Rival Rails

Borneman traces the history of railroads from the formation of their routes to the present. The book starts out with long lists of people, railroads, and milestones, which don't translate well to audio. Once the book proper gets started, narrator Norman Dietz's reading makes even the political and financial maneuverings sound like exciting battle. When he's dealing with colorful figures such as Nellie Bly or Bat Masterson, his delivery is even livelier. Borneman covers every angle of railroad history--from negotiations to construction to the people surrounding the rails. His attention to detail could make this book ponderous for the casual listener but will make it an excellent experience for rail buffs. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine