Rails Around the World

For any novice reader about the history of locomotion, this will be a very pretty selection of pictures. For the fan of such books, this will be a very readable, easy guide round many classic engines from around the world. I'm sure there would have been a way for the former to have become the latter with a book such as this, however – it took me ages to know what all the 2-8-0 and 4-10-2 numbers and all that malarkey meant, but I'm sure a page of foreword here would have let the newbie become more au fait with the technical terms like those. And as I'm much more of a novice than an expert, I can't say whether all the historical information about the designers, uses, prevalence and so on of each and every engine is common, basic knowledge, or something the audience of this book would have been gasping for. All I know is a great number of people will appreciate these pages, as they would pretty much anything linked to their hobby, especially when Spanish and Swedish entries have the history of how they became things for Yanks to spot, given the volume's somewhat USA-centric bias.

Rails Around the World: Two Centuries of Trains and Locomotives by Brian Solomon is a pictorial history of trains. Solomon is one of today's most accomplished railway historians. He has authored more than twenty-five books about railroads and motive power. His writing and photography have been featured in the world's top railfan publications, including Trains, Railway Age, Passenger Train Journal, and RailNews.

From hand-drawn and black and white photographs to brilliant color photos, Solomon takes the reader on a ride through history. Rails have been credited with expanding America and connecting all parts of the country from coast to coast. Rails similarly joined Canada. Rail systems changed the way armies were mobilized and supplied in the First World War. Large cities rely on rail to move their people to and from work and transport goods across the country or continent. Rails were a symbol of national pride and conveyed a romantic image of travel. Lines like the Orient Express, The Flying Scotsman, The 20th Century Limited, and the Trans-Siberian Express all live on in memory and history.

Rails Around the World also covers less known trains that provided practical service but without the more powerful machines' glamour. Commuter trains and electric trains are given their place in history around the world. Vladimir Lenin Electrics, Amtrack, and Japan's bullet train demonstrate the difference and range in passenger transportation.

The evolution of the steam engine to the diesel to the bullet train is displayed in a smooth transition. Old steam engines slowly adopt a more aerodynamic shape, some even falling into the art deco category, before developing into the utility diesel and then into the fully streamlined TGV bullet train. Rails Around the World demonstrates the versatility and adaptability of the oldest modern form of transportation. An informative and beautifully illustrated history of trains in all their forms.

I enjoyed both the information on different types of trains as well as the pictures. I liked that book was laid out in chronological order. It helps see how the technology changes bit by bit.

I let me Dad read the book. He is way more of a train fan then I am. It kept his interest until my tablet died!!