Richard Saunders Jr. teaches history at Clemson University. He is author of Merging Lines: American Railroads, 1900-1970, which won the 2002 George W. and Constance M. Hilton Award.

"Magisterial in scope and precise in detail, Main Lines makes a significant contribution to modern railroad history and to the history of American business."-Mark Reutter, Editor, Railroad History"A superb source of recent US railroad history and a must read for anyone with an interest in the re-birth of the North American railroad industry."—Michigan Railfan"An extraordinarily detailed and insightful look at the complex and profound reconfiguration of American railroads... this work is likely to remain the standard account of how the modern rail system came into being for some time to come."—Indiana Magazine of History

• Table of ContentsList of Maps Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Journey to the Point of No Return 2. The Northeastern Railroad Crisis, 1970–1973 3. The Coming of Conrail, 1973–1976 4. The Revolution Begins, 1976–1980 5. Death, Life, and the Staggers Act, 1975–1981 6. The Revolution is Consolidated, 1981–1991 7. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: East 8. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: West 9. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: Midcontinent 10. New Colossi of the West, 1990–1997 11. North America's Final Six, 1996–2000 12. Into the Twenty-First Century Notes Works Cited Index

Richard Saunders Jr. teaches history at Clemson University. He is author of Merging Lines: American Railroads, 1900-1970, which won the 2002 George W. and Constance M. Hilton Award.

"Magisterial in scope and precise in detail, Main Lines makes a significant contribution to modern railroad history and to the history of American business."-Mark Reutter, Editor, Railroad History"A superb source of recent US railroad history and a must read for anyone with an interest in the re-birth of the North American railroad industry."—Michigan Railfan"An extraordinarily detailed and insightful look at the complex and profound reconfiguration of American railroads... this work is likely to remain the standard account of how the modern rail system came into being for some time to come."—Indiana Magazine of History

• Table of ContentsList of Maps Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Journey to the Point of No Return 2. The Northeastern Railroad Crisis, 1970–1973 3. The Coming of Conrail, 1973–1976 4. The Revolution Begins, 1976–1980 5. Death, Life, and the Staggers Act, 1975–1981 6. The Revolution is Consolidated, 1981–1991 7. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: East 8. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: West 9. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: Midcontinent 10. New Colossi of the West, 1990–1997 11. North America's Final Six, 1996–2000 12. Into the Twenty-First Century Notes Works Cited Index

Richard Saunders Jr. teaches history at Clemson University. He is author of Merging Lines: American Railroads, 1900-1970, which won the 2002 George W. and Constance M. Hilton Award.

"Magisterial in scope and precise in detail, Main Lines makes a significant contribution to modern railroad history and to the history of American business."-Mark Reutter, Editor, Railroad History"A superb source of recent US railroad history and a must read for anyone with an interest in the re-birth of the North American railroad industry."—Michigan Railfan"An extraordinarily detailed and insightful look at the complex and profound reconfiguration of American railroads... this work is likely to remain the standard account of how the modern rail system came into being for some time to come."—Indiana Magazine of History

• Table of ContentsList of Maps Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Journey to the Point of No Return 2. The Northeastern Railroad Crisis, 1970–1973 3. The Coming of Conrail, 1973–1976 4. The Revolution Begins, 1976–1980 5. Death, Life, and the Staggers Act, 1975–1981 6. The Revolution is Consolidated, 1981–1991 7. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: East 8. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: West 9. The Era of the Super Seven, 1980–1995: Midcontinent 10. New Colossi of the West, 1990–1997 11. North America's Final Six, 1996–2000 12. Into the Twenty-First Century Notes Works Cited Index