Southern Pacific Railroad (MBI Railroad Color History) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Southern Pacific's intricate, complex story has not one beginning but many..." (more)
Key Phrases: locomotive market, commute service, fast freight service, Southern Pacific, San Francisco, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

More than just a railroad, the Southern Pacific was an empire, anchored in San Francisco but stretching from Portland, Oregon, to several ports on the Gulf of Mexico. From austere western roots, the "Espee" grew into a far-flung railroad of some 17,000 route miles. In fact, for many years, it was the nations only true transcontinental railroad.

This illustrated history tells the tale of SP's development from 1861 through its 1996 acquisition by Union Pacific. Through some 150 archival photographs, route maps, period ads, and timetables, readers are treated to the history of steam and diesel power, as well as freight and passenger operations.

In addition to images of the Southern Pacific's flashy red and orange Daylight streamliners, the book features photography from the railroads fabled Coast Line, Shasta Route, Golden State Route, and the granddaddy of 'em all, the Overland Route.

Book Description

More than just a railroad, the Southern Pacific was an empire, anchored in San Francisco but stretching from Portland, Oregon, to several ports on the Gulf of Mexico. For many years it was, in fact, the nation’s only true “transcontinental” railroad. This illustrated history tells the tale of SP’s development from 1861 through its 1996 acquisition by Union Pacific. Through some 150 archival photographs, route maps, period ads, and timetables, readers are treated to the history of steam and diesel power on the "Espee," as well as freight and passenger operations.

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Product Details Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Voyageur Press; 1st edition (November 15, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0760329311 ISBN-13: 978-0760329313 Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #624,518 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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First Sentence:
Southern Pacific's intricate, complex story has not one beginning but many. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
locomotive market, commute service, fast freight service, articulated locomotives, diesel era, trackage rights, tractive effort, road diesels, steam era, wheel arrangement, freight locomotives, passenger operations, new locomotives, traction motors, powerful locomotives, passenger business, freight traffic, transcontinental line

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Southern Pacific, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Union Pacific, Central Pacific, Bay Area, Donner Pass, Coast Line, Cotton Belt, Big Four, Rio Grande, New Orleans, Siskiyou Line, San Joaquin Valley, Rock Island, San Jose, San Diego, Brian Jennison, Brian Solomon, New Mexico, West Coast, Western Pacific, Mike Schafer, Natron Cutoff, Shasta Route

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 1 book:

• Rogue River (No.1) (River Journal, 2) by Richmond Scott on page 84

 

3 books cite this book:

• California's Arab Americans by Janice Marschner on page 43
• We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History by Phillip M Hoose on page 201
• Letters of Catharine Cottam Romney, Plural Wife by Jennifer Moulton on page 20

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Model Railroader Cyclopedia by Bob Hayden Discusses: fast freight service diesel era tractive effort Baltimore and Ohio Railroad by Kirk Reynolds Discusses: fast freight service articulated locomotives diesel era Modern Locomotives High-Horsepower Diesels 1966-2000 by Brian Solomon Discusses: locomotive market fast freight service articulated locomotives Guide to North American Steam Locomotives by George H. Drury Discusses: fast freight service articulated locomotives trackage rights Loading...

