The Railroads of Southeast Missouri
The Railroads of Southeast Missouri
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New!!

History of the Railroad Volume 1

US$15.00
New!!

History of the Railroad Volume 1

US$15.00

     From the Roman tramroads to the Chinese inventor, Wang Chong, who invented the steam-powered tripping carriage, these are some of the inventions that inspired others to harness steam power.

      The Greek inventor, Hero of Alexandria, invented the Aeolipile, the forerunner to the steam engine. Designed as a party favor to entertain his friends, it was the first device to harness the power of steam. He was using it to generate motion.

      Then, James Watt, a Scottish instrument maker, invented the first steam engine. Soon after, Richard Trevithick, using Watt’s idea, developed the first steam-propelled locomotive. Followed by George Stephenson, who invented the first steam locomotive for commercial use. Along with his inventions for locomotives came his innovative ideas for railway infrastructure. Some are still standing today.

     To the Rainhill Locomotive Trials of 1829. George Stephenson and his son Robert designed and entered “The Rocket,” which blew the competition away. It also set the standards for which locomotives were designed and how they and stationary machinery are still tested today.

     Hughes then looks at the railroad's impact on the United States, from the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, which connected nations and decreased the time to travel across the continent from six months to six days. And how it sparked the Industrial Revolution. This shows how important the railroad was during the Civil War and the many more impactful ideas, inventions, innovations, and dreams that were created along the way.

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  • Knob Lick Historical Calandar
    Knob Lick Historical Calandar US$10.00
  • Knob Lick Historical Calendar II
    Knob Lick Historical Calendar II US$10.00
  • The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
    The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway US$10.00
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The Railroads of Southeast Missouri Volume 2

US$15.00

The Railroads of Southeast Missouri Volume 2

US$15.00

  Volume 2 covers the Following railroads

  • The St. Francois County Railroad
  • St. Louis - San Francisco Railroad "The Frisco"
  • Desloge and St. Joseph Railway
  • The Miossissippi River and Bonne Terre Railroad
  • Missouri - Illinois Railroad
  • St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt)
  • St. Louis, Memphis and Southeastern Railway
  • Crystal City Railroad
  • St. Louis & Memphis Railroad
  • St. Louis, Caruthersville and Memphis Railroad
  • Southern Missouri and Arkansas Railroad
  • Hoxie, Pocahontas and Northern Railroad
  • The Bismarck, Bellevue Valley and Western
  • The Butler County Railroad
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The Railroads of Southeast Missouri Volume 3

US$15.00

The Railroads of Southeast Missouri Volume 3

US$15.00

     From Louis Houck's 500-mile railroad empire out of Cape Girardeau to the founding of Amtrack, join Ralph Hughes for the next leg of the journey and discover how Southeast Missouri-as well as the rest of the U.S.-went from the Golden Age of Transportation to what we know today.

     THE "FATHER OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI" was a pioneer, but he also cut a lot of corners. The history of railroads in America is filled with triumphs and tragedies, but few are as convoluted as the 500-mile empire that lawyer, journalist, and historian Louis Houck attempted to build out of Cape Girardeau. From draining the swamps of the Missouri Bootheel to the construction shortcuts that made his railroads unsafe and unreliable none can deny Houck left an indelible impression on the region.

 

     In Volume 1 of this series on the railroads of Southeast Missouri, Ralph Hughes took you from the first laid rails in St. Louis to the far reaches of the western United States. Volume 2 zeroed in on the railway companies that connected one town to another. Now, in Volume 3, Hughes takes us to the modern age, starting with the contributions and shortcomings of Louis Houck's railroad systems to the founding of Amtrak and the consolidation of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad.

     Hughes puts his love of trains and old stories to good use in this new volume detailing the establishment of several Missouri railroads, including the Cape Girardeau Northern Railway; Saline Valley Railroad; Chester, Perryville, Ste. Genevieve and Farmington Railroad; Missouri and Southeastern Railway; and many more. Each include their own triumphs and tragedies.

     Read the stories, view the 50+ historic images, and discover how the railroads of Southeast Missouri-as well as the rest of the U.S.-went from the Golden Age of Transportation to what we know today. Enjoy the ride!

 

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Knob Lick: A History

US$15.00

Knob Lick: A History

US$15.00

     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.

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New

Tracks To Triumph – The Strategic Role Of The Railroads In The Civil War

US$15.00
New

Tracks To Triumph – The Strategic Role Of The Railroads In The Civil War

US$15.00

    AT THE START OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR both sides expected a quick and glorious victory. This perspective proved to be shortsighted. After four grueling years, it became apparent that the final outcome would have just as much to do with transportation as it did with soldiers and ammunition. Those who controlled the railroad stood the best chance of winning the war.

   Nearly every major battle east of the Mississippi River was fought within 20 miles of a railroad. There was simply no better way to transport troops, ammunition, and supplies across the country than the king of transportation in the mid-1800s.
    Drawing from extensive research, author and historian Ralph K. Hughes III takes a critical look at how both Northern and Southern railroad strategies influenced the outcome of numerous battles and, eventually, the end of the Civil War.
    Alongside 90 historic images, Hughes weaves together stories and statistics to shed light on an often overlooked side to this historical moment in American history. The tracks to triumph may be buried and forgotten, but the role they played from 1861-1864 lives on within these pages.

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New

Knob Lick : The Stories

US$20.00
New

Knob Lick : The Stories

US$20.00

     Buildings, tracks and gravestones mark the passage of time in Knob Lick’s long history, but it’s the stories told by those who lived there that give life to these relics of bygone era. And it's these stories that we are most in danger of losing forever.

     After Ralph Hughes published Knob Lick: A History, he knew his task was far from complete. For every historic picture, newspaper clipping, and property deed, there were even more stories - too many to include in his first book. In this long-awaited follow up, Hughes returns to the town that first captured his imagination and passion for history to tell the stories passed down from generation to generation.

    Inside, you'll glimpse rarely seen historic photos alongside gripping tales passed down from local families who have called this strip of land home. You don't have to be a Hughes, Murphy, Plummer, Skinner, Lachance, or Acuff to get lost in these captivating stories. Anyone with a connection to the area will be enchanted to learn what has been the regulated to the living rooms and memorial services until now - shocking stories about the great fire of 1967, the ghost house next to the store, The Friendly Folks Club, and even the mysterious tale the drunken fish.

     Mines, businesses and railway stations have shut down, but the memories live on in words and pictures.

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