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On Track explores how railways
opened up our world, sparked industrial, social and tech revolutions and changed society in many positive ways.
List of contents
Table of contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Origins of the Railways
The Earliest Railways
The First Passenger Railway
The Liverpool and Manchester
Rail Hero: George Stephenson
Chapter 2: Rail Around the World
Early Steam – US Style
European Steam
Crossing the Uncrossable
Classic Loco: Stephenson’s Rocket
Chapter 3: Golden Age of Steam
Amazing Engineering
Statement Stations
Chapter 4: All Change
Time for Change
A Connected World
Rail Hero: George Westinghouse
Chapter 5: Running a Railway
Tracks and Wheels
The Comfort Zone
Staying Safe
Classic Loco: Mallard
Chapter 6: Loco Power
How a Steam Loco Works
How a Diesel Loco Works
How an Electric Loco Works
Rail Hero: Granville T. Woods
Chapter 7: Iconic Routes
The Trans-Siberian Railway
The Orient Express
The Pacific Railroad
The Indian Pacific
Chapter 8: The Wheels of Progress
A Woman’s World?
Social Change
Classic Loco: DHR B-Class
Chapter 9: Going Underground
The First Underground Line
Underground Around the World
Rail Hero: Mary Elizabeth Walton
Chapter 10: Trains at War
The Early Years
World War Two
Classic Loco: Jupiter
Chapter 11: Oddballs
Suspension Railways and Sky Trains
The Weird and Wonderful
Record Breakers
Rail Hero: Hideo Shima
Chapter 12: The Future
The Train’s Second Age
Future Power
Driverless Trains
Preservation and Enthusiasts
Timeline
Index
Glossary
About the author
Tom Adams is an award-winning television producer and author. He was born in Yorkshire but now lives in Kent, UK. With a science background, he was inspired to turn his hand to writing children's books once his eldest son, then 5, started asking questions about how the world worked. He won the Society of Authors/ ALCS Award for Educational Writing for his book Molecule Mayhem.
Summary
On Track explores how railways opened up our world, sparked industrial, social and tech revolutions and changed society in many positive ways.
