When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities in the Age of Rail Line Abandonment - Hardcover

Joseph P. Schwieterman

9780943549972: When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities in the Age of Rail Line Abandonment

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0943549973 ISBN 13: 9780943549972

Publisher: Truman State University Press, 2001

This volume tells of closing rail lines from historic junctions, aging industrial centers, agricultural villages, and familiar tourist destinations throughout the eastern half of the United States. Joseph Schwieterman takes a look at events that contributed to the demise of railroads in 64 towns and cities distinguished by their notable railroad histories or unusual experiences with rail line abandonment.

Rail line abandonment claimed more than half of U.S. rail route mileage during the past 50 years and is accompanied by controversial and unexpected developments--events affecting communities years after the last train departed.

This book is a concise narrative, with contrasting photos of local train stations in their prime and after abandonment.

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About the Author:

Joseph P. Schieterman, Ph.D., is associate professor of public services management and director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at De Paul University. He has published extensively on air, rail, and urban-planning issues and is a long-standing contributor to the Transportation Research Board, a unit of the National Academy of Sciences. He holds a master of science degree in transportation from Northwestern University and a doctoral degree in public policy studies from the University of Chicago.

Review:

A work of impressive and seminal scholarship, Professor Schweiterman's informed and informative text is enhanced with the inclusion of maps and illustrations. "When The Railroad Leaves Town: Volumes 1 & 2" is especially recommended for academic library American History, Social Issues, American Transportation Studies, and Urban-Planning reference collections and supplemental reading lists. --The Midwest Book Review

When the Railroad Leaves Town is a meaningful addition to the intellectual capital and is an essential read for opinion leaders and decision makers focused on the economics of railroad abandonment. Schwieterman's promised second volume, focusing on abandonments west of the Mississippi, should be an equally compelling read. --Journal of Transportation Law, Logistics & Policy

This book is appropriately documented, sports excellent maps, and contains a variety of striking historic and contemporary images. All levels/collections. --Choice

When the Railroad Leaves Town is a meaningful addition to the intellectual capital and is an essential read for opinion leaders and decision makers focused on the economics of railroad abandonment. Schwieterman's promised second volume, focusing on abandonments west of the Mississippi, should be an equally compelling read. --Journal of Transportation Law, Logistics & Policy

This book is appropriately documented, sports excellent maps, and contains a variety of striking historic and contemporary images. All levels/collections. --Choice

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