The Rise of the Railroad

The Rise of the Railroad: How Trains Changed the World Hardcover – October 21, 2025

From the first steam trains to the high-speed bullet trains of today, Rise of the Railroad tells the hidden stories of railway history – the inspired engineering, technical ingenuity, and sheer determination that forged the world’s railroads

Award-winning writer and broadcaster Christian Wolmar reveals how the railroads were built not just on bold vision and technical expertise, but also on wild gambles and trial and error – and how the new era of trains brought about sweeping changes in the lives of people around the world.

This book details the lives and work of railway pioneers such as George Stephenson and John Stevens, and it explores and maps famous railways such as the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Orient Express. Key technological innovations are explained with in-depth illustrations, while stunning photographs and paintings bring railroad history to life on the page. Gripping eyewitness accounts describe the railroads of the past through the eyes of people who were there.

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