"Carlos Schwantes is an historian with a passion for electric railways. This book provides a lively and well-researched study of the Interurban Era in Indiana, a banner traction state. As such he fills a void in the interurban literature. Electric Indiana is a work that general readers and professional and amateur historians can learn from and fully enjoy."--H. Roger Grant, Kathryn and Calhoun Lemon Professor of History, Clemson University "Carlos Schwantes' extensive research focused on the industry leaders is a significant departure from existing literature resulting in considerable new knowledge being published on the rise and fall of the electric interurban railways of Indiana."--Norman Carlson, Managing Editor, First & Fastest. "With 2,000 miles of interurban track, Indiana led the nation in offering low-cost, efficient public transportation.
Carlos Schwantes combines fascinating details with broad analysis to explain the popularity of electric-powered interurbans and the disruption brought by roads, cars, and buses. Beautifully illustrated, Electric Indiana will appeal to scholars, transportation enthusiasts, and the general reader."--James H. Madison, Author of Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana.