Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The worldwide spread of railroads -- The beginning of railroads, 1700-1824 -- The iron horse, steam power arrives, 1825-30 -- Pioneering ideas, 1831-50 -- Overcoming natural obstacles, 1851-80 -- Finding solutions 1881-1913 -- Railroads during and after the great war, 1914-22 -- The quest for speed, 1923-45 -- New age of the railroads -- Railroad restructuring, late twentieth century -- European railroads -- Railroads of Britain and Ireland, from 1852 -- London to Glasgow, the West Coast Main Line -- Poste haste! -- The power of steam, 1800-34 -- Railroads of France, from 1832 -- The Orient Express, a glorious past -- The Aquitaine, French heavyweight flyer -- Paris-Lyon, pioneer TGV -- Improving performance, 1835-74 -- Railroads in Belgium and Luxembourg, from 1835 -- Meeting the customer's needs, 1800-75 -- Railroads in Germany, from 1835 -- Trans-Europe express trains -- Efficiency drive, 1875-1905 -- Railroads in Russia and the former Soviet States, from 1837 -- Backbone of an empire, the Trans-Siberian railroad -- Locomotive development, 1906-26 -- Railroads in Switzerland and Austria, from 1838 -- Railroads through the Alps, from 1871 -- Climbing the mountains -- Specialized rail traffic, 1876-1924 -- Railroads in the Netherlands, from 1839 -- The zenith of steam, 1927-34 -- The great locomotive works -- Railroads in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, from 1839 -- Fit for purpose, rolling stock, from 1925 -- Railroads in Italy, from 1839 -- Speed and luxury, the Settebello -- Railroads in Poland, from 1842 -- Dawn of a new age, 1935-44 -- Railroads in the former Yugoslav states and Albania, from 1846 -- The eclipse of steam -- Railroads in Scandinavia, from 1847 -- The diesel locomotive --