Another in the Greenwood Press series Greenwood Technographies, this publication offers a detailed, informative picture of the history and advancement of the railroad. Throughout the past 200 years, the railroad has evolved from its beginnings in Britain with coal burning propulsion and wooden cars to today's diesel- and turbine-powered locomotives and steel cargo cars. Grant writes in a very general and understandable style, and he manages to do an excellent job of thoroughly discussing the details and specifics of the way that rail technology improved and what brought about these improvements. . . . An excellent example is how the need for scheduling trains helped bring about the establishment of time zones. Highly recommended. General readers; lower-division undergraduates; two-year technical program students.

Choice

Keeping the discussion largely within the context of the United States, Grant narrates the development of the railroad as a technology. Traveling from rail's gestation in the early 1800s to the present time, he discusses the inventors and innovations that impacted the design and operations of railroads and trains.

SciTech Book News

High school students in particular will find these quick references provide easy consultation on the 'life story' of each technology's evolution, covering different generations of computers and trains, surveying their importance in American lives, and following key changes and events. All are excellent references, highly recommended.' (reviewed in conjuction with Computers, Greenwood, 2005)

Midwest Book Review