American Steam Locomotives: Design and Development, 1880–1960 (Railroads Past and Present)
For nearly half of the nation's history, the steam locomotive was the outstanding symbol for progress and power. It was the literal engine of the Industrial Revolution, and it played an instrumental role in putting the United States on the world stage. While the steam locomotive's basic principle of operation is simple, designers and engineers honed these concepts into 100-mph passenger trains and 600-ton behemoths capable of hauling mile-long freight at incredible speeds. American Steam Locomotives is a thorough and engaging history of the invention that captured public imagination like no other, and the people who brought it to life.
Reviews (130)
Recommended by a train nerd
I just got my copy, and it is great so far. As a train nerd and former electrical engineer by trade, I have enjoyed every detail of the engineering trade-offs, such as air brakes versus vacuum brakes, iron versus steel fireboxes, and passenger engine versus freight engine wheel size. For me, the only glaring omission is a photo of the author, William L. Withuhn, who died in 2017 after completing the manuscript. I found it touching that his wife, Gail, and his editor, Peter Hansen pushed this great volume through to publication. Fortunately, photos of Mr. Withuhn are available online, owing to his lifetime of accomplishments beyond this book.
Good but not super
this book has a lot of detail and is generally interesting. the author is very knowledgeable and there are a ton of details. However for me, reading about ten details of a coal grate, or how this grate is different from that one without an occasional illustration is not really what I wanted in this book. Perhaps I was looking for a bit less detail and a bit more illustrative explanation.
Very Comprehensive Review of Design and Development
This book has a wealth of information - sometimes a little too detailed. There are a few areas where it would be easier to understand if photos or diagrams were used, but getting past that minor difficulty, I learned a great deal about steam locomotives and their limitations. I knew maintenance was a problem, but I had no idea how big of a problem it was. And I was not aware that counterbalancing was so difficult. I only wish they had today's computers in 1930-1940. The book takes the reader from early steam through the 1940's. This is a very intense book and I think it is a must for those seriously interested in how steam locomotives were designed and how they performed in service.
A True Gem
I had read a review on this book and thought it might be a nice addition to my railroad library, so I jumped onto Amazon and was immediately put off by its price. Based on the review, the number of pages and the reputation of the author, I was expecting something in the $120 - 150 range, so when I saw the actual price, it made me wonder if the book would be as good as I had thought. Well, it is - and more. They say the best things come in small packages. Physically, with 464 pages, it is fairly thick, but it's a smaller book - certainly not coffee table size. Just a bit smaller than a magazine. And it is packed with information. A long-time curator at the Smithonian and a licensed locomotive engineer on steam locomotives, Mr. Withuhn not only brings a wealth of information that has been thoroughly researched, but presents it in an unusual way that is very informative and at the same time very easy to read and understand. He balances very well, meeting the needs and interests of the dedicated steam locomotive enthusiast and the novice who wants to learn more about them. There's something in this book for everybody. I mentioned that he presents it in an unusual way. Many books like this tend to be a rather dry recitation of facts. Or, they are often shallow surveys of the general world of steam locomotives. But Mr. Withuhn's approach is refreshingly different. In his telling the story of the development of these amazing machines, he considers the importance of understanding the people who specified and designed them and the factors that played into their decisions. This adds a dimension to the story that brings it alive. It puts you in touch with them and lets you relate to the fact that these machines were the high tech of their day and these men were breaking new ground, just as our computer and communications engineers do today. It also heightens your understanding of the machines and why they developed the way they did. This book would have been worth it at the price I thought it would go for. At its actual price, it is a phenomenal bargain. This is a must-have book for any railroad enthusiasts library.
