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9780253341792

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<p>Middleton, a transportation historian, has written the definitive history of urban rail systems in North America. Although it looks like a coffee--table book, it is much, much more. There are long narrative chapters, short biographical sketches of major figures in the history of urban rail development, a set of appendixes devoted to rolling stock and track used in the various systems, and maps of all the current urban rail systems in North America. Middleton's survey begins with the horse--drawn street railways of New York and the various proposals floated throughout the early 19th century for inanimate sources of power for transit systems. He then describes and analyzes the development of elevated systems, subways, and finally the integrated systems that existed in most major US cities in the mid, 20th century. Latter chapters deal with how new heavy--rail systems were developed in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, DC, and other areas, while new light--rail systems were developed in Portland, Oregon, St. Louis, and other medium--sized cities. The major flaw of the book is that Middleton says very little about the decline and outright destruction of many urban rail systems since 1945. This reviewer hopes that this is the subject of his next book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All collections.L. D. Johnston, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Choice, June 2003--L. D. Johnston, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University Choice (01/01/2003)

<p> Middleton, a transportation historian, has written the definitivehistory of urban rail systems in North America.... Highly recommended. -- Choice, June 2003

<p>Middleton, a transportation historian, has written the definitive history of urban rail systems in North America. Although it looks like a coffee--table book, it is much, much more. There are long narrative chapters, short biographical sketches of major figures in the history of urban rail development, a set of appendixes devoted to rolling stock and track used in the various systems, and maps of all the current urban rail systems in North America. Middleton's survey begins with the horse--drawn street railways of New York and the various proposals floated throughout the early 19th century for inanimate sources of power for transit systems. He then describes and analyzes the development of elevated systems, subways, and finally the integrated systems that existed in most major US cities in the mid, 20th century. Latter chapters deal with how new heavy--rail systems were developed in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, DC, and other areas, while new light--rail systems were developed in Portland, Oregon, St. Louis, and other medium--sized cities. The major flaw of the book is that Middleton says very little about the decline and outright destruction of many urban rail systems since 1945. This reviewer hopes that this is the subject of his next book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All collections.--L. D. Johnston, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University Choice (01/01/2003)

Middleton, a transportation historian, has written the definitive history of urban rail systems in North America.... Highly recommended. Choice, June 2003

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William D. Middleton, a transportation historian and journalist, is the author of 18 books, including The Time of the Trolley, The Interurban Era, and When the Steam Railroads Electrified, which together with Metropolitan Railways form a comprehensive illustrated history of electric railway transportation in North America.

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