Railroads: an American Story

Трансляция с субтитрами на русском языке.

“All Aboard”! It was a cry millions of Americans heard in the 19th and 20th centuries. Railroads helped to build America. Railroads carried the hopes and dreams of settlers across the vast continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and goods and produce as well. The traffic had a major impact on Indigenous Peoples, on the land itself, and on the nation’s economy.

By the mid-20th century, however, automobiles, trucks, and airplanes had surpassed the railroad as carriers of freight, and especially of passengers. As other countries upgraded their rail systems, the U.S. allowed their railroads to deteriorate. We’ll explore how and why this happened, and what the future holds for railroad transportation in the U.S.

Led by David R. Goldfield – American historian, writer, film director, and professor. He is the author of sixteen books, including Black, White, and Southern: Race Relations and Southern Culture and Cotton Fields and Skyscrapers.