American Locomotives: An Engineering History, 1830-1880

In 1835, there were 175 steam locomotives in service in the United States. By 1900, that number had increased to 37,663. In this newly revised and expanded edition of his classic work, renowned railroad historian John H. White, Jr., chronicles the explosive growth and development of the steam locomotive in America -- from the first British imports to the New York elevated locomotives of the 1880s -- and adds more than fifty new pages of superb illustrations and text.

Beginning with the early era of locomotive design, White describes the background and methods of the first American builders, the special requirements of American railroads, construction materials, locomotive types, performance, and costs. He then turns to the development of individual components: boilers and running gears, headlights and cowcatchers, sandboxes, bells, and whistles. Throughout, remarkably detailed scale drawings -- many reproduced from the original working drawings -- illustrate design features and modifications.

For this new edition, White offers eleven new detailed and comprehensive case histories of individual locomotives, beginning with the 1843 La Junta. Each case history provides a wealth of historical background, mechanical information, and engineering analysis. White also includes a special section that updates and annotates the information found in the original edition.

This beautifully complete and authoritative history stands as a landmark in its field. Now in a new edition, it will continue to delight railroad enthusiasts, model builders, historians of technology, and anyone with an interest in American railroads.

From reviews of the first edition: An outstanding engineering and publishing masterpiece. -- Journal of American History

The definitive reference work on the technical development of the early locomotive. -- Business History Review

White does a splendid job... through the combined use of narrative and over 230 highly detailed, sharp and clear pictures and drawings. -- Civil War History