A History of the Railroad in 100 Maps - by Jeremy Black (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From their origins in eighteenth-century England, railroads spread across the globe, changing everything in their path, from where and how people grew and made things to where and how they lived and moved. Railroads rewrote not only the geography of the world but also the history of maps and mapping. The needs of train companies and their users--both passengers and freight companies--have continued to shape the maps we consult and consume down to the present day. This is the first book to trace the international history of railroads and railroad infrastructure through maps. Featuring full-color maps primarily from the British Library's distinguished collection--many of them never before published--the book includes coverage from six continents, with prominent treatment of North and South America. Some of the maps were produced for railroad planning and operations, others for passengers, shippers, and tourists. Arranged chronologically, the maps are accompanied by explanatory text and also shed light on political history, military history, and urban development associated with the spread of railroads. A final chapter considers railroad maps from games, books, and other cultural artifacts. For anyone interested in the history of railroads or maps, this book will offer new and unexpected insights into their intertwined global history"--

Book Synopsis

The first international history of railroads and railroad infrastructure told through stunningly reproduced maps.

Since their origins in eighteenth-century England, railroads have spread across the globe, changing everything in their path, from where and how people grew and made things to where and how they lived and moved. Railroads rewrote not only world geography but also the history of maps and mapping. Today, the needs of train companies and their users continue to shape the maps we consume and consult.

Featuring full-color maps primarily from the British Library's distinguished collection--many of them never before published--A History of the Railroad in 100 Maps is the first international history of railroads and railroad infrastructure told through maps. Jeremy Black includes examples from six continents, spanning a variety of uses from railroad planning and operations to guides for passengers, shippers, and tourists.

Arranged chronologically, the maps are accompanied by explanatory text that sheds light on the political, military, and urban development histories associated with the spread of railroads. A final chapter considers railroad maps from games, books, and other cultural artifacts. For anyone interested in the history of railroads or maps, A History of the Railroad in 100 Maps will offer new and unexpected insights into their intertwined global history.

Review Quotes

"This title includes an impressive collection of emotionally powerful chromolithographs, photos, engravings, paintings, and posters. A History of the Railroad in 100 Maps is recommended for any library collection that serves railroad hobbyists, railroad researchers, or historical cartographers."-- "Booklist"

"A chronicle of railways from the 18th century to the present told through maps from around the world, many drawn from the British Library collection...[including] an imaginative section where Thomas the Tank Engine fans can see a map of Sodor."-- "The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel"

"Black contextualizes the global history of railroads using a carefully curated set of historic map documents chosen from libraries around the world. The choice of maps is at once eclectic and comprehensive, shedding light on the interaction of railroads with the history of government, military, and urban development. With thorough and insightful commentaries throughout, the depth and breadth of the scholarship from this accomplished historian is without parallel."--James R. Akerman editor of "Cartographies of Travel and Navigation"

"Black has collated the most extensive, enjoyable, and edifying collection of historic railway cartography ever assembled in book form. With a forensic eye and informed text, he provides deep insight into how and why mapping the tracks accurately was pivotal not only to railway engineering, construction, and passenger information but indeed to the improvement of map-making techniques generally. From wartime trench lines to never-realized pipe dreams, no fan of railway history, geography, or mapping can afford to be without this."--Mark Ovenden author of "Transit Maps of the World"

About the Author

Jeremy Black is emeritus professor of history at the University of Exeter. He is the author of more than one hundred and forty books, including A History of the Second World War in 100 Maps.