Long and detailed, but a fascinating niche book
Sometimes it doesn't hurt to throw yourself into the deep end. I've had an interest in trains for some time and was looking for something a little more substantial than the usual fare. To say that I got more than I expected would be an understatement; this is, by far, the most detailed book on the subject I've ever read. Rather than another fuzzy, nostalgic look at the "Romance of Steam," this is book delivers exactly what its title promises. It's not terribly surprising that Mr. Withun, the former transportation curator at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, spent more than three decades writing this book, or that he died before it was completely finished. In a word, it's a beast. At once ruthlessly efficient and meticulously detailed, I'd compare it with Norman Friedman's "Illustrated Design Histories" of American warships in terms of detail and scope. He takes us step-by-step through the breathtakingly rapid technical advancement (and occasional embarrassing failure) of American steam locomotive design. Individual chapters cover subjects such as valve gear, wheel design, counterbalancing, compounding, superheating, streamlining, the introduction of diesel locomotives, and poppet valves. Others focus on iconic or groundbreaking locomotives, railroad safety, famous designers, and some of the failed attempts at resisting the diesel revolution. Rather than simply being a dense collection fo statistics, this is a surprisingly readable and flowing text that doesn't read like a technical manual. It does a fine job explaining how each new technology was developed and how it affected locomotive design as a whole, without drifting off on unrelated tangents. I've never seen the many tradeoffs required to design a successful locomotive described with such clarity or detail. The overarching story is one of continuous progress, each locomotive faster, safer, more fuel-efficient, more technically advanced, and more powerful than the last, all in the name of continually driving down the cost of moving freight by rail. It says a lot that, as soon as I finished reading this, I immediately wanted to read the first few chapters again to see if I'd missed anything. That's in spite of the fact it took me nearly five months, on and off, to actually read it from cover to cover. That's not to say that it's boring, it's just that it's extremely lengthy, never really picks up beyond a walking pace, and is best read in ten or fifteen-page segments. The illustrations are functional black and white photographs and the occasional diagram, all with useful captions and all (thankfully!) placed on the same page as the subject being discussed. This is obviously a bit of a niche book, but if you're of a technical bent, and enjoy reading about fireboxes, equalizers, counterweights, steam domes, and starting tractive efforts, and scowl at folks who call pilots "cowcatchers" or locomotives "trains," it belongs on your shelf.
Kind of boring to me
Though the book did cover the history of steam locomotives in America, it spent WAY too much time focusing on the technical aspects of the operation of the engines - and I don't mean the simple basics - this book dove really deep into so much detail that it was useless and unreadable unless I'd be operating a steam locomotive or rebuilding one soon. Worst part is that it didn't really give accompanying drawings that really showed what the author was talking about - there were some tech drawings included but they were basically unreadable - a bit disappointed in this book
Great book, but not as complete as hoped for.
Impressive book with lots of info, but it could use more diagrams to illustrate and explain things like the suspension systems of locomotives. And many of the diagrams in the book could be larger and should have parts labelled to help understand what the text is explaining. I have numerous other books about steam locomotives so I can figure out some of these details by referring to other texts, but not everyone has this option. I had hoped that this book would be the longed-for complete reference on steam locomotives, but I don't feel it is quite complete enough. Still, I'm glad I got the book, just a little disappointed.
A definitive reference written as an interesting story
Anyone who is serious about railroads and their history appreciates a good source of information that is factual and understandable. There have been many bench mark books written over the years on all manner of subjects that pertain to railroading. This volume should be included with them. American Steam Locomotives: Design and Development, 1880–1960 by Bill Withuhn is a tutorial on the reasoning and science as it pertains to how Steam locomotive designs were changed, grew to massive proportions and what worked and what did not. The history starts at the turn of the 1900s and explores the high points of that era and subsequently details the process of improvement that occurred following this to the end of mainline steam operations. Detailed explanations of what worked and why or how it compared to older designs are offered and while the author did not get caught up in the minute details and mathematics of the physics and engineering involved sufficient technical information is included for the essential understanding of this to be made understandable by the reader. If you are serious about the steam era of railroading and want to the genesis of the designs of locomotives that came into prominence this volume would be exactly what you are looking for. It is an easy read and contains enough information that I have started reading it again just so I can glean a little more. I cannot recommend this book more highly.
Great Book!
Excellent and very detailed book about the later development of the American Steam Locomotive. Besides having a very thorough knowledge of the engineering work, thermodynamics, and economics involved in creating these machines, the author obviously did an enormous amount of research, and further is a very good wordsmith. Characteristics that are all too often missing among contemporary authors. An interesting and highly recommended book. Well worth the money.
Excellent book!! Chooo chooo!! 🚊
We bought this book for my father-in-law’s birthday. He used to be a train conductor years ago. He is totally obsessed with trains! This book has everything in it. Lots of pictures, lots of information. You will not be disappointed. It’s definitely worth it. (My boyfriend actually read it first, before he gave it to him. 😂) If you are a big train nerd like them, this book is for you. Also, it’s a really nice book. Perfect gift for someone who loves trains 🚂
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