Classic American Streamliners

by Mike Schafer

Book Overview

Gorgeous archival photographs combine with original brochures, time tables and menus to illustrate the great story of the streamlined trains that reigned supreme from the 1930s through the 1950s.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760303770
• ISBN13: 9780760303771
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Motorbooks International
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 2.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 10.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Good Book but I already had it.

This is a good book for train buffs. I had it with a different cover. If I had known that or previewed the contents, I wouldn't have bought it.

A terrific overview.

This book provides an excellent history of the development of the streamliner era. It covers the story of the "lightweight" passenger cars and goes into some detail about the individual trains from the 1930s up to the creation of Amtrak in 1971. As an Amtrak fan myself, I was particularly fascinated with the story of Santa Fe's El Capitan Hi-Level cars. These cars evolved into today's Amtrak Superliners, which are standard equipment on most of today's long distance trains.The book presents a detailed history of the creation and evolution of these luxurious streamlined trains, including some insights into the minds of their creators. For example, the dome car was conceived in the mind of a General Motors executive while riding in a locomotive passing through Colorado's Glenwood Canyon. He thought the passengers should have a view as good as the engineer had.The book is loaded with colorful photos and images from travel brochures, railroad advertisements, and the like. Many of these show cutaway diagrams of passenger cars, a terrific visual aid. Another nice feature is a glossary, uniquely presented at the beginning of the book, to aid those not familiar with railroad terms.If there is a downside to the book it is that the text doesn't give any real explanation for the downfall of these great trains and why Amtrak had to take over. About all we are given are the dates the trains went out of service or were turned over to Amtrak. Given the comprehensive history presented on the streamliners early years, I feel this is a serious omission. It is a topic that has a direct bearing on the state of intercity transportation in America today.This is definitely a worthwhile read, but it will leave you wondering how our railroads got into the sad state they are in today.

Classic American Streamliners

I have always loved railroads, especially passenger trains. I grew up in the sixties and had the opportunity to ride the Southern Crescent and Seaboard's Silver Comet many times. It truly covers passenger rail history from the 1930's to the 1960's comprehensively.

A "MUST HAVE" for rail fans!

Kudos to Mssrs. Schafer & Welsh. CLASSIC AMERICAN STREAMLINERS is worth its price just for the wealth of photographs (the majority in color) of these stylish steel titans of a bygone era! Its more than just a picture book as the text is also extremely informative.I especially enjoyed learning where a vintage locomotive wound up after its days on the raills ended (Scrapheap? Museum?) If you're a train buff, you NEED this book! Not a train buff? Read this book and you just might become one!

Really great book of Streamlined era

The best book of subject I have come across. Very interested in 30,40 and 50 Streamliners. Actually my time of RR trips. First was 37 Daylight from San Jose to Los Angeles. Worked on SP Coast Division late 40s and early 50s. Ticket/baggage clerk. Only error I found was on page 94. I believe the Shasta Daylight is in Klamath Falls OR and not Dunsmuir CA. Great book.Harry A Olund Placerville CA Docent Cal State RR Museum Sacramento