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Merging Lines - by  Richard Saunders (Paperback) - 1 of 1

Merging Lines - by Richard Saunders (Paperback)

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Highlights

  • Why did American railroads decline from the glory days of the early twentieth century?
  • About the Author: Richard Saunders Jr. is professor emeritus of history at Clemson University.
  • 505 Pages
  • Transportation, Railroads

Description



About the Book



Why did American railroads decline from the glory days of the early twentieth century? Why did so many railroad mergers in the 1950s and 1960s, intended as a panacea for the ills of an outdated system, go sour and, in fact, make a bad situation worse? Saunders addresses these and many other issues in this authoritative history of U.S. railroads...



Book Synopsis



Why did American railroads decline from the glory days of the early twentieth century? Why did so many railroad mergers in the 1950s and 1960s, intended as a panacea for the ills of an outdated system, go sour and, in fact, make a bad situation worse? Saunders addresses these and many other issues in this authoritative history of US railroads and their corporate mergers.

Beginning with a wide-ranging analysis of the role of railroads in the economic and social fabric of American life, Saunders traces the causes and results of the twentieth century's "merger mania." Mergers, he explains, were expected to save money, to improve service to customers, and to help railroads compete against other modes of transportation, such as the growing airline and trucking industries. Saunders then gives colorful, richly detailed accounts of the mergers and shows the reasons--including corporate greed and the inept blundering of government regulatory agencies--the outcomes fell far short of expectations.

Merging Lines explores the impact of shifting political control of railroads as no history has done before. The fates of both workers and railroad companies were dictated by the rise and fall of business and governmental leaders, including Bill Brosnan, Robert R. Young, Alfred Perlman, President John F. Kennedy, and President Lyndon B. Johnson. As power struggles erupted, the original goals of the mergers were thwarted by consumer frustration, violent labor strikes, and organizational collapse. Saunders explores these and other crucial developments in this extensive work, carefully designed for railroad historians and enthusiasts at any level.

Encyclopedic in its scope, Merging Lines includes sixty-eight maps, a list of court cases involving railroad mergers, and a wealth of information on American railroads from coast to coast. An extensively revised, updated, and supplemented edition of Saunders's earlier classic, The Railroad Mergers and the Coming of Conrail (1978), it is essential reading for all who are interested in railroad and transportation history.



Review Quotes




"Railroad history at its best."--Trains

"A superb source of U.S. railroad history and a must read for anyone with an interest in the railroad merger movement."--The Michigan Railfan

"Fascinating.... Saunders has done a masterful job of analyzing the merger movement, in all its complexities and complications. Serious students of railroad history will want to add it to their libraries, as will every college and university library."--Railroad History

"An invaluable source.... The introduction is the cleanest, clearest overview of the American railroad network that this reviewer has ever read."--Choice




About the Author



Richard Saunders Jr. is professor emeritus of history at Clemson University. He is author of Merging Lines: American Railroads, 1900-1970, which won the 2002 George W. and Constance M. Hilton Award.

Dimensions (Overall): 9.0 Inches (H) x 5.9 Inches (W) x 1.2 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.5 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Sub-Genre: Railroads
Genre: Transportation
Number of Pages: 505
Publisher: Northern Illinois University Press
Theme: History
Format: Paperback
Author: Richard Saunders
Language: English
Street Date: February 29, 2016
TCIN: 1002712317
UPC: 9780875807355
Item Number (DPCI): 247-25-6221
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.2 inches length x 5.9 inches width x 9 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.5 pounds
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Q: What is the main purpose of merging railroads during the 20th century?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: Mergers were intended to reduce costs, improve customer service, and enhance competition against airlines and trucks.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
    Ai generated

Q: Who is the author of this book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The author is Richard Saunders Jr., a professor emeritus of history at Clemson University.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
    Ai generated

Q: What recognition has the author received for this work?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: Richard Saunders received the 2002 George W. and Constance M. Hilton Award for his book on American railroads.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
    Ai generated

Q: What topics does the book cover regarding railroads?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The book addresses the decline of American railroads, mergers from the 1950s, and their impacts on the industry.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
    Ai generated

Q: What unique features does this book include?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The book features sixty-eight maps, court case listings, and extensive information on American railroads.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
    Ai generated

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