The Railroad That Never Was: Vanderbilt, Morgan, and the South Pennsylvania Railroad (Railroads Past and Present)
"A superb piece of scholarship." —John Spychalski, Pennsylvania State University"Based on original letters, documents, diaries, and newspaper reports, The Railroad That Never Was uncovers the truth behind this now phantom railway." —NMRA Magazine, September 2011"Based on original letters, documents, diaries, and newspaper reports, The Railroad That Never Was uncovers the truth behind this mysterious chapter in American railway history." —Sn3 Modeler MagazineThe Railroad That Never Was tells the story of a railroad projected across southern Pennsylvania in the 1880s to challenge the power of the existing Pennsylvania Railroad. Planned and financed by a cabal of industrialists centered around William H. Vanderbilt, the project produced right of way, grading, bridges, and, surprisingly, some tunnels. Though the railroad was never completed, some of the tunnels survived to be incorporated into the Pennsylvania Turnpike in its original form. This notable tale from the robber baron period of 19th-century American history, engagingly told by Harwood (The New York, Westchester & Boston Railway, 2008), a rail historian with extensive railroad management experience, will have wide appeal. The book is factual, well referenced, and well illustrated with vintage photos. It is an excellent acquisition for academic libraries with programs in history and business administration, and will also be valuable for public libraries. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty, and general audiences. -- ChoiceR. B. Clay, emeritus, University of Kentucky, March 2011"An important story that deserves its rightful place in every railroad historian's library." —Kurt Bell, archivist, Pennsylvania State Railroad Museum"[This] book is factual, well referenced, and well illustrated with vintage photos. It is an excellent acquisition for academic libraries with programs in history and business administration, and will also be valuable for public libraries." —Choice, March 2011"This book is an important contribution to both rail and road history, as well as to business history and business strategy; it is therefore highly recommended." —The Lexington Quarterly