Erie Lackawanna: The Death of an American Railroad, 1938-1992
Grant (The Living Depot, Univ. of Iowa Pr., 1990) has written what may be the definitive history of the Erie Lackawanna Railroad (or the "Weary Erie" before the 1960 merger) from the Erie's origins in the 1830s until its final liquidation in 1992. With the detail that should appeal to railroad buffs, this lengthy narrative and analysis covers the many factors responsible for the Erie's up-and-down fortunes over the years (including five bankruptcies) until financial collapse led to the Erie Lackawanna's absorption in 1976 by Conrail, a quasi-governmental freight railroad system. Along the way, Grant writes of the careers and business strategies of the Erie's top executives and comments on its technological innovations as well as the business decisions, labor problems, and governmental regulations that finally brought down the railroad. Suitable for academic libraries with large railroad collections.Harry Frumerman, formerly with Hunter Coll., New YorkCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.