A Railroad Atlas of the United States in 1946

Carpenter's idiosyncratic freehand style might surprise some, but the technique is highly effective in conveying layers of detail, almost like storytelling with a map. And don't miss Carpenter's penetrating, highly readable essay at the front of the book, in which he provides the necessary context for fully understanding what was, for the purposes of this book, a very good year for railroads.

There have been railroad atlases before, but none providing this level of detail and information in a convenient 8 1/2 by 11 inch format.

Belongs in the library of every serious rail historian.

Surely one of the most appealingly eccentric publishing ventures of the year.

A labor of love... nothing short of a miracle. I looked at it again last night, and it took my breath away. It's the kind of work that only a gang of monks would consider undertaking. It really is fabulous.

Proof that inspiration can result in something astounding... a treasure that any rail enthusiast or casual historian will enjoy.

This is a fascinating volume for the railroad buff, those interested in the interrelationship of railroads and American history, or those merely investigating the bridge or tunnel in their town from what is now a ghost railroad.

A piece of craftsmanship at once so distinctive, and also so useful, it instantly reveals the sterility of computer-generated maps.

Volume 3 shows the details of some of the most complex RR terminals in the USA, such as Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, etc. In recent years, all of those layouts have been greatly reduced, due to mergers and changes in types of traffic. So the 1946 Atlas will be a suitable ‘monument to what once was’—at the peak of railroad passenger and local freight activity!