I received this book as a gift from my Late Aunt back in 1968. To this day, I still occasionally get it out to peruse it. The black and white photographs of the freight trains and passenger consists, particularly the mixtures of types of cars and locomotives, all add up to make this book unique among its peers.

At 38 years of age, I don't feel I'm old enough to say things like "they just don't make 'em like they used to," but I'll say that about this book.

This was the second train book I got as a young boy, after a Christmas present book on train wrecks. I've bought quite a few others over the years, but this one remains supreme for me, I guess because you just can't find what lies between its pages in real life anymore.

All black and white photography, the images in this book are exceptional, not because most of them are the good ol' standard 3/4 shot, but because they capture an age, a time and a grace that seems almost haunting today. Some of the photography from the west screams out a loneliness that only a skilled and experienced photographer can achieve.

The text also provides a desirable companion to the photography, explaining the location, the railroad, or the activity in a way that truly complements the imagery.

Once I pick up the book, I find it hard to put down until I've gone through the entire thing cover to cover, just one more time. I don't know if this book will ever be in reprint, but if you can get ahold of it, snap it up. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

Originally published as a two-volume set, this magnificent book is the crowning work of bon vivant Lucius Beebe. It is a comprehensive book of both pictures and commentary on the subject of rail passenger service in the United States. It concentrates on the period of roughly 1920-1940, the zenith of American passenger trains.

The point of view is that of a sophisticated traveler who happens to be knowledgable about the railroading industry. The book contains plenty of editorial comment on the punctuality, dining car service, comfort, and quality of both railways and specific trains. For example, there is extensive coverage of the two top Chicago - New York deluxe trains: New York Central's 20th Centruy Limited and the Pennsylvania RR's Broadway Limited. Every major American railway is covered, as are all of the deluxe "named" trains such as the Empire Builder, Super Chief, Hiawatha, etc.

There are also hundreds of wonderful photographs that give the reader a sense of what travel by train was like during that time. The only disappointment I had with this re-release is that the quality of paper and photographic reproduction is not quite as good as the original two-volume set. Having said that, this book still belongs in the library of anyone who enjoys the subject.

This is an account of the passenger trains that were the dominant form of transportation in the United States in the first half of the 20th Century. Wonderful pictures and witty prose highlight this book by the masters of railroad books -- Beebe and Clegg.

Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg are well known railroad historians and it is easy to see why when you look at this book. It's 415 pages are full of entertaining history, folklore and railroad anecdotes illustrated with 870 photos and prints. Nearly every page has multiple pictures and they are big pictures, too, not "thumb nails." The articles tend to be short, mostly one or two pages including the illustrations. I found this format to be very entertaining and a joy to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the development of transportation in America.

Magnificent pictures of railroad palace cars built for the elite. Beebe's anecdotes and interesting prose make this book an excellent account of the special cars built for luxurious travel when railroads dominated passenger travel in the United States. Photos of paintings by Fogg add to the value of this book.

This is not a full-scale history of the narrow gauge lines in the Rockies. It is, however, Beebe with all the strengths and shortcomings found in his other books. You will enjoy this if you like a selection of vintage photographs with colorful commentary. If you are a rail historian, look elsewhere.

Beebe and Clegg's colorful writing makes "Narrow Gauge in the Rockies" my favorite railroad book. This is not an in depth scholarly historical work; readers looking for facts might want to look elsewhere. Likewise, the odd organization of the photographs (C&S photos in the D&RGW section) is unnerving. However, for sheer entertainment value, "Narrow Gauge in the Rockies" can't be beat. A great introductory book for railroad fans.

Haven't actually read it so i can't be of much help

This book is by "Trader Vic" Victor Bergeron, and Lucius Beebee only does the introduction. I had to clear that up... This book is the first and best thing ever done by Trader Vic, the man who popularized Polynesian food and drink, and added so many colors to America's culinary palate. Funny, smart and very well executed, it's a book of great importance to the American culture -- I believe it's a turning point. This is grand history.