Kalmbach Publishing 01319 UNION PACIFIC & PREDECESS

Union Pacific and Its Predecessors is a new title about this iconic railroad from Kalmbach Media Co. This 8.25" X 10.75" 208-page softcover is authored by Brian Solomon, and is catalogued as Item #01319 with Kalmbach, and with ISBN9781627009263.

Union Pacific (UP) is not only an industry powerhouse, it is a publicity giant, too. It's legend is burnished by running some of the largest locomotives used operationally, and polished by its steam program which uses restored steam locomotives to haul revenue trains and goodwill trips. To the disbelief and ecstasy of supplicating railfans, a legendary "Big Boy" steam locomotive was restored to operation and participated in the 150th anniversary completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. UP also became somewhat of a public pariah at times due to scandals during its construction, and the antics of some Rail Barons of the nineteenth century. Jay Gould - "I don’t build railroads: I buy them.” - was one. But as the decades rolled on, UP became linked with America's westward expansion, and the focus of the 1939 film Union Pacific. In 2011, the television series Hell On Wheels aired as a dramatic - er, soap opera-esque - telling of the story, historical warts and all.

Kalmbach writes of this book;

The Union Pacific, formed in 1862, was part of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad and has been operating continually under that name for more than 160 years. Over the years the railroad has merged or acquired many other major railroads, which makes it the second-largest railroad in the U.S. today.

Union Pacific and Its Predecessors takes a look at the railroad as it is now and how it came to be, with a look at predecessor railroads and historical routes, equipment, and other features.

This book on the very popular Union Pacific railroad features:

An examination of the building of the original Union Pacific.
Major railroads UP has acquired/merged, with brief histories and operational summaries and maps for each.
An up-to-date look at the modern UP.
Chapters on UP freight traffic, steam locomotive development, unique turbine-electric locomotives, and UP diesels.
And much more!
This history is told with detailed text and a gallery of wonderful photos.