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Electric Interurbans and the American People

by H. Roger Grant

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A history of the brief electric-rail boom that reshaped short-distance travel

$44.52 USD
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Hardcover New English

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A history of the brief electric-rail boom that reshaped short-distance travel

H. Roger Grant examines electric interurban railroads as a defining, if short-lived, response to the transportation limits of the early twentieth century. These streetcar-like lines connected shoppers, salesmen, farmers, commuters, and leisure travelers when unpaved roads and horse-drawn travel made local journeys difficult and expensive. The book traces the rapid spread of interurban investment—especially in the Midwest—alongside the economic expectations that fueled it and the competitive pressure it placed on steam railroads. Covering both the rise and disappearance of the system within roughly three decades, it situates rail technology within everyday mobility, regional commerce, and changing public confidence in new infrastructure.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Railroad and electric-railway history enthusiasts
  • Readers interested in Midwestern transportation and economic history
  • Students of early twentieth-century American infrastructure

Themes

Electric interurban railroadsEveryday mobilityMidwestern developmentRailroad competitionTransportation investment

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

One of the most intriguing yet neglected pieces of American transportation history, electric interurban railroads were designed to assist shoppers, salesmen, farmers, commuters, and pleasure-seekers alike with short distance travel. At a time when most roads were unpaved and horse and buggy travel were costly and difficult, these streetcar-like electric cars were essential to economic growth. But why did interurban fever strike so suddenly and extensively in the Midwest and other areas? Why did thousands of people withdraw their savings to get onto what they believed to be a "gravy train?" How did officials of competing steam railroads respond to these challenges to their operations? H. Roger Grant explores the rise and fall of this fleeting form of transportation that started in the early 1900s and was defunct just 30 years later. Perfect for railfans, Electric Interurbans and the American People is a comprehensive contribution for those who love the flanged wheel.

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