Overview

In the years following World War II, a potent combination of new prosperity, a renewed love affair with the automobile, improved highways, and the availability of commercial air travel contributed to the dwindling number of rail travelers. By the 1960s, rail passenger service had become an endangered species in an unfriendly environment. Fred W. Frailey recounts the demise of the pre-Amtrak passenger train in Twilight of the Great Trains. Drawing upon a lifetime of experience as a reporter and editor, Frailey uncovers the reasons behind the disappearance of these great trains and explains how 11 railroad systems withstood or welcomed, fought or embraced the inevitable decline of their passenger services. Stimulating and informative, this book offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most challenging eras in American railroad history.

Full Product Details

9780253354778

Table of Contents

Reviews

Fred Frailey is by far one of the best writers in the railroad book business. -William D. Middleton, Jr., co-editor of The Encyclopedia of North American Railroads Fred Frailey has done an excellent job. Of all the books about the 'last years' of rail travel, Frailey's by far the best. -Herbert H. Harwood, Jr., author of The New York, Westchester & Boston Railway I consider this book to be the best documentation of the variety of ways the selected railroads dealt with the passenger train 'problem' in the decade leading up to the creation of Amtrak. -Bill Howes In this thoroughly-researched volume, Fred Frailey features almost a dozen different railroads and the varying reaction of each company to the changes in transportation that threatened the passenger systems. -S Gaugian, Jan./Feb. 2011 More than ever, this new edition of veteran railroad journalist Fred Frailey's absorbing chronicle of the last days of the pre-Amtrak, private-sector passenger train is an essential part of the literature of the varnish... Throughout, Frailey weaves the story with excellent photos, route diagrams, and his trademark irresistible prose. -Classic Trains, Summer 2011 This is an excellent and informative book covering a period of great change in railroading in America. If you are serious about railroad history, especially passenger trains, then Twilight of the Great Trains belongs in your library. -Railroad Model Craftsman, June, 2011 An outstanding history of the decline and eventual end of private-sector rail passenger service in the United States... Well illustrated with black and white and some color photographs, along with detailed diagrams illustrating routes and consists of major trains, this is a well-written look at the passenger rail industry of the 1960s. -Vinsonfarm.net, July, 2011 A beautiful collection of images from some of the best rail enthusiast photographers in North America accompany the well written and lively text material. Frailey concludes with an insightful chapter on the events leading up to the creation of Amtrak. This volume is strictly first rate and comes highly recommended. -The Michigan Railfan, September - October 2011

""Frailey's book is an excellent job...Of all those 'last years"" books, it's by far the best."" Herbert H. Harwood, Jr. ""Fred Frailey is by far one of the best writers in the railroad book business."" William D. Middleton, Jr. ""I consider this book to be the best documentation of the variety of ways the selected railroads dealt with the passenger train ""problem"" in the decade leading up to the creation of Amtrak."" Bill Howes

Frailey's book is an excellent job...Of all those 'last years books, it's by far the best. Herbert H. Harwood, Jr. Fred Frailey is by far one of the best writers in the railroad book business. William D. Middleton, Jr. I consider this book to be the best documentation of the variety of ways the selected railroads dealt with the passenger train problem in the decade leading up to the creation of Amtrak. Bill Howes

Author Information

Fred W. Frailey is author of Southern Pacific's Blue Streak Merchandise; Rolling Thunder; and Zephyrs, Chiefs & Other Orphans.

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