Resource Guides: History: Railroads and the Industrial Revolution

Online Articles about Railroads and Their Importance in the Industrial Revolution

Railroading in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State website
Transcontinental Railroad
PBS introductory notes about the Transcontinental Railroad
Early American Railroads
History of Railroads
short overview on the history of railroads in the U.S. from the Library of Congress
The Transcontinental Railroad as the Internet of 1869
New York Times newspaper article
First Industrial Society Project

The Industrial Revolution by Nigel Smith
Call Number: 330.9 SMI
ISBN: 0739857991
Publication Date: 2002-07-01
See chapter on "Revolution in Transportation"
The Complete History of Railroads by Robert Curley (Editor)
Call Number: 385 CUR
ISBN: 9781615306817
Publication Date: 2011-12-15
See Chapter 2, "The Development of Modern Railroads"
The Transcontinental Railroad and the Great Race to Connect the Nation by Wim Coleman; Pat Perrin
Call Number: 385 COL
ISBN: 159845014x
Publication Date: 2006-04-01
First two chapters most useful; "Danger in the High Sierras" and "Seeing the Possibilities."
Early Railways by Rodney Dale (Editor)
Call Number: 385 DAL
ISBN: 0195210034
Publication Date: 1994-07-07
See final chapter, "Some effects of the railway."