Delaware and Hudson - (New York State) by Jim Shaughnessy (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Here, in a pictorial history, Jim Shaughnessy turns an eloquent photographer's eye to the Delaware & Hudson, the line that began in 1823 as a canal system to transport Pennsylvania coal to New York State. The D&H extended from Montreal to the coal fields of northeastern Pennsylvania. It was active for 170 years, when the route was sold in 1993 to the Canadian Pacific Railway Corporation. The line made early railroad fame by importing from England the famous Stourbridge Lion, the first steam locomotive in America. This occurred during a great expansion into gravity, an interesting phase which took advantage of the mountainous terrain.

The nineteenth century saw a period of economic growth and amalgamation, which was shaped by extremely able and ambitiou company presidents. Eventually the D&H advertised itself as "the Bridge Line to New England and Canada." Mountainous terrain around the coal mines challenged the line with heavy grades, so it was natural for one of its presidents, L. F. Loree, to be fascinated with experimental traction power. The many Loree locomotives, leaders in progressive design, are pictured and described herein.

Because a good railroad history is always an economic history of a region, this book will surely please historian, too. Delaware & Hudson is a definitive work, encompassing the mining of the region and detailing the steamboat operations on Lakes George and Champlain. Syracuse University Press is pleased to reissue this exemplary study of a railroad. Delaware & Hudson has--and will--continue to raise the standards for all future railroad books.

From the Back Cover

Here, in a pictorial history, Jim Shaughnessy turns an eloquent photographer's eye to the Delaware & Hudson (D&H), the line that began in 1823 as a canal system to transport Pennsylvania coal to New York State. It remained active for 170 years, until the route was sold to the Canadian Pacific Railway Corporation in 1993. The Delaware and Hudson extended from Montreal to the coal fields of northeastern Pennsylvania. The line made early railroad fame by importing from England the famous Stourbridge Lion, first steam locomotive in America. This occurred during a great expansion into gravity, an interesting phase which took advantage of the mountainous terrain. Extremely able and ambitious company presidents oversaw a period of economic growth and amalgamation in the nineteenth century. Eventually the D&H advertised itself as "the Bridge Line to New England and Canada". Mountainous terrain around the coal mines challenged the line with heavy grades, so it was natural for one of its presidents, L. F. Loree, to be fascinated with experimental traction power. The many Loree locomotives, leaders in progressive design, are pictured and described herein. Because a good railroad history is always an economic history of a region, this book will surely please historians, too. Delaware & Hudson is a definitive work, encompassing the mining of the region and detailing the steamboat operations on Lakes George and Champlain.

Review Quotes

Shaughnessy has adeptly brought it all together, organizing his material around the railroad but presenting
the rest of the empire conscientiously, right down to inclined planes and trolley buses.

-- "Trains Magazine"

About the Author

Jim Shaughnessy derived his interest in railroading from an uncle who once worked for the D&H. A railroad photographer for nearly four decades, he has an eye for composition which results in photographs that not only feature trains' mechanical details but also give consideration to the total interaction between the train, its surroundings, and the human aspect of the overall scene. Night photography is his special favorite, and Mr. Shaughnessy is renowned for his pioneering work in that field. He has contributed widely to periodicals such as Trains, Railfan, Adirondack Life, and Down East. In 1987 Mr. Shaughnessy was given the coveted Photography Award from the prestigious Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. He is a licensed professional engineer with a degree from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has taught civil engineering at the Hudson Valley Community College for ten years, and retired in 1995 as the director of environmental health for Rensselaer County. He resides in Troy, New York, with his wife, the former Carol McNaughton, and his son, James Donald, also a civil engineer.