"...the history of the railroad in North America, from its origins in Britain in the 1820s and short lines connecting Eastern Seaboard rivers in the 1830s to Amtrak and the modern intermodal freights driving today's railroad revival."--Jacket.

The railroad map -- Origins -- Local lines -- Extending outward -- Toward a network -- Pacific dreams -- A railroad war -- A network West -- The first transcontinental -- The race West -- Years of glory -- More transcontinentals -- The end of monopoly -- Defending the nation -- A thousand glorious tomorrows.