Greenberg Train Show: Treasure Trove for Books on American Railway

Referred to as the dean of American railroad historians,
Martin "makes a powerful case for the enduring impact of the railroads
on American history."(from a review by James W. Ely, Jr, School of Law, Vanderbilt University.)

Whenever I attend train shows, I walk up and down the aisles scouring retailer displays for literature to add to my small but growing library of books about model trains and their prototypes. I try to find affordable books that provide technical data (about the countless locomotives and rolling stock that have been introduced since the beginning of the American rail industry in the 1830s) as well as insight into the historical / social impact of the U.S. railway industry.

I am happy to report that at this weekend's Greenberg Great Train & Toy Show, (March 25 and 26, 2017) I found a thick, hardcover called Railroads Triumphant, The Growth, Rejection & Rebirth of a Vital American Force by Albro Martin, published in 1992 (for a very reasonable price).

Martin chronicles the tremendous and widespread effect of the railroads on the nation's economy and society. He also shares his two cents on government regulation / deregulation on the rail industry.

Prior to the show, I was not familiar with Martin's work but apparently he was a prolific writer who wrote a number of well-received books about the rail industry. Some of the books include: Enterprise Denied and James J. Hill Opening of Northwest. I am excited to read this new resource, which from what I can tell so far, is written in a lively and engaging manner.

So happy that trains shows are much more than trains! Can't wait to see which books I find at the next show -- Hooksett Lions Club Train Show, Hooksett, NH, April 23, 2017.