The iron road

the long version

This book introduces the reader to railroading. There are two sections, one on Railway Building and one on Locomotives and their work. Obviously at 85 years old a little out of date, but still contains great pictures, even some in color, and diagrams, of every aspect of the railway and its development. Though predominately UK based it contains worldwide illustrations. It starts with plateways and progresses to planning, gradients, gauges, mountains, tunnels, bridges and viaducts, building, permanent way stations and signals. The locomotive section contains, development, wheel types, building, boiler, types, shed, working, trials, famous, long distance, coaches, freight and electric trains. I got this at age 9 and was hooked on trains for life. 255 illustrations and 192 pages.