New York

Name: Along the Mount Beacon Incline Railway
Brand: Gregory Bilotto
SKU: 9781467123297
Price: 17.49 USD
Availability: InStock

Crane your neck at New York’s towering history for too long and you will look like a tourist. Divide the Big Apple into boroughs and conquer Empire State history book by book. That offers room for proper admiration of Grand Central’s cavernous glory, the neighborly kindness that dug Buffalo out of a blizzard or just a ripping ride at Seabeeze Park. Plot General Herkimer’s winning strategy at the Battle of Oriskany and Vanderbilt’s methodical acquisition of New York rail. From Ellis Island to the Erie Canal, engage with an accessible introduction to New York history with our New York history books. [View all New York books]

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Buffalo Railroads

$16.99

Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station

$16.99

Rails in Rochester and Monroe County

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Rails in and around Saratoga Springs

$16.99

Building Grand Central Terminal

$16.99

Lost Trolleys of Queens and Long Island

$16.99

Manhattan's Lost Streetcars

$16.99

Along the Mount Beacon Incline Railway

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Rails in and around Saratoga Springs

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Middletown and Unionville Railroad

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Railroads of Rensselaer

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Lost Trolleys of Queens and Long Island

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Rails around Westchester County

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Long Island Rail Road

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Long Island Rail Road

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Trolleys of the Capital District

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Arcade and Attica Railroad

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Revisiting the Long Island Rail Road

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Long Island Rail Road Stations

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Ontario and Western Railway Northern Division

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Manhattan's Lost Streetcars

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Brooklyn Streetcars

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

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Rails in Rochester and Monroe County

9781467134378

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

From photography to farming and from medicine to music, Rochester and the county in which it resides, Monroe County, are known throughout the world. This book brings to life the role that rail transportation had in developing an economy that made these contributions possible. By 1900, some of the county's biggest railroads had been drawn to the Rochester and Monroe County markets. They attracted people and businesses to the area and ensured the flow of products to the marketplace. Trolleys enabled people to commute to and from work as well as to enjoy the recreational resources of Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. Rail transportation helped make Rochester and Monroe County truly great places to live and work.

Along the Mount Beacon Incline Railway

9781467123297

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Situated on scenic Mount Beacon in New York State's Hudson River Valley is a great American achievement and engineering marvel almost lost to history. Opened in 1902, the Mount Beacon Incline Railway served locals, revelers, sightseers, and vacationers for nearly 100 years, riding them to the pinnacle of Mount Beacon for a 75-mile panoramic view, among other attractions. The incline was constructed when trains were king, and undeniably it emerged as a grand tourist destination; its notoriety was widespread, even earning the prized position as background of the majestic Empire State flag, as seen today. Eventually, the railway ceased operation and was shuttered. Today, with the planned restorative work of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society (MBIRRS), the prospect of reinstallation remains high. Along the Mount Beacon Incline Railway is a record to the celebrated history, preservation, and future of the railway in its natural setting.

Rails in and around Saratoga Springs

9781467127097

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Saratoga Springs is special. Its reputation goes back to 1767 when Native Americans brought Sir William Johnson to the area for the healing powers of the High Rock Spring. From this humble beginning, the popularity of Saratoga Springs and its many mineral water springs grew from the 19th century to the mid-20th century. Railroads played a key role in that growth. The first train entered Saratoga Springs in 1832. Regularly scheduled passenger trains made Saratoga Springs more accessible, and as a result, it grew by leaps and bounds. Beautiful train stations welcomed visitors, the Saratoga Race Course opened, large bathhouses were constructed, the Grand Union and other luxurious hotels awaited overnight guests, and many people from all walks of life visited the casino in historic Congress Park. Visits to historic locations such as Mount McGregor and North Creek were made easier by train. Along with the railroads in and around Saratoga Springs, this book also includes historic highlights of those locations.

Middletown and Unionville Railroad

9780738573175

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Middletown and Unionville Railroad, successor to the Middletown, Unionville and Water Gap Railroad, operated from December 1, 1913, until May 31, 1946, when it was reorganized as the Middletown and New Jersey Railway. The railroad's main revenue was derived from the transportation of dairy products, feed, coal, lumber, and passengers along its 14.5-mile right-of-way from the city of Middletown through Slate Hill, Johnson, Westtown, and Unionville in Orange County, New York. It provided a connection between the Erie Railroad in Middletown; the New York, Ontario & Western Railway in Middletown; and the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad in New Jersey. All three of these railroads had unique relationships with the M&U during its period of operation.

Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad

9781467117265

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Pittsburg (no "h"), Shawmut & Northern Railroad was described by locals as a railroad that "started nowhere and ended no place, with a lot of nothing in between," although it actually linked the coal mines of Elk County, Pennsylvania, with markets in Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Steuben Counties in central and western New York State. Always an underdog, the Class I line went into bankruptcy a mere five years after its corporate birth, holding the record for the longest receivership of any American railroad at 42 years. Always starved for cash, it limped along with outdated and tired equipment, yet it never failed to meet its payroll. It was scrapped completely in 1947.

Railroads of Rensselaer

9780738565040

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Rensselaer was once a classic American railroad town, and like most cities and towns of its type, it was part of an important junction of several destinations. From the 1840s to today, trains have rolled to the four principal compass points from town. Located across the Hudson River from Albany, Rensselaer has seen a rich array of locomotives, structures, and notable trains, all helping to establish Rensselaer's rail prominence and the industry's importance to and involvement in the community. Today Rensselaer hosts the Albany Amtrak station, which sees an average of 775,000 passengers annually and is ranked as the country's 10th busiest station. Using images of rolling stock, buildings, maps, documents, and memorabilia, Railroads of Rensselaer is a visual trip through the years.

Lost Trolleys of Queens and Long Island

9780738545264

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Before subways and trains, Queens and Long Island were reachable via a large number of electric trolley lines.

An amazing assortment of electric trolley lines once traversed the towns and villages of Queens and Long Island. With names like Jamaica Central, Northport Traction, Ocean Electric, and the Steinway lines, some meandered across meadows and hills while others sped over elevated tracks. There was even one line that had streetcars but no tracks. In the end, all of them helped stitch the countryside into the concentrated suburban area it is today--with barely a trace of the trolleys left anywhere.

Rails around Westchester County

9781467102896

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Developed by a stagecoach maker in lower Manhattan, Westchester County's first railroad, the New York & Harlem Railroad, arrived in the 1840s. Since commuting by train allowed convenient short travel, its arrival accelerated growth and commerce throughout the county due to New York City's proximity. Within the same decade, the New Haven Railroad arrived in Westchester from New England, followed by the upstate-backed Hudson River Railroad in 1849. At its peak in 1930 and on the eve of the Great Depression, Westchester County maintained as many as eight rail lines and branches. Today, three of the county's original rail lines, the Harlem line, the New Haven line, and the Hudson line, are still in use and as busy as ever.

Long Island Rail Road

9781467128544

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is the oldest railroad in the country still operating under its original name. The Oyster Bay Branch is one of the smaller branches but is probably the most historically significant one. There are 12 stations along the 14.3 miles of track (one station is closed but the building still stands). Of the 13 still existing LIRR stations built in the 1800s, six are on the Oyster Bay Branch. The branch is partly electrified, and two signal towers exist, one operating and one abandoned. At the terminal, Oyster Bay Station is the home train station of the 26th president of the United States--Theodore Roosevelt. The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum is currently restoring the train station, as well as the historic turntable and steam locomotive No. 35.

Long Island Rail Road

9781467120135

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Long Island Rail Road is the oldest railroad in the country still operating under its original name. As the busiest railroad in North America, it carries 265,000 customers each weekday aboard 735 trains on 11 different branches. The Port Jefferson Branch serves 10 stations from Hicksville to Port Jefferson and carries nearly 20 percent of the railroad's passenger traffic over its 32 miles of track. Hicksville Station is the site of the October 8, 1955, "End of Steam Ceremony," when steam locomotives were retired from service. The oldest surviving station building constructed by the Long Island Rail Road is on this branch at St. James. Between 1895 and 1938, the branch extended 10 miles east to Wading River. The branch was not electrified until 1970 and that was only to Huntington Station, east of which is served by diesel and dual-mode locomotives.

Trolleys of the Capital District

9780738562612

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

When it came to first-class transportation, not many regions of North America had more to offer than the trolley lines of New York's Capital District. From their humble beginnings as horse roads forming belts around Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, these trolley lines helped move people around Upstate New York from the late 1800s until their final exit after World War II. The lines of the United Traction Company, Schenectady Railway, and the Hudson Valley Railway provided hundreds of miles of track around their home cities, as well as direct routes to resorts in the Adirondacks, Lake George, and Saratoga Springs. The trolley lines became famous for disasters that made national headlines, labor disputes, and engineering wonders that included the longest trolley bridge in the world. The vintage images in Trolleys of the Capital District provide insight into an era gone by and an often forgotten form of transportation.

