The Birth of California Narrow Gauge
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.27 (879 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0804735506 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 720 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-01-02 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Until personal and financial disaster overtook them in 1880, the Carters were at the forefront of not just a new business, but a new technology.. The Carters were able to reduce the cost and complexity of light railroad construction to the point where local narrow gauge lines could initially compete with the state’s notorious railroad monopolies. Pioneering a mobile manufacturing operation that could supply locally funded short lines with rolling stock (which traditionally came from East Coast manufacturers), the Carter Brothers began with a line to serve Salinas Valley wheat farmers, desperate to achieve an independent means for conveying their crops to the wharf in Monterey. It is lavishly illustrated by some 600 photographs and drawings, almost three-quarters of which have never before been published.The topic is approached through an unusual lens: the history of the relatively small but extraordinarily inventive contracting and engineering firm of the brothers Thomas and Martin Carter. The narrow gauge railroad that resulted was an act of political and economic defiance, but ultimately a hopeless assault on the "Octopus"the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads. This long-awaited study, the magnum opus of a leading railroad historian, describes the concep
It is well written, extensively researched, and pulled the early history of California narrow gauge railroads together for me."—Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette. "I love this book
Randall Charles Hees said A must have volume. This massive volume charts the development of early California railroads, both narrow and standard gauge, by following the lives of two Irish immigrant brothers, Thomas and Martin Carter. It is much more than just a railroad history as it explores how they gained the skills and knowledge to build railroad cars, bridges, and even the railroads themselves, and how they used innovative leveraged financing (which in retrospect seems surpris. Birth of the California Narrow Gauge Bill Barbour Comprehensive history of early Pacific Coast railroad and transpiration history. Lots of interesting historical sketches of railroad people and their suppliers. How the railroads built up local economies. Also lots of technical detail, with explanations that will allow anyone with out prior knowledge to become well versed in the basics of railroad technology. This is an excellent book, a must have for any railroad oriented library colle. Fabulous Local History Book Stanley D. Stevens As a researcher of Northern California local history, I use this book as a primary source document. I find the accuracy astounding, the book is easy to read, and the illustrations are first class. It is a model for anyone to follow -- study it, and cite it with confidence.