In the aftermath of the 'Railway Mania' of the 1840s Britain boasted an unrivalled network of train services. While many people were amazed and excited by the prospect of travelling by these technological marvels, as with all novelties there were many nervous or bewildered others. This 'handy book', published in 1862, provided suggestions for making the most of the journey. Offering advice about the best travelling costume, the dangers involved in sitting on top of the carriages, how to approach conversation with fellow passengers and, crucially, how to ensure that your wife follows the strict timetable, it gives a charming and entertaining insight into how the early railways were viewed by their Victorian passengers.

Explore the rich history of the legendary railroad that spanned the American Midwest in this beautifully illustrated volume. Beginning operations in the mid-nineteenth century, the Rock Island Line served farms and small-town America for more than 140 years. One of the earliest railroads to build westward from Chicago, it was the first to span the Mississippi, advancing the frontier, bringing settlers into the West, and hauling their crops to market. Rock Island’s celebrated Rocket passenger trains also set a standard for speed and service, with suburban runs as familiar to Windy City commuters as the Loop. For most of its existence, the Rock battled competitors much larger and richer than itself. When it finally succumbed, the result was one of the largest business bankruptcies ever. Today, as its engines and stock travel the busy main lines operated by other carriers, the Rock Island Line lives on in the hearts of those whom it employed and served.

CONTENTS: Introduction Marvels of Nature: Canons -- Yellowstone National Park -- Geysers -- Yosemite Valley -- Garden of the Gods -- Monument Park -- Miscellaneous Marvels of Race: Cave-Dwellers -- Pueblos -- Zunis -- Moquis -- Mexicans Marvels of Enterprise: Railroads over Mountains -- Public Buildings -- Growth of Colonies -- The Pacific Slope -- The Mormon Settlement -- Railroad Kings Marvels of Mining Marvels of Stock-Raising Marvels of Agriculture Conclusion Marvels of the New West was originally published in 1887.

A graphic novel lamenting the loss of train travel, the grip of family, mortality, art, and the human condition, with many other digressions thrown in for good measure. The book opens in media res as Collier finds out about his grandmother s death. While trying to publish his next book another close death shocks him to act on his dream to travel with his wife and son across the country by rail, before it is too late. Through the passing landscape he introduces his family (and the reader) to his old way of life and tries to track down the many characters he has lost touch with.