Books on Passenger railroading – Nod to Zephyr TADAA I've been a train buff since childhood, but in 1994 after traveling most of the Amtrak routes, I purchased Henry Kisor’s book “Zephyr, Tracking A Dream Across America”. I loved his slant of train travel and just this month decided to reread the book via Amazon Kendle. The book was therapeutic for me, and is just as good the second time around. Got me thinking: What other passenger train books are out there that might strike the same chord? I know Henry posts here often, but my question is to the entire group. What should be my next book? I finally retired from 40 years in the hospitality business (mostly Hilton) and now I have time for a good book. My wife and I have traveled every Amtrak route, with exception of those routes north of NYC. I’ve been LA to Jacksonville on the Sunset, and rode the last Pioneer to Portland. (I can’t find the non digital photo right now but will look for it.) So, I’m asking for suggestions. Many Thanks. Jim Fix
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
This one is a bit dated as it was written about Amtrak circa 1983 or so..... BEFORE the NCDOT started supporting passenger trains and your only passenger train option out of Greensboro, NC was the Crescent in the middle of the night....
However, one that I really enjoyed was 'Booked on the Morning Train' by George Scheer.
It's on my shelf right beside a first edition of Henry Kisor's 'Zephyr'.
I would also recommend James McCommons' book 'Waiting on a Train'. It's about 5-6 years old and also available at Amazon. This book does address the Amtrak travel experience but it is also a pretty straightforward survey on the reasons why Amtrak and rail travel in the United States in general is not "all that it could be". He draws on interviews with a number of executives within the railroad industry..... interviews McCommons conducted following train trips to reach their cities.
It was in the '90's that Terry Pindell wrote "Making Tracks". He rode nearly every Amtrak route and gave great details about the route's history and his experience.
Another book he wrote is "Last Train to Toronto", in which he rode nearly all of Canada's trains during the time they still had a number of them, and the government was dropping them. Both books can be bought from Amazon for a pittance.