North American Railroad Bridges | Brian Solomon | A wealth of information and a book that can be...

North American Railroad Bridges | Brian Solomon | Engineering marvels

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North American Rai...

	North American Railroad Bridges Brian Solomon Voyageur Press, 2008 - 160 pages average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
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Few railroading scenes are as enduring as those that depict a train traversing river or roadway, creek or cayon, atop a sturdy structure specially engineered for the situation. In this marvelously illustrated work sure to appeal to modelers and railfans alike, prolific rail historian Brian Solomon presents the only completely illustrated book to tackle the development and evolution of North American railroad bridges.

Inside, Solomon examines major types of construction-including trusses, trestles, viaducts (both stone arches and steel construction), suspension bridges, and movable spans-as well as many of the men responsible for pioneering them. In addition to explaining in layperson's terms the principles behind each type of construction and why they are used in given situations, Solomon offers histories detailing the origins, construction, and use of iconic structures such as Hell Gate, Starrucca Viaduct, and Suisun Bay Bridge, amoung others, as well as lesser known but nonetheless important and interesting spans.

North American Railroad Bridges is illustrated throughout with landmark patent drawings, period postcards, specially commissioned diagrams, and modern color photography from some of today's top rail photographers, capturing railroads large and small hauling traffic across bridges throughout the United States and Canada.

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A wealth of information and a book that can be confidently recommended

Superbly illustrated throughout with color photography, "North American Railroad Bridges" by railroad historian Brian Solomon focuses upon railroad bridges and trestles that have been a feature (and often a quite dramatic feature) of the American landscape for the past century. Each particular bridge, whether traversing rivers or roadways, creeks or canyons, were individually engineered for a particular terrain and were of varied construction methodologies including trussells, trestles, viaducts (both stone and steel), suspension, and even with movable spans. The informed and informative text is highlighted with landmark patent drawings, period postcards, as well as modern photography by some of today's best rail photographers. The result is a wealth of information and a book that can be confidently recommended for community libraries in general, and railroad buffs in particular!

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Engineering marvels

A good overview of the many different types of bridge construction. As Soloman states in his intro, this is not a definitive encyclopedia of bridge engineering, but an easily read and understood explanation of the many different types of construction. A good deal of effort has been made to provide photographs (and other images) of the bridges being described--this is one the highlights of this book. My only complaint is that the Rockville Bridge and Lackawanna Viaduct do not have better images of them; but I have my own great photos of them. You could also build model bridges for your scale railroad from the info here. Overall, a good book with lots of good illustrations that is enjoyable to read.

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