History of the Carolina & North-Western Railway Matthew C. Bumgarner
			Golden spikes, robber barons, terrifying wrecks, and stoic trainmen abound in this volume dedicated to the history of a revered short line railway. The Carolina & North-Western, a premier standard gauge railroad at the end of its many trials and transformations, allowed expansion into the timber-rich areas of the North Carolina mountains and introduced logging on a large scale to the region. This incredibly easy-to-read work, with dozens of never- before-published photographs, traces the 140-year rise and fall and rise again of this tenacious railway. Charting the ups and downs of the line’s construction—the politics, squabbling, triumphs, and failures—the author provides a microcosmic overview of American railroading in this story of a single line. Life on the railroad through the Great Depression, World War II, dieselization, and absorption by Southern Railway are explored, punctuated by the real-life experiences of old-timers. Nearly 200 maps and photographs complement the text. Together they deliver an inspiring, historical tale of the Carolina & North-Western. Published 1996 / 200 pages / 81/2” x 11” ISBN: 1-57072-052-5 / Hardcover / $49.95