Customer Reviews

Southern Pacific in California (Images of Rail)

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Being fascinated by the history of the Southern Pacific Railroad for a great number of years, I thoroughly enjoyed this book by author Kerry Sullivan. It is very good read of the SP from Los Angeles to San Francisco and beyond. With I may add, many high-quality photos that I have never seen published before. What also impressed me with Mr. Sullivan's account, is the spirited writing style with hints of personality and humor coming out. This is no droll text-book read, but of passion and wit. This subject matter must be of a personal interest to the author and it shows. I have recommended this book to all my railroad and historian buddies. Get this classic while you can!

Kerry Sullivan's Southern Pacific in California, one of Arcadia Publishing's Images of Rail series, provides a capsule photo documentation of the state's leading railroad through the years.

One of the most engaging aspects of the Southern Pacific in California is the extreme range of scenery the line passed through. Scenery ranges from the Southern California coast, through deserts, and includes demanding mountainous terrain with tunnels, trestles, and lots of snow.

The line's scenery has an important a story to tell as the line's San Francisco ferry boats, its narrow gauge lines, its ownership of the Pacific Electric traction empire, as well as the line's range of motive power and signature passenger trains.

The first 4 chapters of Southern Pacific in California focus on the different regions the line passed through. Following the overview are several thematic chapters focusing on the lines contribution to the nation's war efforts and a portfolio of workers on the line.

Chapter 8 profiles the broad range of railroad stations which reflected the different regions the line passed through. Thee are several pleasing photos of the line's Mission Style architecture, as well as numerous rural stations serving agriculture communities both large and small.

As books of railroad photography become more and more expensive, I increasingly appreciate the value of affordable Arcadia's Images of Rail series that that provide excellent introduction to important railroad topics.