The Last Steam Railroad in America: From Tidewater to Whitetop

Be the first to write a review

Overview

In the mid-1950s the Norfolk and Western Railway began converting its operations from steam to diesel. Although the railroad ran some of the finest steam locomotives in the world and was a major coal-hauler, it decided to abandon steam. It was the last American railroad to do so. Coincidentally with the N&W decision, photographer O. Winston Link began to pursue a decade-old vision of photographing steam railroading at night using synchronized flash. A chance assignment in Virginia brought him to the N&W ...
See more details below
Available through our Marketplace sellers.
See All Options
Other sellers (Hardcover)
  • All (25) from $5.99   
  • New (2) from $145.00   
  • Used (23) from $5.99   
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 1
Showing All
Note: Marketplace items are not eligible for any BN.com coupons and promotions
$145.00
bluehouse
Seller since 2013

Feedback rating:

(46)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

New
Brand new.

Ships from: acton, MA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
$398.17
Almond Branch Books
Seller since 2013

Feedback rating:

(0)

Condition: New
1995 Hardcover New 0810935759. Flawless copy, brand new, pristine, never opened--144 pp. With 136 ills. (24 col. ). 28 x 30 cm.

Ships from: New Hampton, NY

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 1
Showing All
Close
Sort by
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

In the mid-1950s the Norfolk and Western Railway began converting its operations from steam to diesel. Although the railroad ran some of the finest steam locomotives in the world and was a major coal-hauler, it decided to abandon steam. It was the last American railroad to do so. Coincidentally with the N&W decision, photographer O. Winston Link began to pursue a decade-old vision of photographing steam railroading at night using synchronized flash. A chance assignment in Virginia brought him to the N&W and for the next five years Link traveled up and down its divisions photographing the trains, the towns, and the people who worked on the railroad and lived beside it. Winston Link published many of his fine N&W images in his first book, Steam, Steel & Stars, a classic of its kind. But many other of his splendid photographs did not appear in that book. Published here are striking portraits of the workers of the railroad, powerful images of the double-headed engine link-ups that pushed long coal trains up the Blue Ridge, and pictures along the length of the Abingdon branch, on which a single combined freight and passenger train ran only during daylight hours. These include some of his most charming scenes of the rural life in Virginia and North Carolina towns served by the N&W.

Between 1955 and 1959, Link traveled up and down the Norfolk & Western's divisions, taking pictures of the trains, towns, and people who worked on the railroad and lived beside it. Published here for the first time are photographs he made in daylight, as well as at night and on the branches of the railroad not covered in his first book, Steam, Steel & Stars. 124 photos, 100 in duotone, 24 in full color.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Ray Olson
From 1955 to 1960, commercial photographer Link devoted all the time he could to the Norfolk and Western Railway, which ran four lines in the upper South from its hub in Roanoke, Virginia. With the company's cooperation, he recorded what made it special—it was the last U.S. railway to operate with steam engines. Moreover, as Thomas H. Garver imparts in the generous accompanying text here, Link worked in ways then as rare as steam locomotives—with large, tripod-mounted view cameras and, because he preferred working at night when he could exert more control over lighting, he used scores of flashbulbs that were set off precisely at the time calculated to allow for a particular exposure. One album of those night images, Steam, Steel & Stars (1987), has appeared, and more of them are here, along with many daytime views and a little sampling of the few color pictures he made (including the only two color shots taken at night). Technical marvels, they are also aesthetic miracles, charged with human feeling because Link cared for the communities that lived along the NW and for the railroad's employees more than for its gigantic machinery and buildings and because he is a master of natural-looking dramatic lighting. His pictures are as lyrical as they are powerful, as numinous as they are romantically materialist: masterpieces.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780810935754
  • Publisher: Abrams, Harry N., Inc.
  • Publication date: 9/1/1995
  • Pages: 144
  • Product dimensions: 11.75 (w) x 11.04 (h) x 0.87 (d)

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
    If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
    Why is this product inappropriate?
    Comments (optional)