How Railways Transformed the World - Patrick N. Allitt

Written by Patrick N. Allitt
Read by Patrick N. Allitt
Format: M4B

Railways are one of the most important inventions in modern history. From the 1825 opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England, trains revolutionized both travel and trade and radically changed the way we experience the world.

In the 24 richly illustrated lectures of How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll experience the amazing world and impact of railways, from the early 19th century to today’s futuristic trains, including extensive material on the pleasure and appeal of rail travel today. Professor Patrick N. Allitt of Emory University takes you through key developments of railways, such as:

· The Beginnings: Steam and Iron. Encounter the inventers who first mounted steam engines on wheels; track evolving rail technology and the engineering marvels that drove the railway revolution.

· A Radically Changing World. Observe how railways galvanized the Industrial Revolution, hugely increased mobility, made nationwide commerce possible, sparked organized labor, and pioneered tourism.

· Railways in Politics, Empire, and War. Note 19th-century politicians’ strategic promotion of railways; the use of railroads in European colonial empires; and delve into the integral wartime use of railways.

· Great Train Journeys of the World. Learn where you can enjoy the best of rail travel today: Visualize the dramatic terrain on South Africa’s Rovos Rail; glimpse superlative trains and scenery on Switzerland’s Jungfrau and Bernina railways, India’s Darjeeling railway, Colorado’s Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway, and many others.

· Rail Travel in Culture and Art. Examine the use of railway settings in great novels; in art; in great films; and explore some of the most magnificent architecture of the modern world: great train stations.

· Railways and the Future. Learn about advancing rail technology, today’s high-speed trains, and cutting-edge rail systems which envision trains traveling at up to 700 mph.

In How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll enjoy the fascinating history and lore of an invention that forever changed human life.