Railroads are a worldwide institutions, but in America, railroading has led a particularly diverse, dynamic, and sometimes even doomsday existence—it is a story of rags to riches to rags... and back to riches again! Follow the evolution of the American railroad from coast to coast, from the days of ancient horse-powered trains to the era of shady rail barons; from the roller-coaster ride through the Roaring Twenties, the Depression, and World War II to the present-day boom. The book tells the story of railroading's five most fascinating components: locomotives, freight trains, passenger trains, depots, and the men and women who make it all happen. Also featured are the best-known of the "classic" railroads of the twentieth century. Hundreds of colorful illustrations graphically portray railroading's exciting past and optimistic present. One trip through this book will provide a new perspective on an industry that was key to America's rise to become a world-class nation.