Virginia and another nearby. They are awe inspiring for anyone who has read this book.