Twilight of the Great Trains, expanded edition by Fred W Frailey

Twilight of the Great Trains, expanded edition by Fred W Frailey

In the years following World War II, a potent combination of new prosperity, a renewed love affair with the automobile, improved highways, and the availability of commercial air travel contributed to the dwindling number of rail travelers. By the 1960s, rail passenger service had become an endangered species in an unfriendly environment. Fred W. Frailey recounts the demise of the pre-Amtrak passenger train in Twilight of the Great Trains. Drawing upon a lifetime of experience as a reporter and editor, Frailey uncovers the reasons behind the disappearance of these great trains and explains how 11 railroad systems withstood or welcomed, fought or embraced the inevitable decline of their passenger services. Stimulating and informative, this book offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most challenging eras in American railroad history.

A beautiful collection of images from some of the best rail enthusiast photographers in North America accompany the well written and lively text materialFrailey concludes with an insightful chapter on the events leading up to the creation of Amtrak. This volume is strictly first rate and comes highly recommended. September - October 2011

* The Michigan Railfan *

In this thoroughly-researched volume, Fred Frailey features almost a dozen different railroads and the varying reaction of each company to the changes in transportation that threatened the passenger systems. Jan./Feb. 2011

* S Gaugian *

An outstanding history of the decline and eventual end of private-sector rail passenger service in the United States... Well illustrated with black and white and some color photographs, along with detailed diagrams illustrating routes and consists of major trains, this is a well-written look at the passenger rail industry of the 1960s.July, 2011

* Vinsonfarm.net *

More than ever, this new edition of veteran railroad journalist Fred Frailey's absorbing chronicle of the last days of the pre-Amtrak, private-sector passenger train is an essential part of the literature of the varnish.... Throughout, Frailey weaves the story with excellent photos, route diagrams, and his trademark irresistible prose. Summer 2011

* Classic Trains *

This is an excellent and informative book covering a period of great change in railroading in America. If you are serious about railroad history, especially passenger trains, then Twilight of the Great Trains belongs in your library. June, 2011

* Railroad Model Craftsman *

Fred W. Frailey is author of Southern Pacific's Blue Streak Merchandise; Rolling Thunder; and Zephyrs, Chiefs & Other Orphans.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780253354778
ISBN 10	0253354773
Title	Twilight of the Great Trains, expanded edition
Author	Fred W Frailey
Series	Railroads Past And Present
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Indiana University Press
Year published	2010-08-30
Number of pages	216
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.