Arcade and Attica Railroad

9780738572055

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In 1881, a narrow-gauge railroad was built in southwestern New York, from Attica to Arcade. It was later rebuilt to standard gauge to connect with what became the Pennsylvania Railroad. Concerned that the line would be abandoned, local farmers, merchants, and others raised money to purchase the railroad and formed the Arcade and Attica Railroad. Through vintage photographs, Arcade and Attica Railroad highlights the history of a railroad that, faced with declining revenues, launched steam-powered passenger service in 1962. With a dedicated management team that has taken the time and effort to face obstacles, the pride of loyal employees, and a supportive community, the railroad has endured a variety of herculean challenges to continue passenger and freight service in Wyoming County, New York.

Revisiting the Long Island Rail Road

9780738538297

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Planned and chartered on April 24, 1834, the Long Island Rail Road commenced operations in 1836 to provide a route to Boston. Stretching 110 miles east of New York City, the Long Island Rail Road has been the backbone of population growth and suburban development for over a
hundred years. Electrification was begun on the Long Island Rail Road in 1905. Whether it was commuter, freight, or special trains, third-rail operations played a major role in the Long Island Rail Road's development as well as the people, places, and industries it served. This book offers
an insider's view of the Morris Park shops and photographs of the varied passenger operations found on the Long Island Rail Road.

Long Island Rail Road Stations

9780738511801

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Chartered in 1834 to provide a route between New York City and Boston, the Long Island Rail Road ran from the Brooklyn waterfront through the center of Long Island to Greenport. The railroad served the agricultural market on Long Island until branches and competing lines eventually developed on the north and south shores of the island and several hundred passenger stations were built. After Penn Station was opened in 1910, the number of passengers commuting between Manhattan and Long Island began to multiply. Today, one hundred twenty-five stations serve the Long Island Rail Road. Long Island Rail Road Stations contains vintage postcards of the old Penn Station, which was demolished in the mid-1960s; the Grand Stairway at the Forest Hills Station, where Theodore Roosevelt delivered his famous unification speech on July 4, 1917; and the Amagansett station building, where Nazi spies boarded a train bound for New York City on June 13, 1942. Many of the historic stations featured in this book have been preserved by local preservation groups, while others have been replaced with modern buildings to accommodate the passengers who commute on the nation's largest commuter railroad.

The Ontario and Western Railway Northern Division

9780738511757

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The New York & Oswego Midland Railroad-reorganized in 1879 as the New York, Ontario & Western Railway-was born out of necessity and a desire to populate and industrialize the interior regions of New York State. The railroad meandered down from Oswego, traversed the north shore of Oneida Lake, and then took a southerly route through Oneida and Norwich before turning east for a mountainous crossing to gain the village of Sidney. The railroad was not a success in its time. The New York, Ontario & Western brought a degree of financial stability to the northern division, and the line functioned through the late 1950s.

The Ontario & Western Railway Northern Division features photographs of the Ontario & Western, a railroad long on scenery but short on freight. The Ontario & Western inherited a railroad in search of revenue and a circuitous route that passed through one small community after another. Small wooden country depots dotted the line, locomotives of meager proportions pulled the trains, and dedicated employees did their best to keep the railroad solvent. The railroad is still fondly remembered today by those who rode its cars and witnessed its passing trains.

Manhattan's Lost Streetcars

9780738538846

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

By the first quarter of the 20th century, Manhattan had well over 400 miles of streetcar trackage, an investment of several million dollars. Less than 50 years later, the rail system had completely vanished. Manhattan's Lost Streetcars chronicles the finance, political pressures, and advancing technology behind Gotham's streetcar networks from 1890 to 1935. The story ends with the dismantling of the system. Manhattan's Lost Streetcars recalls a bygone era when public rail transportation was aboveground and New Yorkers rode the Metropolitan Street Railway, the Green Lines, the Manhattan Bridge Three Cent Line, and the Brooklyn & North River line, among others. It features images of the independent rail companies and the individual lines that made up a vast public transportation network in Manhattan.

Brooklyn Streetcars

9780738557618

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In the summer of 1854, the Brooklyn City Railroad opened four separate streetcar lines. The lines were introduced here several years before they were brought to larger cities, such as Baltimore, Boston, and Philadelphia, demonstrating the city's modernization and ingenuity. From its first introduction, Brooklyn had one of the nation's largest urban transit systems. With the advent of streetcars, the population in Brooklyn grew from about 139,000 to over 2.5 million by the time streetcars were retired. The street railway blended mobility with innovation, prompting one-third of New York City's population to call Brooklyn home.