Mighty Fine Road

H. Roger Grant is author of numerous books, including Visionary Railroader, John W. Barriger III, Railroaders without Borders, and Railroads and the American People. He is Kathryn and Calhoun Lemon Professor of History at Clemson University.

"Roger Grant has once again hit a home run with his latest book, a detailed but readable history of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, a major Midwestern railroad. Grant's narrative spans the Rock Island's many significant accomplishments as well as its several sad chapters, including a final one that included bankruptcy and liquidation. It was a time, as Grant vividly phrases it, when "off came the wheels." Well-chosen maps and photographs add to the value of a "mighty fine" book."—Carlos A. Schwantes, St. Louis Mercantile Library Professor Emeritus"H. Roger Grant's A Mighty Fine Road presents a masterfully researched and written history of one of the nation's most important railroads. From its earliest days crossing Illinois, then the Mississippi River, to its ultimate demise in the 1980s, Grant fills a significant void by producing this authoritative history."—Thomas G. Hoback, Founder, President and CEO, Indiana Rail Road (Retired)"From its storied birth to its sordid death, H. Roger Grant provides a complete history of the Rock Island, one of America's most famous – and infamous – railroads."—Albert Churella, Kennesaw State University, author of The Pennsylvania Railroad, Volume I: Building an Empire, 1846-1917."A Mighty Fine Road lays out the amazing, yet heartbreaking history of the railroad I loved. The historical opportunities and disappointments of the Rock Island is clearly explained in Grant's book, with visionaries keeping the dream moving forward, yet damaged and constrained by greed and lack of vision with the next management regime."—Dan Sabin, President, Iowa Northern Railway Company"Grant's presentation is complete and unbiased with no favoritism shown toward government, management, or labor – each party contributing to its legacy of being the largest Class I railroad to be liquidated in American railroad history."—The Michigan Railfan"H. Roger Grant's history of one of the nation's most significant Midwestern railroads is a mighty fine book."—David Pfeiffer, Railroad History"This handsome, well-illustrated book merits the attention of any reader interested in the history of Iowa. And just as important, the book reminds us of the importance of railroads to the history and vitality of American society. All aboard!"—Timothy Walch, IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN"This book would make a valuable addition to the libraries of railroad enthusiasts, especially those whose interests is in midwestern railroads, as well as professional historians. The notes at the end, on their own, are an invaluable resource that any historian writing on American railroads could spend many days or weeks scouring for sources."—Sean Kammer, Kansas History

• Preface Acknowledgements1. Pioneer Railroad2. Expansion3. Robber Barons4. Rough Tracks5. Farrington Era6. Saving the Rock7. Liquidation and LegacyIndex