North American Railroads: the Illustrated Encyclopedia

Now in paperback! Get an up-close and personal look at over 150 years of railway history.

This richly illustrated encyclopedia of classic and contemporary American railroads features concise histories of 101 U.S. and Canadian railroads past and present. Over 400 stunning images include period and modern photography in both color and black and white, evocative print ads, and system maps.

Author Brian Solomon, an accomplished railway photographer, has written more than 50 railroad-related book titles. Here, he shares his deep knowledge of the history, geography, and beauty of railroads in detailed captions accompanying each of his photographs. Each railroad profile is completed by one or more fact boxes with details on the railroads’ geographic scope, hardware, and freight and passenger operations.

Spanning more than a century and a half, this giant compilation of “fallen flags,” Class I behemoths, classic regional carriers, and transportation icons is the go-to resource for railfans of all stripes.