Customer Reviews

The Interurban Era

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book sets the gold standard for railway books. The illustrations are profuse, excellently re-produced and well chosen. The text is well written with content full enough for the seriously interested and clear enough for the more general reader.There is a very helpful "naming of parts" section at the back with clear line drawings that lets you get to grips with the jargon of trolleys.

The book also achieves the difficult task of covering the whole of the US, Canada and Cuba comprehensively without skimping on anything important.The book gives you the confidence to read further on interurbans. Not only a joy and an education, but a source book of information to inspire further reading (and viewing - there are some interesting interurban DVD's out there)

A book to take your time over reading and savour.

This book gives much information and is yet not so very detailed to get boring.
There're great pictures in it, all in B&W, and great stories.
The writer Middleton is very good in writing fascinating little stories about records or which Interurban was the fastest, the largest or most luxurious.
It's an older book but perfectly readible.
On the last pages are great references: an index of all Interurbans, exemplary details on equipment and rolling stock.

Middleton's book is a good overall review of the Golden Age of electric transit. With lots of excellent pictures and accompanying texts, he shows what the interurbans were all about, and the sorrowful loss of a fast, clean form of transportation. To a railfan such as I am, it is an excellent book.