From the first steam powered locomotives of the early nineteenth century and establishing of the first railroads to the high-speed bullet trains of today, the American railroad has been a great engine powering growth and industry. This celebrates the glory and grandeur of that legacy, with a lavish tour of the railroad and the culture surrounding it. Generously illustrated with archive and modern photographs, maps, timetables, tickets, and a vast array of memorabilia, this volume offers a fascinating look at the beginning and development of the rail industry, plus it's place in the cultural history. From the might of the major rail companies and their empires, to the romance of rail travel, this is the full and fabulously colored story of the rail industry that moved a nation, and still stirs our imagination today.