An excellent book by a man that understands railroading and knows how to describe it so you feel your are really there experiencing it yourself. He follows the trail of two school boys as they emerge into adulthood and they begin their railroad careers. One goes on to be a fireman and engineer, while the other chooses the boomer trail as a telegraph operator. Full of railroad experiences from dealing with difficult engineers, wrecks, fast runs, tough trips, cantankerous engines, women, booze and fighting, and life in a small railroad town at the turn of the century. I couldn't put it down and I've read it several times.