Edward Hungerford (1875–1948)

An interesting look at the checkered history of the Erie Railroad, up to the time of publication (1947), which was about a decade or so before the railroad eventually met its demise (in a merger with its local rival, the Lackawanna). Written by someone who, candidly, notes that he was employed by the railroad in a public relations capacity, and he was also a noted railroad enthusiast. As such, the book tends to handle Erie somewhat carefully. While there are critiques of the operations at various times, I for one thought Jay Gould and Jim Fisk got off fairly lightly. One of the best parts of the book shows how the railroad operated in the immediate post-war era, in terms of how freight trains were put together and tracked, in an interesting early use of (punch card) computers. Generally recommended, with a bit of warning about the gentleness. (Hungerford, incidentally, would die very shortly after this book was published, so I doubt there are many signed copies.)… (altro)