Erie Lackawanna : The Death of an American Railroad, 1938-1992 / H. Roger Grant.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Grant, H. Roger, Author.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (308 p.) : illus

Place of Publication:

Stanford, CA : Stanford University Press, [2022]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

This 50-year saga of the "Weary Erie" goes far beyond describing in brilliant detail the turbulent last decades of a colorful, spunky, and innovative railroad. As the author vividly shows, the Erie possessed an uncommonly interesting history. For a brief time, it was the longest rail artery in the United States, hailed as "the most stupendous engineering feat ever attempted in America." It pioneered many innovations even after its opening in 1851, notably with the use of the telegraph for traffic control. The present volume also tells us much about what happened to American railroading, especially in the East, during this period: technological change, government over-regulation, corporate mergers, union "featherbedding," uneven executive leadership, and changing patterns of travel and business. Step by step, the author reveals how the problems faced by the Erie became so numerous and complex that financial collapse and liquidation were inevitable results. Throughout, the author draws on the abundant records of the Erie and Erie Lackawanna and on dozens of interviews with employees, bankers, lawyers, and industry official who cooperated in telling the story of the Erie's last years "the way it was." The book is illustrated with 45 photographs and drawings and 4 maps.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Preface

Contents

Maps

1. Weary Erie, 1832-1937

2. Bankruptcy, Reorganization, and War, 1938-1945

3. Postwar Railroading, 1946-1957

4. Merger, 1958-1960

5. Enter the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, 1961-1962

6. The William White Revival, 1963-1967

7. Dereco, 1968-197 2

8. "Erie Lack-of-Money" and the Coming of Conrail, 1973-197 6

9. The Estate, 1977-1992

Notes

Selected Books

Index

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Mai 2022)

ISBN:

1-5036-2239-8

OCLC:

1322124952