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	72% buy the item featured on this page: Southern Pacific Railroad (MBI Railroad Color History) 4.3 out of 5 stars (6) $24.39
	10% buy Southern Pacific Passenger Trains (Great Trains) 3.5 out of 5 stars (2) $24.39
	7% buy Santa Fe Railway (MBI Railroad Color History) $27.57
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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.3 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 8 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Great photo book, low academic value, December 7, 2003 By  A. Lu (Dorchester, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Southern Pacific Railroad (Railroad Color History) (Paperback) Photos were great History was disappointing, especially the part describing how SP came to be a large empire. Perhaps no one knows, but the author shouldn't have skipped over it by saying it was "too difficult to trace". The book in the same series about the Pennsylvania and the New York Central was much better from a historical standpoint. I bought this book expecting to understand how SP came to be; admittedly I know a little more about the PRR being based in the East Coast, but this book left me more confused than I started. Nonetheless, I am glad to see that people are continuing to write about railroads of yesteryear. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely pictures, pity about the text, January 28, 2008 By  M. H. Coulson "Michael Coulson" (South Africa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Should you buy this book if you already own the first edition, published in 1999? It depends what your prime interest is. If it's historical, note that altho the text is copyright 2007, it's actually identical to the 1999 edition, so the use of the present tense and references to "today" are misleading. On the other hand, this edition comprises 160 pages, against 128 for its predecessor, while the text is set in a smaller type so must take less space. The extra space is devoted to more photographs, which can be more expansively displayed. And as far as I can tell, without doing an exhaustive comparison, only one is repeated from 1999. So if you want a handsome new picture book,this is for you; otherwise, hang on to your first edition. 9 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Southern Pacific Railroad (Railroad Color History)., June 3, 2000 By  Koetje G. (Netherlands) - See all my reviews This review is from: Southern Pacific Railroad (Railroad Color History) (Paperback) A well done historic line in this book, from the very beginning of small and big preceding railroad companies, under direction of the big four and all along the line in history, this Railroad company business was further set out and followed by its visionary engineers and leaders. A fallen flag today, this book gets my full recommendation as not only the wordings of this story of the friendly Espee takes you away to the era of beginning in a competative and wild environment the illustrations are well placed in the book, supportive to its text. Surprisingly well are the 'handle bars', seperatly described 'hotspots' along the Espee route... Donner Pass, Tehachapi Loop and more. So get the feel for the 'West'. Enjoy.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Gandy Dancer family information. My husband family have had 3 generations as Gandy Dancers and many of our family members collect Railroad history books--this one we did not have--so ordered it. Read more Published 6 months ago by Anne C. Lara 5.0 out of 5 stars Southern Pacific Railroad I was very happy over the condition of this book. It arrived in great shape and was shipped very fast and packaged very well. Published on March 3, 2006 by John E. Day 4.0 out of 5 stars Could Be Better I wish it had more Photo's of Older Steam. I liked it over all. I have seen better books though. not a bad Book though if you have the money! I like the book though over all! Published on April 4, 2000 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press; 1st edition (November 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760329311
• ISBN-13: 978-0760329313
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #624,518 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great photo book, low academic value, December 7, 2003

By	A. Lu (Dorchester, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Southern Pacific Railroad (Railroad Color History) (Paperback)

Photos were great
History was disappointing, especially the part describing how SP came to be a large empire. Perhaps no one knows, but the author shouldn't have skipped over it by saying it was "too difficult to trace". The book in the same series about the Pennsylvania and the New York Central was much better from a historical standpoint.
I bought this book expecting to understand how SP came to be; admittedly I know a little more about the PRR being based in the East Coast, but this book left me more confused than I started.
Nonetheless, I am glad to see that people are continuing to write about railroads of yesteryear.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely pictures, pity about the text, January 28, 2008

By	M. H. Coulson "Michael Coulson" (South Africa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Should you buy this book if you already own the first edition, published in 1999? It depends what your prime interest is. If it's historical, note that altho the text is copyright 2007, it's actually identical to the 1999 edition, so the use of the present tense and references to "today" are misleading. On the other hand, this edition comprises 160 pages, against 128 for its predecessor, while the text is set in a smaller type so must take less space. The extra space is devoted to more photographs, which can be more expansively displayed. And as far as I can tell, without doing an exhaustive comparison, only one is repeated from 1999. So if you want a handsome new picture book,this is for you; otherwise, hang on to your first edition.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Southern Pacific Railroad (Railroad Color History)., June 3, 2000

By	Koetje G. (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southern Pacific Railroad (Railroad Color History) (Paperback)

A well done historic line in this book, from the very beginning of small and big preceding railroad companies, under direction of the big four and all along the line in history, this Railroad company business was further set out and followed by its visionary engineers and leaders. A fallen flag today, this book gets my full recommendation as not only the wordings of this story of the friendly Espee takes you away to the era of beginning in a competative and wild environment the illustrations are well placed in the book, supportive to its text. Surprisingly well are the 'handle bars', seperatly described 'hotspots' along the Espee route... Donner Pass, Tehachapi Loop and more. So get the feel for the 'West'. Enjoy.