The Railroads of Southeast Missouri Volume 1

     Before the automobile, the airplane, and the semi-trailer truck, a different mode of transportation ruled America. For more than 100 years, railroads crisscrossed the landscape, through mountains and over rivers, connecting people to far reaching parts of a burgeoning country and allowing a new nation to rise through the industrial revolution as a superpower. But these wood and steel pathways connecting nearly every town in America weren't built overnight.

     Missouri railroad history starts long before the first track was laid West of the Mississippi River. 9,000 miles have been laid in the east prior, already showing signs that this was the way to unite the country and stimulate economic growth. Missouri was soon become the hub for western expansion, leading population to increase fivefold in just 20 years.

     Ralph Hughes puts his love of trains and old stories to good use in this new volume detailing the establishment of four Missouri railroads; The Missouri Pacific; The Saint Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway; The Union Pacific: and The Missouri Southern. Each include their own triumphs and tragedies. Read the stories, and view the 100 plus historic images, and relive one of the greatest revolutions to shape the way people traveled across America for more than a century. What would later become known as the golden age of transportation.

     Enjoy the ride!

The Railroads of Southeast Missouri Volume 2

     Meet the people who built some of the greatest travel infrastructure the world has ever known. Read their stories and view more than 100 historic images, many of which were originally created through glass plate negatives.
     Before the automobile, the airplane, and the semi-trailer truck, a different mode of transportation ruled America. For more than a hundred years, railroads crisscrossed the landscape, through mountains and over rivers, connecting people to
far-reaching parts of the burgeoning country and allowing a new nation to rise through the industrial revolution as a superpower. But these wood and steel pathways connecting nearly every town in America weren't built overnight.
     Missouri railroad history starts long before the first track was laid west of the Mississippi River. 9,000 miles had been laid in the East prior, already showing signs that this was the way to unite the country and stimulate economic growth. Missouri would soon become the hub for western expansion, leading population to increase fivefold in just twenty years.
     Ralph Hughes puts his love of trains and old stories to good use in this new volume detailing the establishment of four Missouri railroads: The Missouri Pacific; The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway; The Union Pacific; and The Missouri Southern. Each include their own triumphs and tragedies.
     Read the stories, view the 100+ historic images, and relive one of the greatest revolutions to shape the way people traveled across America for more than a century... what would later become known as the Golden Age of Transportation.

Knob Lick: A History

     Step back in time and experience the golden era of Knob Lick. Discover how the St. Louis, Iron Mountain Railway and the opening of the Granite Quarries of Syenite allowed the area to flourish. Find out what it was like to walk down the main streets and visit an ice cream parlor, barbershop, hotel, restaurant, or even the controversial Green Onion Saloon. As you enjoy the 100+ pictures and stories that fill the pages of this book, you'll also learn about the largely forgotten communities of Syenite, Brightstone, and Possum Hollow.

     This book offers snapshots of Knob Lick through its highs and lows, told through the many stories of the people who called it home. The quarries, stores, schools, and railway may have shut down, but the memories live on in words and pictures.