New technology always offers the promise of fame and fortune to those who can contribute to its maturation and advancement. In the 19th century, railroads were new technology and they challenged the imaginations of creative individuals everywhere. The result was an outpouring of ideas and patents which advanced and supported railroad technology. In the first volume of his study of 19th century railroads the author has assembled, in chronological order, summaries of patents and ideas which impacted the development of the locomotive.

The book is split into five sections: introduction, motive power infancy (1830-1850), adolescence (1850-1875), maturity (1875-1900) and a last section covering locomotive appliances and fittings. Motive power infancy brings to life the debates concerning vertical vs. horizontal boilers, inside vs. outside connection, valve gear changes and improvements and other issues. Adolescence discusses the shift from revolutionary to evolutionary developments in technology. By the 1850’s the steam locomotive had assumed its familiar shape and inventive efforts focused on the issues of optimization of this configuration – boiler design, wheel arrangements, etc. The section titled “Maturity” discusses the evolution of standardization, the shift away from the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement and the beginnings of electric power.

Each section of the book discusses primary, secondary, and fanciful contributions to locomotive technology. The discussions provide a succinct summation of the effort and, wherever possible, contemporary reports concerning the contribution and how well it succeeded or failed. By blending the technical descriptions of attempts at locomotive improvement with contemporary reactions to those attempts the author has produced a history of technology that is educational and entertaining. ( )