Self-Propelled Cars of the Cnr
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Clegg, Anthony, PUBLISHER: DC ong>Bookong>s, In ong>theong> 19th century, steam-hauled trains had a virtual monopoly on transportation ong>ofong> passengers. After ong>theong> Great War, competition from highway vehicles, which had previously not troubled North American railroads to any considerable extent, began to provoke renewed interest in a more economical form ong>ofong> railway motive power, and a number ong>ofong> "rail buses" ong>ofong> varying designs were introduced. Tony Clegg, who wrote Canadian National Steam Power with Ray Corley, is ong>theong> author ong>ofong> this ong>bookong>. Self-Propelled ong>Carsong> ong>ofong> ong>theong> CNR details how, in November , CNR's new diesel-electric car No. completed its record-breaking run across ong>theong> North American continent, from Montreal to Vancouver. ong>Theong> train established a new world's record for endurance, economy, and sustained speed over such a distance. ong>Theong> ong>bookong> explains how this comparatively small self-propelled vehicle led to ong>theong>ir wide-spread usage across ong>theong> Canadian National system, and its rival, ong>theong> Canadian Pacific Railway. ong>Theong> ong>bookong> describes how, despite ong>theong> growing popularity ong>ofong> ong>automobilesong>, and increasing availability ong>ofong> better roads, ong>theong>se new rail ong>carsong> were successful in stemming ong>theong> decline in rail passenger patronage, particularly on low-traffic branch lines. ong>Theong>re were many types ong>ofong> ong>theong>se specialized vehicles that are fully described in ong>theong> ong>bookong>, which contains interesting details on a very important part ong>ofong> Canada's railway heritage, with over 100 photographs and illustrations, including many extremely rare photos in full colour.