Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1042379 in Books
• Published on: 1988-12-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 816 pages

Synopsis
Describes the construction of America's first transcontinental railroad from Missouri to the Pacific in terms of the remarkable expansion of the United States of America.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic tale of personal glory & commercial acheivement
An absolutely fantastic book. For those who have had the pleasure of reading Shelby Foote's 'Civil War' trilogy - Empire Express is written in a similar (and equally effective) style. David Haward Bain combines the personal histories of Whitney, Judah, Huntingdon and Durant with a sweeping view of the construction of the railroad from Omaha in the east and Sacramento in the west. This is not just a story of the railroad construction - but provides a marvellous insight into many other areas of interest in the second half of 19th century America - commerce, investment & loan financing, indigenous native Americans, Chinese immigration & the civilisation and population of Nevada, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska.

DHB provides excellent maps, and fascinating photographs; describing the geography, engineering and human perserverance of this wonderous feat. As much as the actual railroad construction is a engaging tale - it is the 'back-room' shenanigans of Huntingdon and Durant that are the most interesting part of this history.

I am not a railroad/railway boffin - this is a genuinely excellent book for anyone interested in post Civil War America - the transcontinental railroad, and the consequent civilisation west of the Missouri acted as great pressure-releasing valve that kept alive the American dream for that great nation.