Coal Trains: The History of Railroading and Coal in the United States

From mine to mill, pier, and power plant, here is the illustrated history of the irrevocable relationship between coal mining and railroading in the United States. Authors Brian Solomon and Patrick Yough examine how the American rail industry spurred the growth of coal-mining operations and how mining prodded new rail technologies. Readers will witness giant double-headed steam locomotives moving Appalachian coal; SD70MACs hauling more than 100 cars across the prairie; and trains snaking through the Rocky Mountains to crest the Continental Divide at 10,000 feet above sea level. With a concise, authoritative history and nearly 200 photographs, this is the ultimate look at an essential chapter in American industry and railroading.