Railroads Past and Present

By: Peter Pyne

Write A Review

Hardcover | 30 March 2021

At a Glance

Hardcover
418 Pages

Age
18+

Dimensions(cm)
24.5 x 17 x 3.5

Hardcover

$86.90

or 4 interest-free payments of $21.73 with

Ships in 5 to 7 business days

In 1848, a group of ambitious American entrepreneurs decided to embark upon a remarkable engineering feat-they would build a railroad across the Isthmus of Panama to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The creation of the Panama Railroad ranks as one the boldest capitalist ventures in the 19th century, and would require battling climate, disease, and geography before it was completed. On a human level, it would transform the destiny of thousands of lives in America, Panama, the West Indies, and Asia, as well as in Ireland.

The Panama Railroad provides the first comprehensive account of the railroad's construction, going well beyond the known stories of the titans of industry involved with its construction, such as William Aspinwall, George Law, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. It seeks to correct false claims and address numerous gaps in past histories, and in particular showcases the stories of the ordinary Irish workers willing to travel halfway around the globe to pursue an uncertain future and a perilous undertaking in the hopes of escaping the devastating aftermath of the Great Famine of 1845-49.

Industry Reviews

The first thing that readers will notice about this book is that it is the result of a very thorough examination of the railroad's construction. The extensive research that Pyne undertook in order to present this comprehensive story is commendable.

-- Bill Hough * NRHS Bulletin *

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $89.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.