American Railroads

Decline and Renaissance in the Twentieth Century

Robert E. Gallamore, John R. Meyer

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English

Harvard University Press
21 November 2016

History of the Americas; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Transport industries; Trains & railways: general interest

Once an icon of American industry, railroads fell into a long decline beginning around the turn of the twentieth century. Overburdened with regulation and often displaced by barge traffic on government-maintained waterways, trucking on interstate highways, and jet aviation, railroads measured their misfortune in lost market share, abandoned track, bankruptcies, and unemployment. Today, however, as Robert Gallamore and John Meyer demonstrate, rail transportation is reviving, rescued by new sources of traffic and advanced technology, as well as less onerous bureaucracy.

In 1970, Congress responded to the industry's plight by consolidating most passenger rail service nationwide into Amtrak. But private-sector freight service was left to succeed or fail on its own. The renaissance in freight traffic began in 1980 with the Staggers Rail Act, which allowed railroad companies to contract with customers for services and granted freedom to set most rates based on market supply and demand. Railroads found new business hauling low-sulfur coal and grain long distances in redesigned freight cars, while double-stacked container cars moved a growing volume of both international and domestic goods. Today, trains have smaller crews, operate over better track, and are longer and heavier than ever before.

Near the end of the twentieth century, after several difficult but important mergers, privately owned railroads increased their investments in safe, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly freight transportation. American Railroads tells a riveting story about how this crucial U.S. industry managed to turn itself around.

By: Robert E. Gallamore, John R. Meyer
Imprint: Harvard University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 1
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 35mm
Weight: 584g
ISBN: 9780674970793
ISBN 10: 0674970799
Pages: 528
Publication Date: 21 November 2016
Audience: Professional and scholarly , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Robert E. Gallamore is Adjunct Professor in Rail Management at Michigan State University. John R. Meyer was James W. Harpel Professor of Capital Formation, Emeritus, at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Reviews for American Railroads: Decline and Renaissance in the Twentieth Century

Detailed, sophisticated, occasionally technical, and provocative, [Gallamore and Meyer’s] book provides a superb and often fascinating analysis of the economics, technological change, and the impact of public policy on an iconic American industry… Gallamore and Meyer have thrown down the gauntlet to policymakers. The burden may well now be on them to demonstrate, through a careful analysis of costs and benefits, that regulation of passenger and/or freight railroads is in the public interest. -- Glenn C. Altschuler * Philadelphia Inquirer * A comprehensive account… American Railroads is a readable history with a focus on freight rail. -- Daniel Machalaba * Wall Street Journal * This book is a readable and provocative economic and business history of American railroads over the twentieth century. It draws together the themes of infrastructure development, regulation, stagnation and financial crisis, deregulation, and finally revitalization. It is a fascinating and instructive tale, very well told. -- Porter K. Wheeler, Transportation Policy Consultant, and former Manager of P3 Projects, Maryland Transportation Authority A remarkable book and an exceptional resource for a variety of constituencies in the transportation field. -- Joseph M. Sussman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology