Train Time: Railroads and the Imminent Reshaping of the United States Landscape

Unlike many United States industries, railroads are intrinsically linked to American soil and particular regions. Yet few Americans pay attention to rail lines, even though millions of them live in an economy and culture "waiting for the train." In Train Time: Railroads and the Imminent Reshaping of the United States Landscape, John R. Stilgoe picks up where his acclaimed work Metropolitan Corridor left off, carrying his ideas about the spatial consequences of railways up to the present moment. Arguing that the train is returning, "an economic and cultural tsunami about to transform the United States," Stilgoe posits a future for railways as powerful shapers of American life.

Divided into sections that focus on particular aspects of the impending impact of railroads on the landscape, Train Time moves seamlessly between historical and contemporary analysis. From his reading of what prompted investors to reorient their thinking about the railroad industry in the late 1970s, to his exploration of creative solutions to transportation problems and land-use planning and development in the present, Stilgoe expands our perspective of an industry normally associated with bad news. Urging us that "the magic moment is now," he observes, "Now a train is often only a whistle heard far off on a sleepless night. But romantic or foreboding or empowering, the whistle announces return and change to those who listen."

For scholars with an interest in American history in general and railroad and transit history in particular, as well as general readers concerned about the future of transportation in the United States, Train Time is an engaging look at the future of our railroads.

Having studied and lectured about the implications of railroads for about 30 years, Stilgoe (Orchard Professor of Visual & Environmental Studies, Harvard) picks up where he left off in his previous work, Metropolitan Corridor, sharing his observations (and celebration) of the restoration of rail travel for freight and passengers. He details how railroads shape the physical environment (people and economic activity collect around them; there's money to be made), and the ways in which their return signals social, cultural, and economic changes as well as decisions to be made concerning government expenditures, and land use and development policies. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Stilgoe picks up where his acclaimed work "Metropolitan Corridor" left off, carrying his ideas about the spatial consequences of railways up to the present moment. Arguing that the train is returning, the author posits a future for railways as powerful shapers of American life. Illustrated.

Trains have a nostalgic connotation for most Americans, but JohnStilgoe argues that we should be looking to rail lines as the path to our future, not just our past. Train Time picks up where his acclaimed work MetropolitanCorridor left off, carrying Stilgoe's ideas about the spatial consequences ofrailways up to the present moment. With containers bringing the production of aglobal economy to our ports, the price of oil skyrocketing, and congestion andsprawl forcing many Americans to live far from work, trains offer an obviousalternative to a culture dependent on cars and long-haul trucking. Arguing that thetrain is returning, an economic and cultural tsunami about to transformthe United States, Stilgoe posits a future for railways as powerfulshapers of American life.

For anyone looking forprescient analysis and compelling history of the American landscape and economy ingeneral and railroad and transit history in particular, Train Time is an engaginglook at the future of our railroads and of transportation and land development. Forthose familiar with John Stilgoe's talent for seeing things that elude the rest ofus, and delivering those observations in pithy asides about real estate, corporateculture, and other aspects of American life, this book will notdisappoint.