Trains Across the Continent, Second Edition

Rudolph Daniels is Assistant Dean and Department Chair of Railroad Operations Technology at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City. He was born in Trenton, N.J. and studied the oboe with some of the world's leading performers. He graduated from St. Francis College, Loretto, PA. He went on to Penn State University studying Russian/Soviet foreign policy, history, and Russian language and literature. He received his Ph.D. in 1971, and later developed his dissertation into a book: V. N. Tatishchev: Guardian of the Petrine Revolution. Daniels taught Russian studies at various colleges in Dubuque, Iowa before moving to W. Germany in 1974, where he taught English and French. Over the course of 22 years, he became Dept. Chair of History and Poli Sci and also taught woodwinds and music lit. classes. In 1996, he became Dept. Chair of the Behavioral Sciences at WITCC, where he began teaching courses in Railroad Operations Technology. Trains across the Continent was developed as a textbook for his classes at WITCC.

"The best current railroad history available ... everything you need to know ... both educational and enjoyable reading." --Dean Bruce, President, Railroad Education Training Association "Trains Across the Continent truly is a comprehensive account of how railroads helped shpae and are continuing to shape the history of North America." --Jonathan B. Hanna, Historian, Canadian Pacific Railway "Quickly and concisely Dr. Daniels leads you through the maze of building, merging, and a myriad of other details necessary to understand modern railroading." --Donald D. Snoddy, Historian, Union Pacific Railroad Praise for the first edition: "Despite the broad scope of the topic, Daniels manages to make brief mention of all major points of North American railroad history chronologically; from the workings of a steam locomotive to the dawn of the railroad mega-merger, nearly every conceivable aspect of railroading receives attention... This volume is a must for those wishing to broaden or hone their knowledge of the birth and evolution of the railroad industry in North America over the last 175 years." --Chris Goepel (review for Rail News, April 1999) "Nothing but positive comments about it from faculty and students alike... The industry bible in this area." --Phillip B. Cypret, Sacramento City College

• For the new edition:Section 1. The Beginnings - Historical SurveyChapter 1. The Industrial Revolution and the First RailroadsChapter 2. Lions, Thumbs and Best FriendsSection 2. Railroad Fever - Historical SurveyChapter 3. Run on to GoshenChapter 4. North vs. South: The First Railroad WarSection 3. The Glory Years - Historical SurveyChapter 5. Harnessing the ElephantChapter 6. The Work Has Been Done Well in Every WayChapter 7. The Pullman CompanyChapter 8. Glory Years TechnologyChapter 9. Railroad FinancingChapter 10. Perfecting the NetworkChapter 11. Locomotive Evolution and the Creation of a Railroad CultureChapter 12. Government InterventionSection 4. The Golden Years - Historical SurveyChapter 13. "The Public Be Blessed . . . "Chapter 14. The Lifeline of the NationSection 5. Modern Times - Historical SurveyChapter 15. Twilight of the Railroad EraChapter 16. Trains TodayChapter 17. ConclusionEpilogueAppendicesA. Chronological TableB. Railroad Historical Slang TermsC. "The Armchair Conductor": Railroad Movies Available on VHSD. Reporting Marks and Railroad Companies Recognized by the AARBibliographyIndexMaps (to be revised):1850U.S. Civil WarU.S. Resources1886 Railroads1918 Canadian National Predecessors1935 RailroadsCurrent Major Railroads