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Amtrak in the Heartland (Railroads Past and Present) | 
 enlarge | Author: Craig Sanders
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $49.95
Buy New: $30.50
You Save: $19.45 (39%)
New (15) Used (7) from $30.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 1058997
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 324
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 11.2 x 8.5 x 1.1
ISBN: 025334705X
Dewey Decimal Number: 385.220977
EAN: 9780253347053
ASIN: 025334705X
Publication Date: May 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
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Book Description
"Indiana University Press has made a name for itself producing a series of well-researched, scholarly tomes on various facets of railroad history, all penned by well-known writers like William D. Middleton, Jerry Taylor and J. Parker Lamb. Their latest release, Amtrak in the Heartland, is no exception. And, you should not take "well-researched and scholarly" to mean "dry and boring." On the contrary, author Craig Sanders has done a remarkable job of assembling myriad facts and figures into an interesting and entertaining history of Amtrak's operations through the entire midsection on the United States." -- George Fletcher, Passenger Train Journal, 2/07 "Craig Sanders has done an excellent job of research . . . his treatment is as comprehensive as anyone could reasonably wish for, and solidly based. In addition, he succeeds in making it all clear as well as any human can. He also manages to inject enough humor and human interest to keep the reader moving." --Herbert H. Harwood, author of The Lake Shore Electric Railway Story and Invisible Giants. A complete history of Amtrak operations in the heartland, this volume describes conditions that led to the passage of the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, the formation and implementation of Amtrak in 1970-71, and the major factors that have influenced Amtrak operations since its inception. More than 140 photographs and 3 maps bring to life the story as told by Sanders. This book will become indispensable to train enthusiasts through its examination of Americans' long-standing fascination with passenger trains. When it began in 1971, many expected Amtrak to last about three years before going out of existence for lack of business, but the public's continuing support of funding for Amtrak has enabled it and the passenger train to survive despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
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| Customer Reviews:
 More frustrating than anticipated October 31, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I received my book several months ago, briefly skimmed through it and put it aside for the right time. I picked it up yesterday and began and almost immediately found it irritating to read. There is no glossary. If you don't know what the Great Western , or Pennsy, or West Shore mean, you will have to read this book by your computer to google such words.
The author spends 66% of his time explaining route changes, but has only three large scale maps with little detail.
The Chapter on the Broadway and the Lake Shore Limited bounce back and forth so much, I find myself falling on my memory instead of the description in the book. Instead of describing the route changes in agonizing detail, perhaps detailed maps would illustrate the point more thoroughly.
The author claims the book is about trains in the Heartland identifying Ohio as the easternmost state. He uses as much space writing on events in New York, Albany, and Boston for the Lake Shore Limited, but it's timeline halts on 1990. Apparently no changes have occurred to this train in 17 years. Coverage of the Three Rivers train is much fuller. The Broadway was cancelled and reinstated and had it's route changes so many times, I challenge anyone to have a complete understanding of it's chronology.
Although this book has some interesting photographs, it is by no means profusely illustrated.
I started chapter two this evening and ran into difficulty determining if there is a difference between Amtrak's 'Riley' and Penn Central's 'Riley' and where they went. I assume this is a abbreviation of the James Whitcomb Riley (Subsequently the Cardinal), mentioned later in the text.
To read this book and understand it better I wish I had access to my public timetables and maps of the specific routes.
The amount of information in this book is good. It's too bad that it appears to have been compiled hastily.
A second edition of this book with detailed maps , tables of trains which correlate train #s with names, former railroads, trackage rights and better accounting of dates, would be welcome. This book would be a great resource for a mammoth book on Amtrak's entire system history.
Chris Galka
 Amtrak and the Midwest October 10, 2007
Good book on the impact of Amtrak on the Midwest. Summaries for each route and history behind where service existed before Amtrak. Only black and white pictures. Recommended for anyone who is interested in the Midwest and Amtrak.
 Excellent Amtrak Book April 10, 2007
One of the best sources of information I've read on Amtrak. A very detailed account of mostly chicago-based operations. LD and corridor trains are discussed in current and past routes. It satisfied me, a die-hard Amtrak enthusiast.
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