This is the first comprehensive, extensively illustrated account of the growth and decline of American narrow gauge railroading, a singular and still not fully understood episode in the history of American transportation.

American Narrow Gauge Railroads

Engineering & Transportation

Hilton, George

Transportation

Stanford University Press

The American cable car once operated in 29 cities across the United States. However, the once-promising technology proved inefficient, and cable cars were soon replaced by electric trolley cars. Today, they are only to be found as a tourist attraction traversing the steep hills of San Francisco. This text presents the history of this mode of urban transportation, from invention through development and demise.

The Cable Car in America

History

Americas

This is the richly illustrated, definitive account of the rise, fall, and extinction of steam passenger transportation on Lake Michigan. Originating in the 1840s with the ships that brought fruit from the Michigan fruit belt to the produce markets of Chicago and Milwaukee, the industry soon expanded in response to the demands of the public for excursions from the two cities. The steamers provided a wide variety of passenger services, ranging from 38-mile excursions between Chicago and Michigan City to cruise operations the length of the lake. The most heavily utilized service was the Goodrich Line's daily excursion from Chicago to Milwaukee, usually operated with the huge Christopher Columbus, the only passenger ship of the whaleback configuration ever built. The principal cross-lake operator was the Graham &amp; Morton Line, which developed St. Joseph, Michigan, into what was called "Chicago's Coney Island." In general, the longer the trip, the higher the income level of the passengers. This accorded with the social stratification of Chicago: the Michigan City service of the Indiana Transportation Company largely served the poor, and the Mackinac line of the Northern Michigan Transportation Company was a facility designed for the wealthy and socially elite. The industry peaked in the early years of the twentieth century, but began to decline as early as 1911. After World War I, the rise of motor transport forced a rapid decline in the industry, a decline accelerated by the Depression, and the industry essentially expired in 1932. The cross-lake line between Milwaukee, Grand Haven, and Muskegon was an exception, always standing apart from the rest of the industry, first as a railroad connection, then as an auto ferry. It survived to 1970. The first part of the book treats the industry as a whole in five discursive chapters, accompanied by maps of the lake and major harbors. The second part consists of detailed corporate histories of the ten major operators.

Lake Michigan Passenger Steamers

Business & Money

Industries

The Monon, the shortest line between Indianapolis and Chicago, has a rich history that is captured in this release from Heimburger House Publishing Company. This 8½" x 11" 323-page hardbound book is full of informative text and more than 400 captivating black and white photos, maps, drawings and illustrations. A locomotive roster, bibliography and index also highlight this excellent resource. Though it was originally envisioned as a facility for interchange with steam boats at New Albany on the Ohio River and at Michigan City on Lake Michigan, the railroad’s principal function proved to be northbound freight haulage from southern rail connections at Louisville. From its early origins in 1847, the Monon had a difficult time due to its poor physical plant when compared to other railroads of the day. In addition, a mysterious stockholder’s coup in 1890 prevented it from reaching the coal fields of eastern Kentucky, and the possibility of becoming an important regional coal hauler never materialized. It subsequently became dependent on its connection at Louisville. In 1946, these controlling, southern connections ended after a long period of stagnancy. At that time, one of the most able and colorful of modern railroad men, John W. Barriger III, became the Monon’s president. During his leadership, the railroad was dieselized, its passenger trains became streamlined and attempts were made to upgrade the physical plant. These improvements helped the Monon survive the difficult postwar period until it merged into the Louisville & Nashville in 1971. The Monon’s pioneer history, its high quality of passenger service, and its long association with higher education in Indiana are all combined in this exceptional volume of enthusiast interest.

Monon Route

Heimburger House Publishing Co.

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Books by Hilton, George

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Hilton, George. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

American Narrow Gauge Railroads

American Narrow Gauge Railroads

The Cable Car in America

Lake Michigan Passenger Steamers

Monon Route