Trailing Window: A Journey into Rail History

Ramarao Annavarapu

Mar 2016 · Partridge Publishing

About this ebook

Ever since the invention of the locomotive generations of people have been fascinated by railways and its myriad images and sounds, the rhythmic puffing of the steam locomotive, the sound of trains negotiating curves or entering and emerging from tunnels, the sight of smoke billowing out of the chimney of the locomotive forming a cloud over the train and so on. The fascination has continued with steam traction yielding place to diesel and electric traction, entry of streamlined train sets, magnetic levitation and bullet trains. Equally fascinating is the history of development of railways. Railway historians in general tend to focus on the technical aspects of construction and opening of lines and touch but briefly on events of interest from the point of view of the lay reader. Trailing Window A Journey into Rail History turns the spotlight on the socio-economic considerations that led the British to construct railways in India, the effect of the Indian Mutiny, the diversion of railway resources in the War effort in 1914-18, the tragic death of the Agent of EIR etc., all in an engaging narrative.

About the author

Ramarao Annavarapu worked in Indian Railways for 34 years retiring in 1991 as head the operations of a major zone of Indian Railways. He has been writing on rail history for over three decades, with two books and numerous articles to his credit.