Customer Reviews

A Splendid Ride: The Streetcars of Kansas City, 1870-1957

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

 

 

Although I've never been in Kansas City this book tells its story so vividly it's like being almost there.
This a beautiful book, a labor of love.
There's not too much text which makes it perfectly understanding. It has no endless rosters of equipment (others will miss those I think) but its main focus is in general history.
Although the 3 maps are on the small side - I'd rather had those in fold-outs so I could give this book 6 stars - but readible with a good pair of glasses.
The whole work is so beautifully printed and has a great design. Really you'll love it.

Good historical review of bygone era of the streetcar in a major U.S. city. Many cities are returning to that mode of transportation..now known as light rail

With the city contemplating spending almost a billion dollars on "light rail" er streetcars, it's interesting to see what we once had. This book is about the rise and fall of the streetcar in Kansas City from the early days to its ultimate demise in 1957.

You can still see some of the remnants of the system in our streets here in KC. The wide parkway along the east side of Wornall and Brookside was originally a streetcar line that had its own separate track. If you're interested in what the city looked like before we got here and what it was like, you'll like this book. Just imagine what we'd have if we had kept the streetcars instead of the downtown loop.

The book is a good blend of maps, photos and interesting history
which add life to the stories I was told in my youth when I lived
in K.C.K. Reading this also helps in the undestanding of urban
problems due to the lack of good and fast public transportation.
All in All I love history and this give it to you from many sides.