The Encyclopedia of Trains and Locomotives [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by C.J. Riley (Author), C. Riley (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Alphabetically organized, fully cross-referenced, and packed with photographs, this enticing encyclopedia makes the perfect gift for anyone who ever felt drawn to the sight of an onrushing train. It features the most significant innovations in locomotive technology, as well as the most important and colorful characters from the history of the iron horse. Thrill to the true story of Casey Jones and his ill fated final journey; was he simply trying to stay on schedule that day--or was he determined to die? Read about the difficulties encountered during the construction of the Cape-to-Cairo Railroad, Cecil Rhodes’ ambitious and still unrealized dream of a trans-African railway. Marvel at the magnetic levitation trains that have the capability of traveling at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. With its facts and details, fabulous lore and photographs old and new, this reference brings history to life as never before.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: METR; Reprint edition (August 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567999824
• ISBN-13: 978-1567999822
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #775,833 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Locomotives, trains, and railroads, all in one book, March 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Trains & Locomotives (Hardcover)

Of all the Christmas gifts I have received, this book has to be one of my favorites. A great many old and new photos and illustrations. Rather than grouped by category, entries are alphabetized as in a standard encyclopedia. A great variety of subjects are covered: the very first steam engine inventors, steam, diesel, and electric building companies, their founders and the engines they built, various car types, track gauges, some famous railroads in North America and other parts of the world, well-known railroad and engineering feats, and more. Appendices list production figures for General Motors/EMD, Alco, and General Electric (what, no Baldwin?), as well as railroad mergers, all up to around 1992 or so. The entry I found most interesting was that on Australia, with its haphazard lack of any coherent rail development, resulting in several different track gauges that proved a real headache in later years.

While not comprehensive (and not claiming to be so), this encyclopedia is a well researched and written reference work, and is certainly a bargain as well. --- Paul H!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for all levels, July 17, 2000

By	"hart4377" (Brookline, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Trains & Locomotives (Hardcover)

The Encyclopedia of Trains & Locomotives is a great source of information for novices and experts alike. It also includes some very detailed appendices that are unequaled. Overall, it is a wonderful reference for the price