Railroads are much more than just a mode of transportation, and their impact on the past 200 years of history has been profound. Railroads have brought freedom of movement to the masses and been the agents of social change. They have fostered industrial and economic growth, they have been used to mobilize armies and fight wars, and they have inspired technological advances, and great feats of engineering. These processes continue today, with high-speed rail links and the growth of urban mass transit systems. Fifty Railroads that Changed the Course of History is a beautifully presented guide to the train lines and rail companies that have had the greatest impact on modern civilization. The effect each railway has had on the course of history is defined by social, commercial, political, engineering and military influence. Entries range from the Metropolitan Line of the London Underground, the world's first underground railway, to the Central Pacific Railroad, the first transcontinental railway in North America. - Back cover.