World Railways of the Nineteenth Century invites readers to experience an unparalleled glimpse into the world of nineteenth-century railroading. To complement the extensive text drawn from primary sources as well as popular and scholarly railway literature of the period, Jim Harter has carefully selected more than 360 plates of rare wood engravings from 91 different publications -- predominantly American, British, French, and German, and including such periodicals as Railroad Gazette, Street Railway Journal, Harper"s Weekly, Illustrated London News, Engineering, The Engineer, and l"Illustration.Beginning with Great Britain and America, this volume continues on to explore railway history in Continental Europe, the Russian Empire, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Technical topics cover the development of steam locomotion; gauge controversies; passenger and freight service; military railways; mass transit systems; street railways; cable, compressed air, and electrical traction; and train wrecks. With its gallery of striking and unfamiliar images coupled with historical text, this volume will delight railroad enthusiasts, historians, world travelers, and students of Victorian technical achievement.